“What’s going on?” Kartika came over and saw her two sisters-in-law arguing. Especially when she saw how upset Nayra looked.
Nayra turned around. The moment she realized Kartika, her sister-in-law, was standing behind them, she immediately lowered her head and closed her eyes. Kartika saw that Aninda seemed to be wearing a faint smile, while Nayra looked tense. Kartika stood to Nayra’s right.
“What’s wrong, Nay?” Kartika asked again.
“It’s nothing, Sis.” Nayra smiled.
“Don’t lie. I clearly saw you two arguing just now. I don’t want a family that hates one another. I want all of you to get along,” Kartika said.
“Sis Nayra just got here and started getting mad for no reason, Sis. Anin got confused, so she asked Sis Nayra what was wrong. But then she snapped at me like that.”
“Getting mad for no reason, you say? Oh my God, you’re the one who made me like this, Aninda! I wouldn’t be angry or upset if you hadn’t acted like that,” Nayra retorted.
“Then what’s the problem? Talk it out!” Kartika said firmly.
“Sis, I’ve been patient with her this whole time. But she keeps doing things that upset me. Her joke yesterday went way too far,” Nayra said.
“What joke?” Kartika asked.
“I didn’t mean to, Sis. But Sis Nay took it seriously,” Aninda quickly replied.
“How could you not mean to? You clearly—”
“Sweetheart, there you are.” Rafael, Aninda’s husband, came over.
“Do you need something, honey?” Aninda asked.
“I’ve been looking for you. Mom was asking for you. She said not to do anything because all the work has already been assigned to the housekeepers. Don’t tire yourself out, either,” Rafael replied.
“I was just making some milk, honey.”
“Why didn’t you ask me to make it for you?”
“I saw you having a serious conversation with Mom, so I decided to make it myself,” Aninda replied, clinging coquettishly to her husband’s arm. Rafael quickly led his wife out of the kitchen.
“Can we talk in the backyard?” Kartika asked. Nayra immediately nodded and followed her sister-in-law. Nayra had always been very close to Kartika, so it was no wonder Kartika always understood how she felt.
“What did she do, Nay?” Kartika asked.
“Yesterday, I went shopping at Mom’s favorite boutique. I didn’t know Mom and Aninda were going there too. Aninda kept saying things that made me uncomfortable. She said Mom was very attentive to her and bought her everything she needed. Mom bought Anin so many maternity clothes, but I didn’t have a problem with that.” Nayra let out a long sigh. “She deliberately asked the salesclerk to put a large maternity dress in with my purchases. She also said I would need it because I’m pregnant and my belly will get bigger in a few months.”
“Oh my God, why is she treating you like that, Nay? Mom spoils her too much, so she thinks she can treat other people however she wants. She’s a daughter-in-law in this family too. I get annoyed whenever Mom keeps praising Aninda, especially when she says you and Albi should already be pregnant. You really have to be patient,” Kartika replied.
“How much more patient am I supposed to be, Sis? Everything Mom says hurts me, especially when she says things like that in front of our extended family, like she did last night.”
“I understand. If anything else happens, just talk to me. I’ll speak to Mom later.”
Nayra nodded. “Thank you, Sis.”
“Where have you been?” Albi asked.
“I was talking to Sis Tika for a little while, honey. What’s wrong?”
“Let’s have dinner first, then we’ll go straight home. I still have some work to finish,” Albi replied, taking his wife’s hand.
“It’s already late, honey. You still want to work?” Nayra grumbled.
“It’s for you too,” Albi replied, making Nayra smile.
“Albi, here’s some of your favorite food,” Laila said when the two of them reached the dining table.
“Wow, looks like we’re having a feast tonight,” Albi remarked.
“A feast? Don’t you ever eat well at home, Albi?” Aninda asked.
“Sweetheart,” Rafael gently called, stroking his wife’s hand as if signaling her not to start.
“No, I meant at Mom’s house. We eat well every day at home too, especially since my wife’s cooking is always delicious,” Albi quickly replied. “Just look at my stomach. Eating so well all the time has made it completely out of control,” Albi added, patting his stomach.
“A wife is supposed to know how to please her husband in every way—through her cooking, the way she treats him, and of course, in the bedroom.”
Nayra fell silent. She didn’t want to respond to what her mother-in-law had said. Nayra had already given Albi everything. She had also been an obedient wife, so what more could she do? Maybe the only thing she hadn’t been able to give her husband was a child.
“Oh, by the way, Rafael and Aninda will be staying here tonight. I hope Albi is willing to stay too,” Laila added, looking at her son and daughter-in-law.
“Albi still has work to do. He said it has to be finished tonight, so I don’t think we can stay, Mom.” Nayra looked at her husband as if asking Albi to confirm her answer.
“Yes, I still have work to finish, Mom.”
“Can’t you grant Mom’s wish just this once, Albi?” Aninda asked, as usual butting into the conversation.
“Yes, I only want you to stay the night.”
“All right, Albi and Nayra will stay here tonight after all.”
Laila smiled. “That’s much better.”
“Why are we staying here again?” Nayra asked.
“It’s fine. I can finish my work tomorrow morning. Besides, Rendi will help me finish it, so don’t worry,” Albi replied. “Where are you going?” he added when he saw his wife about to leave the room.
“I’m going to get a drink. I’m really thirsty.”
Nayra left the room and headed for the kitchen. She quickly took a bottle of water and poured some into a glass. A moment later, Minah, one of the housekeepers, came in. Nayra smiled and sat down in the kitchen for a moment.
“What are you making, Minah?” Nayra asked.
“I’m making some warm milk for Mom,” Minah replied.
“Oh, I see. Does Mom still drink that milk regularly?”
“Yes. She says it makes her feel stronger,” Minah replied with a smile.
“I’ll take it to her,” Nayra said, suddenly wanting to deliver the drink to her mother-in-law herself.
“Sure. I really need to use the bathroom anyway.”
Nayra smiled, then carried the glass of milk to her mother-in-law. She walked slowly, as if arranging the right words to win back her mother-in-law’s heart. Nayra also thought that if she kept showing her mother-in-law attention, her mother-in-law would surely start paying attention to her again.
“So, Mom, do you agree with what I just said?” Aninda asked.
“Anin, Albi is already married. How could we possibly match him with that woman? Be reasonable, dear.”
“Mom, don’t you want a grandchild from Albi? What’s wrong with asking Albi to marry again? Maybe he’ll have a child right away with another woman. Anin is sure Nayra is the one with the problem, not Albi,” Aninda said.
“The question is whether Albi would agree to marry again. This isn’t simple, Anin.”
“Anin is sure that if you persuade him, Albi will agree and do whatever you ask.” Aninda spoke with complete confidence.
“I’ll try.”
Neither of them realized that Nayra had heard everything they were saying. She immediately began to cry when she heard what her sister-in-law had said. She never imagined that the two of them intended to ask her husband to marry again.
“Do you want to destroy my marriage?” Nayra whispered as she left the room, where her sister-in-law and mother-in-law still remained.