The Woman Behind The Scenes

Chapter 22 - The Stopped Step

A view of a happy little family. That morning Dara, Tomi, and Kio were joking on the balcony of the apartment, spraying water on some Love Bird birds they had in a large cage. Several times, Dara's laughter can be heard. As expected at the beginning of the marriage, this was the family activity he dreamed of.

“Yuk yuk, Kio. It's hot out here,” Tomi hangs back the bird cage in place, then holds Kio into the apartment. The cool air of the AC is so refreshing after a few tens of minutes of being outdoors.

“Where is he? Looky. This clock is not awake yet. What will it be?” again Tomi grumbled about her sister who had not yet come out of the room. Dara smiled, without commenting. He actually knew, Tami had woken up that morning, and was already preparing in her room.

The bedroom door opened, and Tami looked neat, not as usual. Tomi had to swallow because it was bad to think to his sister.

Tami tidied up her hood, then sat down at the dining table, facing Dara's laptop that had been prepared since morning blind.

“Tumben! What's up?” taunting Tomi to his sister who had put on a sullen face because of her brother's babble.

“She has an interview, Bi ..” Dara answered. Tomi rubs her head.

This is the real hope of his sister. He meant well, so that his sister would be productive at an age that was no longer a child. However, Tomi is indeed not a typical person who can be smooth in words to convey his meaning.

“Interview what time?” ask Tomi to her sister who is already wearing headphones.

“This is about to start, Bi,” again Dara who replied. He knew all Tomi's talk would not be touched by his sister-in-law. Tami may have been ‘bad mood’ because of her brother's chatter who thought he was still asleep.

About her habit of waking up a little afternoon, Dara has defended Tami several times in front of her brother. For Dara it's not a big deal. After all, he believes, Tami will change later if you already have a job, especially if you are married later. Still, Tomi had other thoughts so that he continued to be troubled.

The debate between the sisters was not just one or two times. They often argue, Tomi case that can not accept the lifestyle of his sister who sometimes likes to buy something that is not really needed.

Dara felt that all of Tami's traits were a reasonableness, because she was the only daughter among all her sisters. After all, his mother never restricted him.

Tami wagged her hand to signal Tomi to leave, and she answered a video call on her laptop. Dara watched her brother-in-law throughout the conversation. Several times Tami stopped, and thought about what she should say.

Uh! He is also not fluent in foreign languages. Dara became nervous to see her brother-in-law who began to be confused and signal to Dara. What you can do, he can't help because this is a video call.

“Good. Thank you, sir,” Tami suddenly changed speaking in Indonesian.

The video call came to a halt, and Tami's breathing indicated she was so distressed during a conversation with the employer.

“Kok English, Tam?” Dara curious.

“Iya. It turns out that the interview was Indonesian. Just like this sister, it has been here for a long time.” said Tami.

“Then? What said?” keep Dara.

“She said this afternoon again via email,” replied Tami briefly and then stretched her veil.

“Mana can. You have no interview preparation. Why stammer like that,” starts again! Tomi commented, as if it was a pleasure to spark a debate.

“I can only be that limited. How did you sewot?” The unaccepted Tami began to raise her tone.

“Have ... The important thing is done, right?” Dara was always a good mediator whenever the two people argued.

In her heart, Dara also felt that her sister-in-law was not so flexible in answering questions in interviews, and spoke very little with an accent and disorganized words. He himself is not sure if Tami can be accepted to work. This is the first online interview. Several times, Tami had visited two to three offices for interviews, but the results were nil.

“It's already email!” he was shocked to see an email from the company.

Dara rushed to Tami. He also wants to know the outcome.

This time Tomi won again. Tami had just been declared unsuccessful in the job interview she had just conducted. He sat down, then closed the laptop in front of him.

“Failed right? What I said,” is like adding gasoline to a blazing fire, Tomi just snatched.

“I've tried. Can't you not be?” with tears in her eyes, Tami answered her brother who seemed unhappy with the results.

“You? Make an effort? What endeavour? Have you ever sat down to consult with my wife to get a good interview? Have you ever studied a foreign language? That's called a business?” sambar Tomi, and the words made Tami roar in his tears.

What Tomi said was true, and Dara knew her sister-in-law probably thought every interview would be the same. So far, Dara has not dared to comment. He was afraid of mistalking to his brother-in-law, and causing new problems.

“Ya already! I went home to my mom! I'm always wrong here!” Tami spoke to her sister a little loudly.

“Ya already! Go home!” Tomi has no desire to hold her sister. Dara fell silent, hearing their debate. She knew Tami was very depressed about her brother's nature, but she couldn't do much for him. Having a safe household, and a peaceful past few months has been good.  It is not a good idea to add new problems.

Dara follows Tomi who goes into the room. He would put the already-soaked Kio to sleep on his lap. Tomi looks so furious, and Dara often misbehaves when she sees her husband like that.

“Don't hold him ... No need. Let her go home,” Tomi's speech broke the silence in that room. Dara nodded, then covered Kio's body with a thin blanket.

“Bi. Shouldn't you think about it again? Poor him. How many months is it here?”

“I don't want anyone who doesn't know themselves in this apartment. If you want to work, the effort must be maximum. It's not just going to the interview, and the results are nil. Let him go home.” Tomi replied firmly to his wife.

Perhaps, too, what her husband said was a good thing. With Tami home, Dara can save again, because during her time here, Dara has to bear everything for Tami.

“We'll take her later. Coincidentally, I want to be widen. We can also go back to Indonesia.” Connect Tomi.

“Kita?”

“Iya. We're. Me, you, and Kio. We can go home to visit your mother,”.

Dara smiled happily, and spontaneously embraced her husband. It was her dream to go back to visit her mother in Indonesia. Tomi always forbade her to go anywhere, and this time her husband took the initiative to take Dara on vacation to Indonesia.