The Tongue of In-Law

No word of mouth

While Shireen who was in the kitchen to take a bowl of hand washing had heard the words of her sister-in-law. His heart was very sick and sad, but he had promised himself to be strong and firm and would not show his sadness in front of his sister-in-law or mother-in-law.

‘I must be strong and not bileh cingeng,’ inner Shireen in heart.

Although his heart was very sick, he tried to stay calm.

When he was going to eat, his appetite immediately disappeared considering the words of his sister-in-law who hurt and always cornered him. While her mother-in-law who pretended to be nice was sweet in front of Afgan. Even Ms. Nana always showed that she was really considerate of her daughter-in-law.

“Shireen, you eat a lot huh. Do not ignore the words of Afika. Afika is like that. This adds more fish,” said Bu Nana while thrusting fish sauce.

Shireen, who already knew the true nature of her mother-in-law, joined the show as well. She kindly answered her mother-in-law's words even though her heart was very upset.

“Iya Ma'am, thanks,” Shireen replied.

The food that Shireen was chewing on did not taste good in the least. It felt as bland as his current thoughts. Although the dishes at the dinner table are quite delicious but not for Shireen. His tongue did not taste the delicious food because of the words of his sister-in-law just now.

***

After dinner Shireen was about to clean the dining table but was immediately banned by her mother-in-law.

“Shireen, let Afika do it. You are still tired this afternoon just returned from the store,” said Ms. Nana attracted Afghan sympathy.

“Nothing Ma'am,” Shireen replied without caring about her mother-in-law's sickening remark.

In front of Afgan, Ms. Nana looks affectionate and considerate. Even though it is behind Afghanistan, its true nature immediately appears.

Seeing Shireen keep cleaning the dining table Afgan immediately approached him and held his wife's punda.

“Honey, let's sit in the middle of the room. Let Brother Afika do everything. You are still tired.”

“Ngak Mas, I'm fine.”

Afika who heard the words Afgan and his mother was upset.

“Indeed why the hell if Shireen helped clean this dining table. This job is not too heavy, so why is it too forbidding Shireen. Shireen, you wash the dishes,” said Afika commanding her sister-in-law.

Hearing Afika's words, Ms. Nana immediately forbade her.

“Afika... can you do the dishes yourself. Shireen was tired of coming home from the store this afternoon,” said Ms. Nana trying to defend Shireen.

With an upset feeling finally Afika who washes dishes, while Shireen immediately invited her husband to the living room to watch TV. While Ms. Nana helped Afika in the kitchen.

“Mother, why is it too indulgent Shireen,” said Afika who was envious.

Hearing Afika's question, Ms. Nana immediately smiled and approached her daughter.

“You just follow the mother game, Fika,” said Bu Nana in a soft voice for fear of being heard by people.

“What mother means, Fika does not understand,” asked Afika more confused.

“Karin has returned to Indonesia Fika.”

Afika who was washing dishes turned to her mother.

“You are stupid yes Fika.” Ms. Nana looked upset.

“Sunday is now a rich widow and there are even three buttons in this city.”

“Then....?” ask Fika curious.

“Mother wants to unite Karin with Afgan again.”

Hearing her mother's words, Afika was immediately shocked. Afika immediately approached her mother who was wiping the dining table. Afika who was not satisfied with the explanation of her mother immediately pulled her chair and she sat there.

“Mother.... Afgan is married?” said Afika carefully.

“What if you are married?”

“Ngapain Mother unites them. Afgan already have a wife, Mom, should not be like that.”

“You will know for yourself that I lack sympathy for Shireen.,” explained Miss Nana.

“But he is now Mom's daughter-in-law. Likes do not like you have to accept it,” explained Afika annoyed.

“But Karin has everything compared to Shireen who is just a florist. His income was unreliable Fika.”.

Hearing Bu Nana's words, Afika was instantly emotional.

“Mothers have never changed. Mom always sees someone from her treasure.”

“You are now smart to talk yes Fika,” said bu Nana angry.

“Fika told her the truth Mom. You're old, don't ever think about possessions again. Anyway Fika does not agree with the crazy idea of Mom.”

Fika who was very angry immediately left Bu Nana alone in the kitchen.

“Afika, where are you going? I'm not done talking,” said Ms. Nana.

Afika felt sad and disappointed by the words of her mother who wanted to marry Afgan with her old boyfriend. Although Afika does not like Shireen, but heard her mother's plan Afika does not like.

He recalls the divorce he had gone through at the time. At that time her husband's business fell bankrupt making Afika and her husband often noisier. As soon as Bu Nana found out that Afika and her husband were often in a fuss due to his efforts that began to go out of business, Bu Nana instead gave support but vice versa. Nana tries to separate Afika from her husband.

Still remember in Afika's mind the words of her mother at that time.

“For what you hope your husband has nothing left. You don't have Fika's child, so it's easier to separate. Why have a husband if you are a burden. You are beautiful, there are many men who will be interested in you. So you can find a man richer than your husband.”

That's what Bu Nana said at the time made Afika who was upset immediately obeyed her mother's desire to part with her husband. At that time, Afika was mentally destroyed because of the efforts of her husband who went out of business. She used to live luxuriously with property, suddenly everything was destroyed because she had to pay her husband's debt.

In the end, Afika no longer had any treasure. His house had to be confiscated by the bank. Afika and her husband had contracted for the house, but not for long because every day they fought. Ms. Nana who saw this was not helping him but destroying everything. Finally Afika who was in a slump followed the words of her mother.

Now Afika can judge how the nature of her mother. It turns out that his mother only saw someone from his property. This is what Afika felt until now so that Afika felt hated by the nature of her mother who was greedy for property.

After Afika divorced from her husband, she went back to her mother's house. Lately Afika heard from her husband's cousin who said her husband's business was now successful as before. Even Afika had heard that her ex-husband was soon to get married. Of course Afika's feelings were very broken and jealous to hear this news. But there was nothing she could do because of the divorce that occurred at her own request even though at that time her husband was unwilling to divorce her. But because Afika and her mother insisted on divorce, her husband finally divorced Afika when her husband was in a slump.

If you remember this, Afika's hatred for her mother is very large because the most determined to divorce at that time was her own mother.