The Untouched Heart

Chapter 43 - Charity Concert

I looked back at my appearance in front of the mirror. Everything's perfect. My dress is not tight and there are no excessively open parts. I touched my stomach which still showed no sign of pregnancy. Soon after eight weeks of age.

After wearing Hendra's diamond bracelet, I grabbed the bag and went downstairs. At five o'clock in the afternoon, Dad's car entered the yard. I thank Abdi for opening the door and the car for me. I invited them to rest first because I was going to stay at my in-laws' house.

The charity concert was held in a luxurious convention hall. There were so many distinguished people attending. Most of them I have known well thanks to the events I attended with my husband and in-laws.

No one spoke during the concert. Song by song is played with different emotions. I'm not even sleepy at all. As soon as the concert ended with the conductor leading the entire concert show bowing their heads towards the audience, a boisterous applause filled the large hall.

“It's a great concert, baby!” I hugged and kissed Mom's cheek.

“Thank you. You also have a lot to do to encourage me to do this so that it can run well.” Mama replied by kissing Papa's lips. I smiled seeing him. After they let go of each other's embrace, I took turns congratulating my mother-in-law.

People came to congratulate Mama. Me and Papa retreated and stood behind him as one by one people shook Mama's hands and delivered their words of support for her.

The last person to congratulate me surprised me. Not the man but the one who came with him. Judging from the way Mama treated him with respect, I understood that the man had an important position in government agencies.

“Congratulations, Mr. Adhyana. You have an amazing wife. Concert perfect!” praise the man while shaking Papa's hand.

“Thank you, Sir. Thank you for coming to meet our invitation,” said Papa politely. The man then glanced at me.

“This must be your son-in-law. She is much prettier than I heard from people.” The man extended his hand to me. I raised both my hands and placed them in front of my face, apologizing for not being able to shake his hand.

“Bapak is too complimentary. Forgive me, my husband does not allow me to shake hands with anyone,” I said carefully. The man looked at Papa and Mama alternately before he looked back at me. He's laughing a little.

“I understand. Any man would take good care of his wife if she was as beautiful as you.” He looked towards Aldo. “You see? Here's how to keep the right wife.” Aldo just smiled.

“And this young man is ...” said Mama gave a signal to be introduced.

“Vivaldo. Head of sub section at my institution,” said the man proudly. Aldo shook Papa and Mama's hands while saying his name politely. He just smiled at me, understanding that I would not accept his helping hand.

“Are you married or,” Mama said again. I looked at him confused. What makes you interested in knowing more about this man?

“My wife died last year of cancer, Mom,” Aldo replied politely.

“Oh. Ii'm sorry. It was a big loss.” Mom looked towards Papa. As if understanding, Papa wrapped his hands around Mama's waist.

After saying some unimportant things to each other, Papa said goodbye and invited me to come with them. When I passed Aldo, I felt his hand touch mine. Just for a moment, then he immediately let me go. Not wanting to arouse the suspicion of his superior whom I was certain was still directing his attention to me, I did not turn my head.

We entered the room where food and soft drinks had been provided for guests who wanted to talk to the performers. Papa and Mama took me to the table to pick up some cookies and then approached a round table where our names were beautifully printed on paper. A waiter came and put a drink for us on the table. Three glasses of water and three glasses of orange juice.

“I'm fine, Ma. Thank you.” I smiled at him.

“Although I am older, I still do not want to deal with my own son. An angry Hendra is not a pleasant person.” Mama shuddered slowly. Things that I could not understand before, now I can understand well.

We couldn't chat any longer because some people came to invite Papa or Mama to chat. I'm used to being ignored by people, I just listen. My husband's possessive attitude made it difficult for me to get along every time we attended the invitation and those who knew me already knew that I couldn't be friendly to them.

Keeping his words, Mama took us home as soon as the food on our plates was clean. He said something to a woman I knew as his assistant, then approached me and Papa. We also walked out of the hall. Papa looks happy with both of us in his embrace.

Staying at my in-laws' house is nothing new to me. Sometimes when Hendra goes out of town or country, they invite me to spend the weekend at their house. I don't mind because I can do whatever I want without having to follow their routine. Their home is like a second home to me.

The room I've been in is Hendra's room since he was a kid. The room was left as it was without any furniture being replaced. We slept here for the first week of the wedding. Next, we stayed in our own house. So some of our clothes were left in the clothing room.

That morning I woke up in a state of chaos. My stomach was nauseous and I was vomiting in the bathroom. I was sitting limp on the bathroom floor trying to gather energy. The door of the room was knocked, I heard the voice of a waiter saying that he was delivering snacks. When he saw me sitting on the bathroom floor, he immediately put the tray on the nightstand, then approached me. I am so grateful that she helped me get back to bed.

“Do I need to call Big Mistress?” tanyanya panic. I shook my head slowly.

“I'm fine. Thank you for bringing me food. After filling the stomach, this nausea will disappear.” I pacified.

“I'm sorry, Madam. I don't watch the cell phone. Mr. Mahendra has contacted me several times but I am doing another job. If I came sooner, Madam would not be sick like this,” he said regretfully.

“I'm fine. Thank ye. You can already get back to your job.” The woman left reluctantly. Hopefully she doesn't suspect that I'm pregnant and hopefully she doesn't tell Mama what she just witnessed in the bathroom. Hendra and I agreed to keep my pregnancy a secret until she was old enough.

Papa and Mama were already in the dining room when I joined them. My appetite soon improved seeing the breakfast menu served on the table. My chef-in-law is a chef mentor who works at our home. So, his cooking was definitely more delicious than his student.

“From the gazes of the men who looked at you last night, I understand why Hendra so heavily gave us permission to take you to attend the invitation without her.” Papa smiled meaningfully. I can only smile while shaking my head.

“Why do men do that, Pa?” ask Mama confused. “They're married, Zahara too. Why do you see such a beautiful woman? Are you making fun of the woman you're looking at in your head?”

“That's a rhetorical question. Mama already knows the answer.” Papa touched Mama's hand on the table. “I don't do that with any woman, dear.” Mama looked at him in disbelief. I'm laughing a little.

“I believe in Hendra, but not with Papa,” Mama said in a serious tone. Papa looked at me with a pleading look. “Oh, yes, Zahara. Do you know the man whose name is .. oh, yes. Vivaldo. The name is very difficult.”

“What's with him, Ma?” My heart started to beat hard. I hate it when I have to talk about the past.

“He did not take his gaze off you. His attitude is too bold for someone who just knew you last night,” Mama said suspiciously. “Do you know him? Who her? Why is he staring at you as if he misses you so much?”