Behind The Boss
Her name is Arini

"What do you mean, Ari? She's your wife and now you're divorcing her? You're sane, Ari?!" Seeing the other woman hurt before his eyes, Kiran's heart thrashed along.

"You don't know, Kiran. We are ...,"

"YOU DON'T WANT TO UNDERSTAND, ARI! Everyone you demand should understand you while you don't want to understand others, do you?!" Ari is shocked by Kiran's rising voice and cuts off her speech.

"Sorry, Mba. But it's not entirely Mas Ari's fault."

A hand held gently Kiran's arm. Yes, the big hijab-wearing woman was trying to calm her down.

"Sorry .., Mas Ari is called Mr. Mahesa." Tina's voice broke the tension between them, undoing Kiran's intention to talk further.

Ari sculpts but then steps following Tina. "I'll go first, Kiran." He looks lethargic to find Kiran's emotions for him.

"I'm sorry" said Ari again to the hijab-wearing woman who was seen wiping her tears. The woman nodded.

"Well, then excuse me, ma'am," said the woman wanted to leave.

"Wait on! There's something I want to talk to you about, of course if you don't mind."

The woman was silent for a moment then nodded.

...***...

"My name is Arini, Ma'am." The girl started her story after Kiran introduced herself. "Sir, don't blame Mas Ari, he's not wrong. We were forced to marry because of circumstances."

"My mother is a widow, Mother. There are no men in our house. It was just me, my mom and my sister, who were all girls. When mom helped Ari, I was not home anymore, Mba. I'm still here. Then I went home because there was no more work. But the people around the house do not accept if mas Ari lives in our house, while mother also can not force mas Ari go because mas Ari himself does not know where to go. We finally got married. Of course just getting married under the hands." There was a gurgle of sadness emanating from the girl's face.

"My goal is here because mom told me to." Kiran saw the girl squeezing her fingers.

"Then how would your mother react if she found out that you are now divorced from Ari?" the question struck, making the two streams of tears of the girl instantly descend from her place.

Kiran sighed, looking ahead. "You can say it's not Ari's fault but you certainly didn't forget your mother's expectations. Any parent who likes their child to divorce. Seeing you who came with a hand just now, I can already guess."

"I can't force Ari, Mba. But I'm also confused if I have to tell my mother this situation."

"Then what can I help you with, Arini? At least I can help you something else." Kiran looked at Arini softly. The big veiled girl who had just gotten a disappointed vent from Ari was stunned. Well, he came at an inopportune time.

Arini smiled bitterly. "Nothing, Mba. Pray for me so I can get through it all. That God might save my mother." Again, a gurat of sadness appeared on his face.

Kiran smelled a smile. "But I have the ability to help you with more than prayer, Arini. Gini-gini I'm still my husband's secretary who owns a lot of companies. Sure there's nothing I can help you with?"

Arini was silent for a moment. Seemed doubtful but then in a soft voice, he said, "If Mbak does not mind, I ask to be given a job and a place to stay. Let me not go home. Let me assume I'm welcome here." He said very well.

"Rarely that?"

"Yes, Ma'am," replied Arini steady.

"good. Tomorrow I'll show you where you live. It just so happens that my former rented house has not been handed over to anyone else. My furniture is still there. But since it has not been cleaned for a long time it may be a bit dusty.

Regarding work, I need to discuss with my husband, Radit.

In the meantime I'll give you some pocket money before you work. Think of this as our thanks because you and your mother have helped Ari."

"Can't, Ma'am. I would be sorry if I had to accept that money. Mom told me not to take anything back from Ari's family." Arini shakes.

"Hemm, so yes. All right then I'm errat. It's an allowance from a sister-in-law to her sister. After all, my salary has always been intact since I got married, so I better give it to you. If the gift from sister-in-law certainly can not? Brother's affectionate sign to his sister?"

"But I've been divorced from Ari, Mba."

"If so, then I will make you my sister. You want to be my foster sister? I have long wanted to have a sister. Thank God there is you, so fulfill my wish."

Arini looked at Kiran with teary eyes. He knew all these reasons were given to Kiran so that she would accept her help. He also knew, it would be nice if he could refuse Kiran's good intentions so as not to burden the woman but to see Kiran's sincerity and her struggling little heart, preventing him from rejecting Kiran's offer because it was what he needed now, he nodded.

"Thank you, Ma'am. I don't know what else to say. Jazakillah kairan Mbak Kiran's estimation." Arini grabbed Kiran's hand and kissed the back of her hands reverently.

Kiran was shocked but let the back of her hand be kissed by Arini. He laughed softly. "Yes-yes. Aamiins. You don't have to say anything anymore. Come on, I'll take you to the room first. You should rest. Look at your tired face." Pulling Arini's arm.

"Rest in Raisa's room." Kiran smiled brightly.

***

"Mba Arini asked you to meet him now in the study." Tina greeted Kiran and Arini, as the two women wanted to go up to the second floor.

Arini looked down awkwardly. "I'm Mba Tina?" tanyanya.

Kiran was shocked because Arini knew Tina's name immediately. Tina too. Did when she called Ari earlier, Tina mentioned her name?

"You can follow Tina, I will wait for you there," Kiran pointed to the lounge on the second floor.

Arini nodded steadily. After thanking Kiran and asking her for permission, she followed Tina into Mr. Mahesa's study. Kiran only caught a glimpse of the door of the study that Tina had closed from the outside as soon as Arini walked in.

Kiran waited long enough after that Arini came out with a face that Kiran herself was unable to interpret. He wanted to ask, but because they had just met, he would let the girl tell him herself.

"Yes, Mba?" arini looks very sad.

"Not really. I watch television too!" Yes, indeed Kiran turned on the television to drive away her boredom.

"Come on, come with me."

Kiran leads Arini up to the third floor and into Raisa's room.

"What time did you leave the house?" kiran asked after the two of them sat on the side of the bed.

"Four ten in the morning, Mba."

"How long have you been nyampe sininya malem. Your house is that far?"

"No, Mba. Join Mang Giman used to anter new palm orders visited here."

"Mang Giman?"

"My neighbors brought the palm oil truck I was riding in, Mba. That truck was also the one that Ari brought yesterday. Because we think Mang Giman knows where Ari mas was revealed so I came here also the same Mang Giman." Kiran.

"Have you eaten?"

Arini was silent for a while still looking doubtful. Kiran could already guess the answer.

"So soon, I'm asking the waiter to prepare your food."

"Mba, no need. I'm not hungry." Arini held Kiran's hand as she wanted to lift the intercom in Raisa's room.

"You're not hungry but as a good host, I want to entertain you."

Arini was silent, unable to argue.

When she finished asking the waiter to bring her dinner for Arini. Kiran started to open some cabinets in the room.

"After eating you can take a shower. Raisa's clothes in this closet you can use. There are new underwear too. You wear it. Because in this room is always ready new underwear because every home Raisa always shopping and in large quantities. So there's always a new stock in the closet."

"Raisa's Ari's sister huh, Mba?".

"Yes." Yeah."

"Now do you want me to be with you or can I stay? My room is next door. You can go to my room through that door. I'll unlock it." Kiran pointed to the connecting door in the room that connected Raisa's room and her room.

"Yes, Mba. God willing, I can do it myself. Make a lot of it, Mba. Thank you so much for the help, Mba." Kiran nodded.

"Then I stay, yeah. Happy break Arini. Later if a waiter knocks on the door, just ask to come in. Don't you hesitate. You're my guest now. Okay?!" Kiran. Arini nodded. He escorted Kiran out of the room. Of course with the accompaniment of thanks to Kiran who always came out of her lips.

****