The Woman Behind The Scenes

Chapter 7 - Being the Second

This is crazy ... Dara is not only beautiful, and attractive. He also knew, there were so many men waiting for him, including Bima. At the end of the month after he submitted his resignation from Savana, Bima continued to try to communicate with him.

They do not communicate for several days. Bima certainly became very busy because of the opening of the hotel that had stayed a few days.

On the one hand, Dara was trying to adapt to life in the new city. He tried to look strong, even though it felt mixed to go away leaving behind his mother and the family he loved.

Although it was past a few months, Dara never asked what Bima and Tomi fussed about so the man decided to leave Savana.

In her new town, only Tomi is someone she has known for a long time. Tomi managed to bring this girl along with him. He knew Dara was a woman with a firm stance, she was not easily approached by anyone.

Circumstances, and distances bring them closer to each other. Dara was already able to relax more to Tomi, and the man looked pleasant. He seems to be watching Dara, and every weekend takes him for a walk around the city.

Even so, he never forgot the message from Bima about Tomi.

Dara engages in a pretty serious conversation with Tomi at some point. Tomi showed a picture with three children playing on the porch of a house. So this, Tomi's son Bima told him about.

Tomi also showed a photo of a dark-skinned woman, with dark-colored lips, and pimples all over her face. Name's Farah.

Tomi finally tells her that Farah with him is legally still husband and wife, but she has been mentally several times.

He was so straightforward and vividly told about Farah. Farah used to be a regular employee at a cafe where she also became an important person there. They never dated, and never knew each other.

At a year-end party, Tomi makes the mistake of screwing her while drunk. A few weeks later, the woman approached Tomi at work, and brought a positive pregnancy test.

On the good side of Tomi, he still married Farah even though he did not feel a little like to the woman.

“He's not my type. She is not a woman with an alluring level, the” Tomi explained to Dara.

That woman named Farah doesn't work. According to Tomi, he is not so able to do many things with his careful knowledge. Especially after their first child was born, premature babies often cry for hours.

That's not the only thing Tomi hates about Farah. He told me, the Farah family set a custom dowry that was too high for Tomi's salary that was not much at that time. He had to work hard to fulfill it in order to marry the girl he did not love.

Throughout her marriage to Farah, they only survived being in one house for two years only. The rest, Farah returns to the house her parents took with them her children. He just waited for Tomi to send a monthly allotment of money, at least 75% of Tomi's salary.

Not surprisingly, Tomi often laughs at her almost empty wallet, to Dara. Dara thinks it's something funny. A husband whose finances are subdued under the power of his wife, does indeed exist in the real world.

For some people who have known Tomi, it is common to see her travel with Dara. They even often make jokes if Tomi is going to marry Dara.

Dara turns out to be just a thick sponge. Gradually he absorbed all the feelings and attention given by Tomi. However, he certainly knew it would all be a mistake if he continued it. This man had a woman who was still wearing a wedding ring.  The choice is to forget it, or stay away.

...****************...

Drrta!

Dara's phone vibrated on her desk. Rara sees a short message from an unknown number.

[It's Dara? ]

The message was so short. Dara agreed with a short reply.

Cellphone's ringing. The unknown number made a voice call. Dara unhesitatingly answered him in a friendly tone like he was answering another phone call.

“Iya. It's me, Farah” that voice sounded with an unusual accent.

Farah's? Dara is not sure if this is the same person Tomi told her about.

“Farah? Sorry, Farah who?” he ensures.

The woman in the call was silent for a moment, then replied, “Farah. I'm Tomi's wife. You must have heard a lot about me, Dara ..”

Dara's heart immediately stopped. What was? Why the woman called him.

“Hai. What's up?” that's all Dara can say to Farah. I don't know what's in the woman's head that dares to call Dara.

“I Farah. I'm Tomi's wife. He must have told me a lot about me and my kids. I know you and Tomi, close. He told me. It's okay, he's used to this. You must have heard, he and I got married because of what.” Dara was immediately stunned to hear such precise sentences from Farah.

“Sorry, mom. I was close to Tom. But, not as far as I can think ..” as a fellow woman, Dara does not want this woman to feel disappointed and consider her ignorant.

“Nothing, Dar. You're beautiful. I saw some of your photos. You are young and good in your career. Tomi must be very happy to be close to you. I don't care about that. As long as our allowance here is nothing. Sorry, but something like that happened,” Farah sounds like someone who used to get news of her husband being close to another woman. It is not like a lioness guarding the territory. It seems that this kind of thing she has often talked to her husband.

It's weird ... How Dara felt to turn away from admiring Bima, and turn to like Tomi. Maybe a lot of time spent together, creating a sense of comfort for him. I don't know ...

“Sorry mbak. I never meddled about that. Again, we're not as far away as you can imagine.” That was all Dara could affirm to Farah leading her to the opinion that she agreed to her closeness to Tomi. Anyway, it felt like a mistake.

“Good ... That's my only message. You may not be that far, but my husband goes that far ..” looks like this woman is starting to convince Dara that her husband intends further with her.

“I have to take care of the kids first ... I'm also interested in knowing you more ... We can exchange messages. Maybe through BBM?” go to Dara.

“I .. yes, I don't mind mbak,” Dara said something he really wanted to reject raw.

‘Sial!’ speak to yourself when the call is over. He should have refused the woman's invitation to make friends. Didn't he think about this before? It's certainly not the right thing to do.

Dara picks up her phone, and makes a call to Tomi's number. Just one ring, the call was answered by Tomi.

“Farah phone me. What's up?”

“Iya? He just wants to know you. There's nothing. Can we meet tonight?”

Dara agreed, then decided on the call. He has to meet Tom to find out what happened. With his new, busier job, he doesn't want things like this to interfere with his focus at any time.

Dara opens her BBM, seen a request from Farah. He received the request, and a message quickly entered the inbox list.

Farah: [You are beautiful. I like his picture. ]

Dara did not know what to answer to the woman. He opened the woman's profile picture and watched her. Exactly as described by Tomi. Women with dark skin, dark colored lips, and scattered acne. But as a young woman, Dara never thought that she was better than any woman. He tends not to be confident, even though many people respect him.

Dara: [Thank You. You also. ]

The profile picture on the BBM account suddenly changed. Farah replaced it with a wedding photo. He looks skinny in the photo, and Tomi is not as thin as she is now. Another message is in his inbox list.

Tomi: [See my profile picture. ]

Dara opens Tomi's profile picture. It was a picture of her with Dara at a party at a nightclub. Dara began not understanding the two men.

Dara: [Okay. I hope this won't drag me into any trouble, Tom. ]

Tom: [I'm sure of you. I want to marry you, as soon as possible. Farah knows about this. ]

Dara was silent and very surprised to read the message. He never prepared himself for this kind of thing.

Undeniably, he has been putting his heart on Tomi lately. However, marrying him was not what he wanted.

Dara: [You are married. I can't possibly kick a queen from her throne. ]

Tomi: [But a king has another throne for his concubines. My religion is boasting, Dar. Our country allows. ]

Now, Dara's feelings become mixed. There are so many changes that will be made if he agrees with Tomi's words. He had to convert, become a second wife, and he had no idea what kind of marriage would happen in the polygamy system.

He didn't even know if it was that easy, he would go through it all. His mind became heavy. Why was he suddenly trying to consider all of this?

A lot will change his life. Not only her, but Farah, and everyone related to them.

Dara: [It's not an easy thing. I'm less like the way your wife is. I'm not the slut she thinks I am. Especially to remind me not to touch the children's monthly rations. ]

Tom: [Farah is like that. He doesn't care so much about me. What he always made sure of, my salary went flying to his account on time. ]

Dara: [ Still ... All of this you can't make easy. I can't live with someone who's married. I'm not that strong. ]

...****************...

Dara's face can't be deceptive. He thought hard about what Tomi said. Now they meet to get everything straight.

Tomi has introduced Dara to Farah several times. His wife did not seem so surprised. Several times, her husband was close to other women, but only this time he wanted to invite the woman he was near.

Tomi looked at Dara who kept avoiding eye contact with her. The woman clearly looked confused.

“He'll be here later. Please meet him, and just be normal.” Tomi woke Dara from her long daydream.

“What? When?” Dara was not prepared for what she had just heard.

“Lusa. He brought my second and third children.” Tom answered lightly.

So strange ... Instantly Dara burned the flames of jealousy. He is so close to Tomi, but this time the rightful owner of the man will come. They will definitely stay together for a few days.

The heart can make the mind become incompatible. Dara is suddenly eager to prevent Tomi from letting his wife come.

“As far as you are,” Dara answered briefly and was unable to hide her annoyance.

“I won't room with him. I also have to take into account your feelings ..” it looks like Tomi read what comes to Dara's mind.

“Bu .. that's not what I think. That's no problem. I'm just not ready for this,” Dara tried to cover up her fiery jealousy.

Tomi clasped Dara's hand and tried to convince her.

“Please consider this. I want you. I won't let you down.” His word.

“Not about disappointed me, Tom. It's about disappointed Farah.” Dara felt so heavy with Farah. Another story if Farah is just an ex-wife.

“He doesn't care. We were only married on paper. You will still be with me next,” the man tried to convince Dara.

I don't know ... Dara was so caught up in her own feelings. He himself could not sort out which parts he should avoid at this moment.

...****************...

The room smelled a lot like Dara perfume spray. The girl looked so pretty in a peach-colored knee-length dress, and flat-heeled leather shoes.

Her skin looks so beautiful with her dress. Her makeup was as thin as ever on her white skin.

Dara rushed up to the car that had been waiting for her since a few minutes ago. The car takes her to the hotel where Tomi works. Tomi was waiting for him in the lobby.

Tomi clasped Dara's hand, then entered the elevator towards the fourth floor. In front of a room, they waited. Someone opened the door from the inside, and there was immediately the sound of boisterous boys.

Farah stood behind the door, and said nothing when she saw Tomi coming to hold Dara's hand. He hurried to separate his two children who were fighting over a snack.

Dara pulls her hand from Tomi's. Unlike on the phone, Farah looks unconcerned by Dara's presence. His face looked expressionless and did not want to look at Dara.

Dara instantly became completely wrong. He should not have bothered to come see the woman. This is not a good idea.

“This Dara. You've seen him a few times in the photos, haven't you?” Tomi broke the cold atmosphere in the room. The boys who were playing, suddenly came tugging at the end of Dara's dress, cheerfully. They certainly don't understand what's going on. All they understood was a beautiful girl wearing an attractive dress.

“Iya I already know. We talked a few times through chat. Aren't you, Dar?” farah finally made a sound. A low voice that sounds heavy, for a female size.

“Farah comes home the day after ..” Tomi added, and sits next to Dara.

Dara did not say a word. He was trying to watch the couple. Nothing he seems to be jealous of. Tomi wasn't that close to his wife.

“The kids haven't eaten. Can you please order food at the cafe below?” Farah looked at Tomi. Without further ado, Tomi left the two women alone in the room.

Farah was busy changing her son's clothes. He could see Dara sitting down, and her fragrant perfume.

“On you and Tomi ... I don't agree.” Farah. What he said this time was so different from his attitude through BBM.

“I know, mbak. I told Tomi too. Maybe I should talk to Tomi, because I'm not the one pushing forward.” I don't know what's in her brain, Dara's trying to fight that woman. For him, he will not allow himself to be considered as someone who advances in the marriage of others.

“He cannot be loved. I'm free to talk to him. But if he still wants to marry you, as long as he does not reduce our monthly allowance, I will agree,” now Farah changed her mind again.

Dara thought for a moment. Is it so severe that this woman keeps asserting about the monthly rations?

“I have a job, mbak. During this time I did not wear a dime from Tomi,” Dara maintained her pride.

“I will continue with Tomi, if she asks, and mbak agrees. I know this is wrong,” this time Dara has lost her mind.

“I agree if he keeps pushy. I have to be self-aware, he never wants to live with me. But anyway, my wife is legal according to the law.” Farah confirmed his position.

“I don't know, but listen, his mother doesn't agree with you either. Wouldn't that be hard for you?” he added.

Her mom? Dara never saw what kind of mother Tomi gave birth to. All he knew was that she still worked as a teacher. Tomi once told me that her mother was also a first wife, and her father had married another woman and had children.

This trait ... is like something hereditary.

“Married. Tomi must be really happy with you. Anyway with your job, he can have an allowance,” said Farah again.

...****************...

After that meeting, Dara completely lost her mind. Suddenly, Tomi's name seemed to control all his actions. He gained courage, moved faith. It then made his mother become disappointed, and cut off communication with him. The night she told her she had changed beliefs, Dara slept with swollen eyes from crying for hours.

He has also told his mother that he will marry Tomi. Her siblings are not an outmoded person. They easily get information about Tomi who is married.

All affairs seemed smooth in Tomi's hands. Without waiting for months, everything needed for their wedding, was ready. They have chosen a date at the end of the year, a few days before the year ends.

Farah seems to be fine. He kept sending some messages to Dara. However, Dara rarely replied to those messages. Dara could not focus on anything else, while she felt a tremendous jumble ahead of her wedding.

That morning, several co-workers were busy accompanying Dara. In that suite room, Dara was being groomed. It looks different than usual. On a normal day, he only wears thin makeup on his face. This time, on her important day, she was dressed as a princess.

He didn't meet Tomi that morning. This is not done for couples who will hold a marriage. Tomi will be able to find him when the contract is done.

In the chaos, Dara waited with her friends in the room. He had to wipe his sweaty palms several times. Still, he thought about his mother. Until that moment, he thought of many things.

Dong ding!

The room bell rings. One of Dara's friends rushed to see from the peeping glass at the door.

“From. Congratulations, Dar. You've been picked up by your husband, tuh.” He hugged Dara happily and opened the door.

Tomi in a gray suit and neat hair stood at the door. He smiled at Dara, and Dara returned the smile.

‘This leg ... He became my husband ... I have become the woman's honey ..’ she thought in heart.