News of the ten-billion-rupiah tender still put Naila in a much better mood than she had been in over the past few weeks. For the first time in a long while, she felt that all her sacrifices had not been in vain. Nexora was not a large company yet, but the business that had once been on the verge of bankruptcy was finally beginning to show signs of life. Even Mr. Rudi seemed far more optimistic whenever he talked about the company's future.
That was why, when she returned home that afternoon, Naila hoped she could at least enjoy one peaceful evening without discussing bills, loans, or sudden needs from her husband's family.
It turned out that hope was too much to ask.
She had barely set her work bag on the table when Ardi called her into the living room with an expression she knew all too well. After several years of marriage, Naila had learned that a face like that usually meant a new request was coming.
At first, Ardi spoke casually, asking about her work and what she had been doing at the office. But before long, the conversation turned in a direction that made Naila sigh inwardly.
Lala and her husband were planning to move into a larger rental house.
According to Ardi, the house they lived in now was too cramped and uncomfortable. On top of that, some of their household furniture needed to be replaced so their new home would look more presentable.
Naila did not immediately assume the worst. She thought Ardi was only telling her about it. But that assumption collapsed when her husband began discussing the moving costs, the down payment for the new rental, and other expenses that needed to be paid right away.
What exhausted her even more was the way Ardi presented everything as though the decision had already been made long before she was brought into the conversation.
"Let's help them out for now. Once they're more financially stable, they'll pay us back," Ardi said lightly.
The words left Naila silent for several moments.
She tried to remember the last time any help had actually been paid back.
Lala's family's medical expenses had never been repaid.
The money to redeem Mr. Surya's motorcycle had never been repaid either.
The new laptop bought for Lala was still being paid off in installments under Naila's name.
The more she thought about it, the harder it became to find a single example of a time when her sacrifices had truly been appreciated.
"I just want to know one thing," she said quietly. "Why is it always me they come to whenever there's a problem?"
Ardi looked like he did not understand what she meant.
"They're our family."
"I know."
"When family is struggling, we help them."
Naila gave him a faint smile. She had heard that answer far too many times.
The problem was not helping family. She had never objected to helping people who genuinely needed it. What wore her down was the fact that everyone treated her help as an obligation that could never be refused.
As if her income had been set aside to meet everyone's needs except her own.
Their conversation had not yet ended when they heard the gate outside.
A few moments later, Widya hurried into the house carrying a shopping bag. Her mother-in-law's arrival immediately made Naila realize that the plan to help Lala had been discussed long before she had imagined.
And sure enough.
She had not even been sitting for five minutes when Widya began talking about Lala's new house, complete with reasons why they needed to move immediately and how important family support was during times like these.
At first, Naila still tried to listen patiently. But the longer the conversation went on, the tighter her chest felt.
Not one of them asked whether she could afford it.
Not one of them asked whether she had other needs of her own.
All they discussed was how quickly the money could be sent out.
Even when Naila tried to explain that her financial situation was not as good as they imagined, Widya instead advised her not to be so calculating with her blessings.
According to the woman, family members should help one another without overthinking it.
That finally became the last straw for Naila's patience.
For years, she had held herself back. For years, she had chosen silence to preserve a good relationship with her husband's family. But that afternoon, for the first time, she felt that if she continued to stay silent, no one would ever understand what she was going through.
She looked at Ardi, then at Widya, back and forth before speaking in a voice that remained calm.
"I've never refused to help the family."
"But every time there's a problem, everyone always comes to me. Every time there's a need, the only thing anyone thinks about is my bank account. No one ever asks whether I have plans of my own, needs of my own, or limits to what I can afford."
Widya's expression began to change, while Ardi shifted uncomfortably in his seat, but Naila did not stop.
She had kept too much to herself for too many years.
"I'm a wife, not a money-printing machine. I work every day, save little by little, and think about the future of our household. But every time my hard-earned money accumulates, someone else has already decided where it should go."
Her hands clenched in her lap.
For the first time, she let all the feelings she had kept buried come out exactly as they were.
"I'm not your family's ATM."
The words came without a shout, but their impact was far harsher than any scream.
Naila immediately realized what she had done when she saw Widya's face slowly turn red. The woman's gaze sharpened, while the living room, already tense, now felt like a bed of embers ready to burst into flames at any moment.
And from the way her mother-in-law stood there staring at her, Naila knew the real storm had only just begun.