The Third Party

43. Visit of Rina's Mother

Guilt still haunts me. Did Madam Eka really decide to split from Mas Harun?

I am so sorry to have told Mbak Eka everything. I'd love to meet him and draw all my words. Many times I wanted to contact Mbak Eka and ask her the circumstances but I did not dare. I should have said if the money was lost, snatched or robbed instead of being asked by Mas Harun. Why don't I think like that?

I couldn't sleep well after the day Ma'am Eka came to my house. Guilt keeps haunting me. Until I finally remembered all my in-laws' actions to me. It's not my fault. Maybe this is the karma my in-laws received.

He was very proud of Hasan and Aaron who had a rich wife. Now what could he be proud of if he had already lost both of his wealthy incantations?

Really perfect karma. It's time for my in-laws to reap what he sows. The only daughter-in-law he had was a male kere kere modal snus who was now a parasite for his daughter, just like Hasan and Aaron when married.

After I think about it, I no longer feel guilty. I should be thankful instead of feeling guilty. I've saved Madam Eka from a toxic husband like Aaron. Didn't Ma'am Eka say this wasn't the first time? If their households continue, Ma'am Eka is the party who suffers the most and is most disadvantaged. Perhaps it would have been better if Ma'am Eka had separated from Aaron.

The factory break hour arrived, my stall was instantly full of factory employees who wanted to buy lunch. Everyone wants to get ahead. I'm getting used to this hustle and bustle.

Not until an hour of this crowd is gone. Factory employees return to the factory to continue their work.

I looked at the rice wrap that was pretty much left over. Lately I have been feeling a decline. Normally I can sell two hundred more rice packs but lately the latter is not. Not even two hundred packs were sold.

"Why Lasmi, lately the sale of packaged rice is reduced? Is it not good now? I cooked it with the same seasoning as usual, there's nothing I've added or subtracted, you know for yourself too don't you?" I asked Lasmi, the person who used to help me in the stall.

"Do you know why? Are they getting tired of the menu we're cooking?" I keep wondering why. Because if it keeps going like this I can lose.

"Did Emma not know?"

"What?"

"Now behind the factory there are also sales like this. So maybe some people buy food there."

"really?"

"Yes, it looks like it's only been a few days."

"Well," I murmured. I rarely go out, so I don't know anything even around me. Once I go out it must be late afternoon or evening to the shopping market for vegetables and other ingredients that I will cook. I almost never go out of the house.

I should how? Just increased one stall only my sales have reduced, what if there are other stalls popping up? People can see how much profit I get every day. They want to be like me too.

I look at the rice wrap on the table which is still quite a lot when usually ludes are not left.

"How to this? Honey if you throw it away. Where today there is no overtime anymore" I murmured. I've started to memorize the schedule of factory employees when overtime when not.

Then I took the rice and I put it in the cardboard. I don't want to be accompanied, I don't have an idea.

Suddenly a car stopped in front of my house. That's Rina's car, I'm sure.

"Mbak Rina ... "

Sister Rina smiled hearing me say her name. "How's Emma doing?" tanyanya hugged me.

"I feel flattered. This is so incredible. Rina's mom was so busy that she took her time visiting me." I returned his embrace.

Mbak Rina chuckled. "It could be you."

"Please enter Ma'am."

Sister Rina entered while observing my house as well as my warehouse. Her aura looks very different when compared to when she was Mas Hasan's wife. His face was more cheerful, like he looked happier. He used to be quiet and moody. His body is there but his mind is nowhere. Maybe he was thinking about Mas Hasan's behavior?

"Hows it? Smoothly?"

"As Sister Rina saw. Has Rina eaten? What do you want to eat let me get you?"

"No, I ate earlier. Make me sweet iced tea if you can."

I'm nodding. Then I made some sweet iced tea for Madam Rina.

"Please have a drink" I said, handing the glass to Ms. Rina. Next I sat down at a table with him.

"I've heard from Eka that you opened a food stall. I just happen to want to breathe some air outside so I'm playing here." Because Sister Rina called Eka's name I remembered again.

"Did Mbak Rina know how Ma'am Eka is doing now? Is she getting a divorce?" many doubt.

"In the process."

"Oh .. so it seems. I didn't know that Ms. Rina was also separated from Mas Hasan."

I don't know the right words to say to a newly divorced person. There is no way I congratulate him on getting a divorce, nor do I say sorry because it seems like Mbak Rina is happier after the divorce.

"My one regret is Emma, why didn't I get divorced from her. Of course I won't hold this heartache for too long. I don't mind Hasan taking my money to give to his mother or sister, but if it's given to another woman, of course I don't. I'm the one who's been lousy working the one who's enjoyed the results."

"How's mom?" I don't know why I still call my in-laws mother.

Sister Rina smiled. "I don't care. I don't care about that family anymore. Given how my mother's attitude towards me was I was still upset, even plus the behavior of her son. How did I survive being their dairy cow all this time?"

"Mother once came to the house, asking for Hasan's property. I don't know what to answer. What shared treasure? What did Hasan do when he married me? I told mom, if there is anything Hasan bought with his own money please take it, please take it but in fact there is no."

"Other mothers may feel guilty if they know the behavior of their children like that, let alone I have contributed a lot in their lives. But our mother-in-law, she is indeed amazing. There's absolutely no shame."