The Third Party

41. Visit of Ma'am Eka

A few months later...

This is where I finally returned to my hometown to start a new life with my son. I live in my parents' house.

That afternoon after I made a mess at my in-laws house I immediately rode my motorcycle for hundreds of kilometers while holding Damar who was about seven or eight months old. Followed by a faithful pickup truck trailing behind me, hauling "loot" from my in-laws' home. Miris right?

From that day on I no longer knew how they were doing, rather I did not want to know anymore. It's up to them to want what's important that I live my new life in peace here.

Sometimes I exchange news with Mbak Eka or Mbak Rina, the rest I have no communication at all. There was no phone call from Mas Hasan or Mas Harun asking about the news of his nephew, let alone the grandmother who asked about his grandson, do not expect!

Money from Handi company I used to renovate my house that was damaged because it was not long lived. The rest I use as capital to open a food stall. I see around my house there are no food stalls, so there might be a chance. And incidentally, though small my house is right by the side of the road. It's an advantage because I don't have to rent a place.

At first my food stall was very quiet, only one or two people bought until I often threw away food that did not sell. I almost gave up that time.

Whether it was a coincidence or it was destined for me, not long after there was a factory construction project near the house. I have a little hope. My food stall became crowded because many construction workers were eating in my stall. I paid my neighbor to babysit Damar while I was selling.

But this is just the beginning.

As soon as the factory opened and the employees started working, my food stall became more crowded. The factory employees who number in the hundreds of people mostly buy lunch in my warehouse. It was my closest food stall to the factory. It's very profitable for me.

My war customers are booming to the point of not being able to accommodate this many customers. Then I decided to sell packaged rice. The factory workers did not have time to wait in line to eat in my stall. So it will be easier for them to buy rice that has been wrapped and then eat it in the factory.

Everything was smooth, it was not until three months that I was able to hire two people. One special babysit Damar and another one helps me cook and also in the stall.

I should praise myself for this. For the size of me fighting alone and starting everything from scratch, this is incredible. I'm sorry if I'm a little proud, but seeing what I've been through, this achievement is incredible.

Today I decided to close a little bit. My body felt crumpled from exhaustion. It's Saturday anyway. Most factory employees work half a day, some may be overtime but not much.

Finished cleaning myself I want to lay my body down for a while, because later if Damar had been delivered by his nanny I would not be able to rest.

But I haven't done that yet I hear the front door on tap. I'm keeping it quiet because I think it's just a prankster.

A few moments later came the sound of a knock. It's not a prankster's hand. With a heavy heart I opened the door because I wanted to rest for a while.

"Mbak Eka???" My eyes opened wide as soon as I saw who was standing before me.

"How are you?" Ma'am Eka hugged me right away. We are like sisters who have not met for a long time.

"I'm good. Enter Mbak ... " I let Mama Eka in. The tiredness that had enveloped my body disappeared somewhere after seeing Ma'am Eka.

"Where's Damar?" As always, Damar always appears in Ma'am Eka's questions.

"There's a babysitter, I'll call to get delivered right now." It should still be about two hours to drive Damar home.

"Where? Smooth selling?" ask Mama Eka. I've already told him in a short message if I open a food stall.

Ma'am Eka shook her head slowly. He looked gloomy like never before.

"Did you know that Mbak Rina and Mas Hasan are divorced?"

"What?! Is Eka serious?!" I just don't believe it. Indeed, occasionally I messaged with Ms. Rina but she never told me about her household.

Ma'am Eka nodded. "It's been decided by the court."

"Don't they seem okay?"

Ma'am Eka smiled obliquely at my question.

"That's all right that looks outside. Mas Hasan likes to play girls. Lina's mother had known about it for a long time. Many times given the opportunity to change it turns out Mas Hasan is still the same. Maybe this time Ms. Rina could not forgive him anymore."

"Oh ... "

I don't know why I'm sad to hear it. I feel sorry for Sister Rina. It must not be easy to survive this far, let alone remember the story of Mbak Rina about our mother-in-law who was not being kind to her. All the struggle was like a waste after being faced with betrayal.

"Keep now how?"

"Now Mas Hasan lives in the mother's house, while the house is occupied by Heni and her husband's family."

My heart is like sprinkled with salt hearing the words of Ma'am Eka. That house, the house that should belong to Damar is actually occupied by someone else. I tried to act ordinary even though I was actually upset as well.

"But it seems like Mas Hasan did not accept and wanted to ask for a treasure gono-gini," Mbak Eka explained with a cynical smile.

"It's so son? During marriage does not want to help work, he wants to have fun. The money Mbak Rina spent on having fun with her mistress was enough. Now that it's her turn to divorce, she's asking for treasure together? Is it not shameful?! Just give a living no, can-can ask for a treasure together?!"

I don't know why there is something strange with the tone of Ma'am Eka. He looks like he feels what Ms. Rina feels.

"That's it, don't talk about it."

Right at the same time Damar's nanny came to deliver Damar.

"Hi Damar ... " Mr Eka immediately approached to hold Damar. He is almost a year old, can walk even though he cannot talk. Since staying here Damar is used to meeting many people, so he is not afraid to see Mbak Eka even though it is foreign to him.

"You can walk already? Do you remember Bude? She looks a lot like Handi, huh Emma?" he continued to look at Damar.

I can only nod. How else would you like? The more day Damar reminds me of his father.

"I don't see you buying anything. Sorry Emma, did you save all the money from Handi's company for later? Other women must have bought a lot of stuff with that money."

I frowned at the question of Ma'am Eka.