Forced to endure

Chapter 33

Sinda

My days are getting busy. I spent more time at the stall than at home because now I also have to take care of packing and shipping. And that's all I do alone without anyone's help. Sometimes I feel very tired, but when I see the results the fatigue is gone.

I looked at the clock and it didn't feel like it was almost ten in the night. I'm still at the stall, drowning in a pile of clothes I haven't had time to tidy up. I was too busy taking care of the orders and packing the items that would be sent tomorrow morning. Not to mention preparing a uniform order batik mothers PKK.

Then I looked at Keisha who had not heard her voice. Apparently he had fallen asleep on the mat some time ago I deliberately brought from home just in case.

Sorry Mama ya Kei, you have to join the fight to accompany Mama.

I heard someone knocking on the door of the stall.

"Win ... " Mas Adji's voice called out to me from the front of the kiosk.

I immediately walked to open the door while occasionally stretching my muscles.

"Have you gone home yet?" I asked as soon as I saw Mas Adji.

"There is no overtime tonight" he replied as he walked into the stall.

"This kiosk is almost full of Win. Looks like you need a wider place" said Mas Adji while observing the surroundings. I've been here a few times. And last time here the condition of the stall is not full now.

"You don't have to bother catching up with me. I can go home by myself."

"Then how is he? You want to carry him on a bike?" mas Adji asked while pointing at Keisha who was still asleep.

Mas Adji walked towards the mat where Keisha lay. She stroked Keisha's cheek for a bit, peeked at her forehead after it came back to me. Then he sat down with a pile of clothes just like me.

"Yes ... Not exactly." I was again busy with the paper containing the order notes in my hand.

"If you are tired of rest first Win. Already eaten? Want me to buy you something?"

"I'm not tired, I'm enjoying my job. I've also eaten and don't want anything" I replied while remaining focused on my work.

"But I feel sorry for Keisha" Mas Adji said with eyes that looked at Keisha.

I stopped my activities and looked at Keisha. Indeed, since long ago we both agreed to number Keisha together. Until I agreed to stop working for him.

"She should sleep at home, spend more time with her parents. Not with his grandmother and grandfather."

"What do you mean, Mom? I never ignored Keisha. I prepared all his needs. He was with my mom and dad only when I was at work. The rest I always ask if he wants to come with me here or stay with mom at home. I never forced him" I replied at length and with a tone that began to sew.

Either because I was tired so my feelings are sensitive or Mas Adji was deliberately insinuating me.

"Love darling ... Listen to me ... Don't get emotional yet." Mas Adji had already taken a swing before I raised my tone even more.

"I didn't mean it that way. I just don't want you to get tired. Imagining your activities for a day is tired. Especially if you live it?" mas Adji said slowly.

"Take your time. You can stop working if you want. Or you can pay someone to help you. This work will have no end if you follow it. I just don't want Keisha to lose her precious time because of our busy lives."

I fell silent and thought of Mas Adji's sentence that might have a point. I rarely have quality time with Keisha and Mas Adji.

"Every time I'm off work, you have to close your shop. And we spent time with Keisha. We spent the day just for the family. How's it?"

I'm silent not answering Mas Adji's question.

"I've learned from Win's experience. I used to be so busy with my own business that I forgot about you. Now let's not let our busyness drive us away. I don't want it to happen again."

"I'll think of it. Now I better finish my job first." I went back to my work.

"Is there anything I can help you with?"

I'm shaking.

"If you want, you can take Keisha home first. I can go home by myself later."

"No, I'll wait for you to finish. We go home together. Your bike and Keisha's bike will be left here. I'll bring you here tomorrow."

...****************...

I had already thought about Mas Adji's words and I finally decided to quit my job.

I went to the shop owner to thank him. I would like to thank him so much because he has been amazingly kind to me. He wanted to accept me to work in his shop without judging my physical appearance at that time.

I also say goodbye to Mei, my co-worker who is far below me but whose thinking is much more mature than mine. I learned a lot from him. I promise I'll go to her house if there's free time. Not to forget I asked him to stop by my stall often because it was not far from the store.

From now on I will focus on selling and taking care of Keisha. Toh Mas Adji has given me his salary for monthly shopping.

Speaking of Mas Adji's salary, I don't really know the amount. I received whatever amount he gave without asking how much salary he received and Mas Adji also did not tell me.

I understand now Mas Adji is just an ordinary employee, so maybe the salary is not much. The shopping money he gave me now might not be half of my spending money just yet.

While the money I sell I can save completely. If I use it, it must be only for sales purposes, such as buying a hanger or clothes rack and other needs.

Right now on the sidelines of my busy life I take time to take a car steering course. I was planning to buy a car, so if there was a large order I would not have to hire a haulage service. And that's all I did without Mas Adji's knowledge.

I didn't mean to hide all of that from her, but I didn't intend to tell her either. It's not that I feel I earn more and I don't respect him as my husband. But I felt that something was missing after Mas Adji's betrayal.

I have forgiven him and our relationship is fine now. But I felt something was different, something felt empty. It's hard to explain, but I feel like my relationship with Mas Adji is not what it used to be even though we're fine. Maybe only people who have been betrayed understand what I mean.