8 To 4: The Mayor's Contract Wife

In the name of

Upon Ajeng's arrival at the office, Manda was waiting for him to hold a meeting related to the preparation of the anniversary of the dharma women who will be held in their city.

“What else is this?” asked Ajeng to Wira when he saw Manda was waiting for him in front of the meeting room.

“Udah, just log in! Later also know.” whispered Wira while continuing to walk towards her room on the second floor.

Ajeng occupies the seat that has been provided next to Manda. Meeting moderators open the meeting and read out the important points that they will discuss in the meeting that day, including the composition of the women's hut dharma event, the event filler, the executor and the person in charge of the event.

Discussion after discussion continues to roll out and produce agreement from all meeting participants to enter the core part of the seminar that requires Ajeng to act as the main speaker.

Ajeng read the explanation of the seminar in detail, on the main theme that raised the issue of women's emancipation and the title that nosedived to the problem of strengthening the role of women as pillars of the household. Ajeng has got the big picture and has not experienced any major obstacles with the agenda.

Only, he came to the information that the event will be attended by the wives of high officials who are very influential ranging from the mother of the governor to provincial female leaders. Plus, the event will be covered massively by print and electronic media.

From there Ajeng begins to find a big problem for himself. So he decided to refuse the task.

“Sorry, but it looks like I can't be a speaker in that event.” Reject Ajeng.

“Why? Is it because Bu Ajeng doesn't know how to speak in public? Stage fright?” manda's lips were greeted giggling by the other meeting participants.

“Bu Ajeng no need to worry, we will prepare a script that Bu Ajeng can learn and use when becoming a speaker later.” One of the officers of the city secretariat.

“Before the event we will also introduce mothers with other show fillers so that mothers are not awkward and can work with them.” Imbuh one of the seminar committee members.

“What do you think, that's the only problem I think? If you think it's so easy, why don't you replace me as a speaker? Beres right? We postpone the meeting, I'm sorry.” Ajeng left the rapay room and headed to the Wira room.

“What the fuck? It is not that I have clearly added a clause in our contract that I do not want to be exposed in any form?” ajeng protest as soon as it reached Wira's room.

“I understand that, but this event requires you to appear as the head of the female dharma as well as the host.”

“I don't want to know. I'm not here to clean up all the messes of your life. Excuse me.”

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Ajeng never expected that his weekend would be interrupted by work affairs. But his work on Friday had managed to ruin his mood all day. Because the working hours are still there, Ajeng went to the Kalijaten vegetable market to get back to the traders.

Ajeng did not expect that the issue blew very quickly in Carang Sewu. Just this morning he went to Mr. Edi's house and helped bring his son to the hospital, the news has spread to all corners of the Kalijaten market.

The merchants who a few days before were cold to him, the day turned very friendly and warm. They even called him Bu Wali when he had not been able to introduce himself.

Not only did they serve Ajeng to talk, they even offered food and drink to Ajeng as thanksgiving and thanks for being very attentive to the person who almost hurt him.

“Let me take it home only. Later I will eat with Mr. Wali because he helped the son of Mr. Edi, so I think he is more entitled to get this food and drink.” Teach politely and carefully.

“What is true about all the actions of Mr Wali?” ask one of the traders. “We doubt because from what we heard, Mr. Wali was very arrogant and never wanted to blend in with his citizens. He also never cared about the affairs of the citizens and was more concerned with himself.”

“Iya is right, he said Mr. Wali's daily work is only planting and caring for his plants. How can we trust people who love plants more than we do?” added another trader.

“Wait! Where did you and Mom hear such misleading news?” ask Ajeng. “I am his wife and I know exactly that Mr. Wali is not such a person.”

“Many said.”

“Iya true. Not only from fellow citizens, but also officials and even vice mayors often come here and say that he represents the mayor because the mayor is busy watering plants.”

Ajeng sighed deeply then muttered, “Pak Rega again, Mr Rega again.”

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Arriving at home, Ajeng rested for a while on the chair on the terrace of the official house of Wira. An afternoon breeze blew against his face and swept away his hair that had started to dull from the heat and pollution of the day. Ajeng leaned back on the chair while closing his eyes, enjoying the beautiful atmosphere of the afternoon without restraint and supervision.

Not wanting to waste time, Ajeng rushed up to take a shower and carry out his agenda that weekend, but his steps were stopped when he saw a newspaper lying on the table.

Articles about the success of the Week Market Tour event dominated the main page and became an important highlight of local newspapers published by the Karang Sewu district government broadcasting division that day. Ajeng read the article carefully and began to feel the oddity.

How not? The picture shown is a picture of Rega along with the ranks of the city government associated with the event but in no way shows the existence of Wira as mayor.

Not only that, the content was mostly confusing and exaggerating the role of Rega who even at the time of the event was not in Carang Sewu. And Ajeng would bet that Rega did not know about the real problems they were facing and how he and Wira tried hard to overcome the problem.

“Rega...” murmured Ajeng.

The statement from the officials of the city of Carang Sewu was no less different. Almost all of them acknowledge the contribution of Rega and Manda as well as themselves who feel they take a very important role in the success of the event. The heads of the service did not even hesitate to praise themselves and said that they were happy to represent the mayor and do better than the mayor.

The teacher returned a long breath. What made him even more inexhaustible was, how could the daily Voice of Citizens which was the spearhead of the government voice, be built and raised within the body of the city government, but instead release those misleading lies as their headlines.

Now Ajeng can understand why the citizens judge the very bad personality and performance of Wira. The dilapidated daily also had a big hand in that. But what Ajeng asks now is why the Wira chose to be silent to be played by the rats of the rice field like them. He clearly has power and ability. In addition, Ajeng also believes Wira must know that he is being played.

Ajeng squeezed and threw the newspaper on the floor and stomped it until it was torn. But since four o'clock in the afternoon had passed, he did not want to dissolve into the business that never became more important than the happiness of his life. So he took a shower and got ready.

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