The Woman Behind The Scenes

Chapter 38 - Mother of Two

“Uhuk uhuk!” the sound of coughing from Ros's room boomed. On leave for a few more days, Dara must accept the fact that Ros will soon stop working because of his illness. Several times, the girl vomited fresh blood from her stomach ulcer disease. The new problem for Dara is, who will take care of Kayla and Kio later when he has to return to work. Although Kayla is a very calm baby, rarely crying unless she wants to drink milk, and changed her diaper, Dara still cannot entrust Kayla to careless people, especially after so long Ros was with them.

“Rest, Ros. Let me cook this afternoon, Kayla happens to sleep.” He told Ros to go back to the room to rest when his hands were about to touch the laundry that was piling up.

“But bu ..”

“Already. There was no buts,” timpal Dara, then signaled with his hand to have Ros return to the room.

Caring for two children is not an easy thing at this time because Kio often experiences tantrums at night, while Dara needs more rest.

The crane!

Her phone rang loudly, Dara rushed to answer the call before the sound of her phone woke up her two sleeping children.

"Halo Brother. I'm going there with Haris huh, sis?” Anna spoke with her cheerful-sounding tone, as usual.

“Iya. When's it coming, An? I haven't cooked.”

“Do not cook. I brought my rendang from here, brother. It's already in Cipanas. Soon to arrive, kok.” Anna said again and greeted the end of their phone conversation.

Anna and Harris will be the first of the Tomi family to visit Dara and her newborn daughter. After Kayla's birth, her in-laws had not come to see her at all, but as numb, Dara did not bother about it.

Several times in between her conversations with Tomi, she asked her husband if his in-laws had always been like this? That is, whether he is not like the grandmother in general who looks energetic and eager to welcome the birth of his grandson.

Tomi recounts that when Farah was with her, her mother was always there to accompany Farah for labor, although Farah never gave birth naturally, always with surgery. It could be that what Tomi said was fuel for Dara to be hateful to her in-laws, but. She chose to focus on taking care of her two children.

Dara has installed CCTV connected to a WiFi connection in their living room, the goal is to be able to monitor Kio more easily if he has to breastfeed Kayla in the room, and Kio plays there. Through CCTV, Tomi often saw his wife who had just given birth 2 months ago often back and forth from the first floor to the second floor carrying their children after falling asleep watching together.

Working without Dara in the office for a few months, makes Tomi get along more closely with other coworkers. It is actually a sponge, which very quickly absorbs new habits transmitted by the association around. Several times, Dara had to expel Tomi to go to shower first because she came home with a thick shirt smelling of cigarette smoke. He is also more often late to go home because he is still chatting after work hours have ended.

Dara's phone shook, a message came in from her husband.

Tom: [I didn't go straight home. I'm gonna go have a coffee with the kids. ]

Dara sighed, this is the umpteenth ‘ngopi’ session this week, but rather than causing a commotion, she would rather just say yes.

Tale: [ OK. Careful. Anna and Haris are on their way here ]

Until there, the message is no longer answered by her husband.

Dara continued to do her homework for hours while the children slept. Then suddenly ...

Tok!

“Kak. Assalamualaikum, sis!” that's Anna's voice. It has arrived apparently. Mood Dara immediately changed, he really liked the presence of Anna, because the woman likes to share stories with him.

Dara gave a warm hug to Anna, after which the woman immediately asked permission for her to clean herself first because driving a motorcycle from Jakarta to Bandung was certainly infested with a lot of dust.

Haris smiled at the sight of his sister-in-law carrying some dry laundry on his shoulders, “sibuk huh, sis? Aa where?”

“Aa haven't come home yet, still go with a friend's office. Let's go in first, rest. Wait for me to make you a drink first, yes.” Dara answered and hurried to leave her sister-in-law.

He returned with a tray of two cups of warm tea and a plate with a roll sponge cake that he made himself.

“Let's drink du-“ Dara's speech stopped when she heard Kio crying, she hurried away to her son. The boy wakes up and may be looking for his mother, Dara carrying Kio who looks still very sleepy. Then, shortly, Kayla's cry was heard. This often happens, when two children cry together, Dara always tries to calm down and will overcome them one by one.

Like a duet, the brother's sister cried along with his mother who was still busy calming Kio.

Dara held Kayla, suckled her a little so she could fall back asleep.

“Kak. If you bother, I can take Kio. That's if you allow it. I can take care of him at my and Haris' place, or at mama.”'s house Anna offered to help. He could see the young woman who had become the mother of two children, looking super busy.

“I don't want to bother, An. My responsibility part.”

“It's the responsibility of brother and husband, brother. My brother needs rest too. I'm sure you haven't had a single break since giving birth,” Anna said again, and this nonsense made Dara speechless. What Anna said was indeed true, since returning home from the maternity clinic, Dara had not slept at all, nor cared for her body properly. Although her postpartum wound had healed, her body still felt sore because it immediately breastfed her baby and took care of Kio, along with when Ros fell ill.

“Lagian Kio is close to me, brother. I'll tell aa. Sister should rest.” Anna added again and greeted with a nod from Dara.

Taking care of two children is not an easy matter, especially Dara also has to take care of her husband, and soon she will return to work. The uplifting and uplifting thing to date is, he tries to convince himself that it is the main task of a wife and mother. This also makes Dara determined to end her productivity as a woman, in the sense that she does not want to have more children.

The presence of Anna and Haris on that day made Dara's job easier. Kio was easily distracted by Anna, and he seemed to really like the woman. They take the boy out for a walk to get some fresh air, while Dara can take care of Ros who is sick when Kayla falls asleep.

At 8:30 p.m., Tomi had not arrived yet, while the rest of the house had gone to bed after dinner together.

“Sayang. Here take the groceries,” Tomi voice resuscitated Dara from her daydream, she immediately approached her husband who was waiting at the door. Two bags of groceries in his hand signifies he has just returned from one of the famous fashion outlets in the city of Bandung.

“Which line? That's me buying clothes for Kio and Kayla. Emmmm there are also souvenirs for my mama.” said Tomi, while taking off her jacket.

“Already in bed. Yes, I'll just clean up. I want to sleep too.”

“Wait first. You cook?”

“Iya I cook,”

“Oh thank goodness. Have you eaten?”

“Already. You want me to prepare some food?”

“Not necessary. Had eaten with Lita, and Rian.” said Tomi then left Dara while continuing to type on her phone.

Dara took her breath, exhaling it with a slight annoyance. He then goes to follow Tomi to the room.

“Kio will be taken with Anna and Haris if you allow. Said I bothered here,” Dara opened the conversation.

“Absolutely you bothered?” Tomi confirms.

“Lumayan. Especially later when it is working, it may increase the hassle because Ros will be home soon,”

Tomi breathed out, then kept her phone in bed.

“Farah also takes care of 3 children. I thought you were easier, right? Only two kids,”

Feeling struck by lightning, Dara could not believe what her husband had just said.

“Farah it does not work, he is sent money every month is certain. Also, she has two older sisters who help to take care of her children, while I'm alone here. Obviously he is lighter. Why should you bring Farah?” Dara answered tightly.

Tomi smiled, smiling as if amused at something.

“I'm not comparing. I asked,” he said.

Dara did not want to answer again the words of her husband, she immediately kept the groceries she received earlier and pulled a blanket and slept without discussing what she had just heard.

“You sleeping? Yeah, I told Haris to take Kio for a while while we find a new nanny. Don't sulk dong, dear.” Tomi tries to knock his sleeping wife behind him. Dara did not flinch, she closed her eyes so as not to get carried away by emotions.