Not the Perfect Wife
274. S2 - ART Candidates
"Bak Rani's in the apartment alone, sister?" afrin asked Ivan as they were on their way to campus.
"Yes, Non" replied Ivan.
"Surely boring," murmured Afrin. "Did Ivan know where Mas Khairi was going? Why, ask Brother Ivan to get me?" ask Afrin.
"I don't know, Non. I was just asked to pick up and drop off to campus" replied Ivan soberly because that was exactly what happened. He is not a person who likes to interfere in the affairs of his superiors. The man only did what he was told. To be honest Ivan was just like Afrin who was curious about what his superiors did, but coming back again, it was none of his business.
"Thank you, yes, Brother Ivan, it's anterin me. You will not have to be picked up. I have an extra class, don't know what time it's coming home?" said Afrin when they arrived in front of the university where the woman studied.
"Yes, No." Afrin got out of the car and left Ivan. He's headed to his classroom. It turns out there's already his friend, Zahra.
"What is this about Madame Khairi? Why is his face bent?" ask Zahra tease.
"It's okay, just bete again. My time on campus was ushered in by his assistant Mas Khairi! He was at home again on leave. There are also cars that are idle. I, can't I, can drive" Afrin grumbled, making Zahra giggle at her.
"Geez, that's it. Khairi's brother may be having some business. He loves you and does not let you go alone. That's why he asked for someone else. That guy isn't someone else either, is he? He's Rani's sister's husband."
"Yes, it's up to him, the important thing is that I get to college" said Afrin, who then opened the book.
*****
Meanwhile, Khairi, who is at home, gathers everyone in the living room, except Papa Hamdan who is resting. There was something she had to say before the man actually moved into this house. Khairi doesn't want anything unwanted to happen. Especially if it's about his wife.
The man had promised the Afrin family that he would take care of the woman. Even if there is no promise, he will keep it. It's true what Papa Hamdan said yesterday. Since Afrin, Khairi's life has changed a lot, more calm and peaceful. The man was not easily provoked by his emotions, unless it was about his family.
"What's Khairi? Why are you asking everyone to gather here?" ask Mama Merry.
"There's something I want to say, Ma," Khairi replied and turned to look at everyone. "Before you all would have known if Afrin and I would have stayed here. Whether temporarily or so, I can't be sure. I just want to say, during my stay here I hope you can put yourself in a position. Treat Afrin like a daughter-in-law in this house. I don't want anything like what happened before to happen again. If that happens, you know the consequences. This time I will not play games. You all understand, right?" ask Khairi.
"Understand me, sir," said Mr. Jono, security guard at Papa Hamdan's house. While the others just keep quiet.
"While only one person answered, I assume you all understand. I thought that was all I said. I hope you guys understand .. You can go back to your respective places." Everyone disbanded too. Only Merry and Khairi stayed there.
"Did Afrin agree to stay here?" mama Merry asked after everyone was out of sight.
"Again, Ma, she doesn't mind living wherever she comes from with me," Khairi replied, keeping Mama Merry quiet.
He no longer asks. The woman turned her gaze towards the flaming television. Honestly in his heart he asked, does Afrin really want to stay here? Remembering what he has experienced. But Khairi said he would stay here. He also has no more questions.
"I hope Mama doesn't make it difficult for Afrin as long as she's here" Khairi said without looking at her mother.
"Mama knows that, before Mama did make a mistake, but that does not mean the next Mama also did the same thing," said Mama Merry.
"I hope it's because I don't want to do something I don't want to do with Mama."
"Sure, I have a responsibility to her so, I have to support my wife."
"Don't forget you also still have responsibilities to parents."
"It is true, but the responsibility of educating children still remains the responsibility of parents. I have no right to educate my parents. I just have the right to remind. As for my wife, until the end of her breath, she was my responsibility in every way. I can't possibly, can I, uh, discipline my parents?" ask Khairi. Mama Merry just fell silent, no longer chiming in on her son's words.
"Mama's going to papa's room. Want to see if papa has taken any medicine yet," said Merry who soon passed without waiting for an answer from Khairi.
The man exhaled his rough breath. Not wanting to think too much, he chose to go pick up his wife. After that, they will go to the apartment to bring some supplies only. Maybe they will stay in the apartment occasionally.
*****
The doorbell of Emran's family home rang, Nayla immediately came out to open the door. Rani usually does. At home there are only Yasna and Nayla.
"Assalamualaikum, good day, ma'am," said a woman.
"Waalaikumsalam, good afternoon, how can I help you?" nayla asked as she watched the woman who was seen carrying a large bag.
"Yesterday Mbak Rani asked me to come here. She said Ms. Yasna needed a housekeeper, is that right?" ask the woman politely.
"Go in first, Ma'am. I call Mother first."
"Yes, Mom. Thank you." Thank you." The woman walks in and sits in the living room while Nayla walks into the house to call Yasna.
"Mother, outside there is a person that Mbak Rani said yesterday. Who wants to register as a domestic assistant here," said Nayla.
"Oh, has he come? Come on, let's get out! Mother wants to know how the person. Is it worth working here or not?" Yasna. "You have the right to judge it too."
"Yes, Mother." They walked out to meet their guests.
Yasna does not have specific criteria for prospective domestic assistants. As long as he was polite, kind, and diligent, that was enough. No matter how the family is in the village. He said it had nothing to do with the work that the person working with him would do.
The woman was very selective in choosing workers because it was before Bik Rahmi stopped Yasna asked the middle-aged woman to find a person who could be trusted and that person was the son of Bik Asih himself.
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