Husband, If Your Father Is On Your Mother, Your Sins Are On Me

Chapter 7's

"As I've said. Marriage is a lifelong learning process. There will always be new things learned every day." - Neng Rere

***

I threw a glance at the corner of the room where there were suitcases and boxes piled up. It contained mostly my clothes and Mas Yandri. A small part of the kitchen tools that are my wedding gift and I have never used it.

My feet were tracking the Yellow Sassy Earth just after the Maghrib time passed yesterday. Mas Yandri and I were picked up by someone who introduced himself as a member of Yandri's office. In this city we are given the facilities of official houses and also vehicles. After dinner and around to see the magnificent city, we were escorted to the official house.

This official house is rented full furnish which means, already with his belongings. Yup! I don't have to mess around with the couch and his friends.

Located in a cluster that I thought was prestigious made me fall in love when I first saw this house. A beautiful minimalist home.

***

Mas Yandri is still at home today. The plan is tomorrow he will start working according to the date stated in the Decision Letter. The person who picked us up yesterday at the airport said he would pick up Yandri and formally introduce him to another employee.

"Sir, is there something you should buy?" Mas Yandri asked as we were unpacking our luggage.

"But do not know mas, it is still not looking because it has not been machined. Later if there's something to buy, neng says."

Because our luggage is not much, before Dhuhur we can relax. I also have a record of some items needed.

After the prayer, we decided to go out to find food and shop using a service vehicle that was parked in the carport.

***

The condition of this housing complex is quite quiet during the day. It seems that most of the residents are at work. While closing the fence, there was a mother with a small child who greeted me kindly. Not wasting a chance, I introduced myself and asked the location of the nearest stall. It's nothing, in the future I will often visit the stalls. After a brief introductory process, Yandri and I left. By late afternoon, after getting what we were looking for and walking around the city for a while, we went home.

***

I saw some mothers sitting together in the house next to my house. Some of them were seen feeding the children. I said to Mas Yandri would approach them for a while to introduce himself.

"Assynolajet. Introduce, I am Rere, the new occupant of the house," I said, pointing to the house.

Some of them smiled and returned my greeting. Some others just remain silent. Wow, I can even see there are some who are looking at me cynically.

The mothers who welcomed my introduction asked me where I was from, and where my husband worked. We talked about light things when a mother cut us off.

"This is why introducing yourself should be official, not studying! Not talking on the street!"

I can see hearing it. Some of the mothers looked at me with apologetic eyes. I'm just smiling.

"Oh that's it? Actually, my husband and I intend to hold a study after the condition of the house is conducive. But seeing mothers gathered here, I decided to say hello first. Rather than later be considered arrogant, right? I will be wrong again. It could be the subject." I said relax.

The mother who said just now just silently looked at me cynically.

"God willing, when I finish cleaning the house, I will go around to deliver an invitation to study. I want to go in first, Mothers. Assalamualaikum."

As I walked away, I vaguely heard them start talking about me.

***

"Neng here," call Yandri mas while I'm cleaning up the rest of our dinner.

Mas Yandri took out a piece of paper with many numbers inside. When I looked, it turned out that it was the details of Yandri's salary.

"It's a salary breakdown as a branch head here neng. Yesterday was a Decision Letter. Because of this, I am interested in moving. The basic salary and allowance is large. Insha Allah the next payday, the nominal is exactly the same as the one on this paper."

I said a sign of gratitude. At a young age, mas Yandri is trusted to take care of a branch office with a large income.

"Now someone wants to talk. Earlier this salary," he showed me another paper.

I smiled in my heart. The good progress. Mas Yandri apparently started to open up. Good thing, there's something new he's learning. At least I'm not curious anymore and guessed his salary all this time.

"And usually this is what you spend every month." A paper with Yandri's hand strokes I received.

Production records that mas Yandri made quite complete. Starting from shopping rations, mother rations, to my living. I see every month mas Yandri can set aside 300 thousand.

"Sisa mas salary, mas tube neng. It's all here." He gave me an ATM and a savings book.

"Now we want it. You want to hold all your paychecks and manage all your expenses, or do you want to stay rationed?"

I thought for a moment and began to compare the three papers in my hand.

"If for kitchen shopping, neng would be rationed aja mas, just like the time at home mom. But neng asked for a direct month instead of weekly anymore. And that includes gas and gallons. Water and electricity are paid for every month. So later neng enter into monthly obligations, together with monthly spending."

Mas Yandri nodded in understanding.

"In addition, because the salary has gone up, neng want to consult this advice. What if mother's rations, mas rosein? This neng see the mother's ration of one million per month, as rich as neng. Add mas, ration for mother, right we are now far away, so if for example mother there needs to be sudden, mother has more money."

Mas Yandri smiled and nodded back.

"Nah now rations for your parents neng. Mas sorry, because previously could not ration for parents neng. Neng see, right? The rest of the salary per month is only 300 thousand and we also need to save. If now it can, the salary will go up," he said.

I stared at Yandri in disbelief. I who had been bad to think that the original character of Yandri mas was slapped with this reality. My husband wasn't as bad as I thought.

"Sure mas? Any rations? Parents are not a duty." I asked to test the earnestness of Yandri.

"Keep assured neng, mas want from the beginning also ngasi ration. Yesterday's salary was mepet. It is not a duty, but there is no harm in giving, right? Count the signs of service," he answered.

I'm moved. Really, this time I saw the other side of Yandri mas. I am really very moved.

"Do you know? All this time neng ngasi kok to neng parents."

Mas Yandri looked at me in disbelief. "Then anyway? Where's the money from?"

I chuckled, "Yes money from mas dong. He wants to earn a living every month. And from the beginning neng asserted, the designation is up to neng do what. Well some neng send to old man neng. Wage is a right. It's up to Neng, right?"

I saw the face of Yandri who was gawking at me.

"Okay, if so later after payday, mas added a living for neng. We set our household budgets together." Mas Yandri closed the conversation after seeing me nod.

***

"The learning process in marriage takes a lifetime. Not just one side. But both sides. Both sides learn to be a solid team by accepting and understanding all the differences and shortcomings of each."