Bonds Without Love
ITC #86

The funeral of Maria's mother was completed about four hours ago, leaving her with deep wounds for many people including Bhishma, even Erina's husband couldn't stop crying until she fell asleep on the couch.

Erina who saw the state of Bhishma really felt worried, especially Bhishma had not eaten from last night. Erina approached Bhishma, then sat down near the sofa where Bhishma lay and wiped away the remaining tears on her husband's face.

"It's the first time I've seen you cry over someone other than me. Mas, it looks like Maria's mother means a lot in your life." Erina said softly, but hoped that Bhishma would hear it. Bhishma must know that Erina is jealous because of that.

The bisma suddenly held Erina's hand that was on her face, the man was still sleeping and delirious about something. "Today, I'm sorry." After a few seconds, Bisma spoke again. "sorry, I can't keep my promise to take care of your mother."

Erina pulls her hand from Bhishma, she doesn't believe Bhishma sleeps while mentioning other women and can Erina be jealous? Erina knew she was saddened by Mary's mother's passing, but Erina could not understand her husband's intentions.

"Erin, your husband unconsciously said that, Bhishma has no intention of hurting you." Said Sekar's grandmother patting Erina on the shoulder, the Bhishma's grandmother unintentionally heard her granddaughter's words and saw disappointment on her daughter-in-law's face.

Previously, Sekar's grandmother went into the room of her grandson and daughter-in-law to say goodbye, but Sekar's grandmother heard Bisma mention Kirana's name in front of Erina. Yes, even though Bisma was unconscious, Sekar's grandmother was afraid that Erina would misunderstand.

Erina smiled wryly in response. "Grandma, do you need anything?" Erina asked trying to divert, the woman did not want her grandmother-in-law to talk about the words of Bhishma that hurt her a little.

"No, thank you. I'm going back to the office, I have a lot of things to take care of there." Reply grandma Sekar ended with a sigh. "Erin, you should know that Karina is only the girl that Bhishma considers her own biological sister."

"Hm, I know. mas Bisma told me about Karina." Erina said still with a smile that adorned her lips even though her eyes looked swollen from crying to see Bisma who almost kept crying.

In fact, Bisma never told about Karina and the person who made Erina know who Karina was Leo, but Erina was forced to tell lies, Erina did not want Sekar's grandmother to worry about their relationship.

"So, I love Bhishma, but Bhishma never liked her as a woman, you know that?" Sekar's grandmother asked to make sure, she was still afraid that Erina misunderstood Bisma and Erina just nodded in response to the grandmother.

"I also knew that Karin was dead, so the grandmother was calm, I understood the reason why the Bhishma called Karin's name, because she loved Maria and Karin's mother." Added Erina and made Grandma Sekar feel relieved.

"Good, then grandma's gone now, please take care of grandma's granddaughter. Erin, you and Bhishma have to live happily so that I don't feel guilty for setting you up." After that Grandma Sekar completely left the mansion.

Erina did not have time to offer Grandma Sekar for lunch together considering that soon it will enter the lunch hour. Erina could not focus on herself or others because of the delirious words of Bhishma.

Erina stared at Sekar's grandmother's departure, before finally looking back at Bisma, her husband still looks slumbering. Erina got up from there, then took a blanket from the closet and covered the body of Bhishma up to the chest.

"Mas, I'll cook for a minute." Erina said, then kissed Bhishma on the forehead and went to the kitchen to cook. Erina took all the ingredients from the refrigerator, she intended to make various dishes for her husband who had not eaten from yesterday.

Erina made lunch in aid of Maya and Siti, she did not dare to cook alone because of the agreement that had been agreed, Erina would not bother doing maid duties except to give a little help to them.

But, instead of helping her name if Erina who intervened to cook all the food, Maya and Siti only helped serve Erina cuisine to the dining table. Erina does that every day and the maids can't protest.

Erina smilingly stared at the food on the table, finally it all happened after about thirty minutes Erina was struggling with her kitchen. Erina hopes Bhishma likes her food and soon forgets about the death of Maria's mother.

"Maya, I'll go to the room for a while, please make some warm tea for my husband." Erina said, then left the dining room without waiting for Maya's answer first, Erina knew Maya would do as she said.

"Mas, are you awake?" Erina asked as she entered the room and saw that her husband had already opened his eyes. Erina smiled and squatted down near the sofa where Bhishma was lying. While Bhishma only looked at the woman.

"Mas, I've cooked your favorite rib soup, how about we eat now?" Erina showed her sweet smile to Bhishma.

"You cook?" Bisma asked repeating Erina's words, her voice sounded hoarse because she just woke up and cried too long.

"Oh, I mean--"

"Mas is not hungry, you eat." Bisma's words cut through Erina's words, the man already knew his wife's behavior without needing an explanation.

"But I've been cooking-"

"Mas didn't tell you to cook." Bisma again interrupted Erina's words, but now unknowingly the man had hurt his wife.

It is true that Bisma did not tell Erina to cook, but Erina was only doing her duty as a wife and should have been able to appreciate Erina's efforts more for her. Erina tried to keep showing her smile.

"Yes, I know. mas did not tell me to cook, but mas must still eat because I made it." Erina said calmly.

Bisma got up from the sofa, Erina smiled as she thought her husband had changed his mind, but instead Bhishma said something that hurt the woman more. In fact, Bisma said that while showing her flat face.

"Erin, I've been following you all this time, but now that I'm getting tired, you can eat by yourself, I'm really not hungry." Bhishma.

"But I haven't eaten-"

"How many times do I have to say it? I'm not hungry! Erin, can't you hear that?" Bisma asked raised her voice.

"Please stop pushy because I don't want to eat your rib soup." Bisma continues to become and succeeds in making Erina cry.

Erina held her hand that would hold the hand of Bhishma, she did not expect that Bhishma would dare to snap at her just because of such a small matter, Erina tried to persuade Bisma to eat and it did not even deserve to be called a problem.

"Alright, the soup I made is indeed more fitting in the trash than your mouth." Erina said, then stood up with eyes that continued to water.

Bisma was stunned to see Erina crying, Bhishma did not remember what she had said, all of it just came out of her mouth, she said, he realized that he had injured Erina when he saw tears on the face of the woman he loved.

Bisma is used to choosing to patiently face his wife, but knowing Erina has cooked successfully provoked his emotions, especially Erina forced him to eat, Bisma feels Erina has been very outrageous to manage her life.

"Erin-"

"Mas, I'll stop cooking, I won't serve you any more trash." Erina interjected the words of Bisma while holding back the tightness of the chest.

"Honey, that's not what I mean, I-"

"I'm sorry I'm so bad to use your kitchen, from now on I'll know myself better." Erina interrupted her husband's words.

"Erin, wait!" Shouted Bisma trying to chase after his wife who went down the stairs, strangely Bisma's steps were defeated by Erina's small legs.

Bisma wanted to ask Erina to be careful as they went down the stairs, and she was worried that her wife had fallen as she had, but Bhishma suddenly found it difficult to make her voice, it was like something was stuck in his throat.

"Mrs Erin, warm tea-"

"Dispose of it!" Erina said cutting off Maya's words when the maid intended to tell her that the warm tea for Bhishma was done.

Erina snatched the tea cup from Maya's hand, then took it to the sink and threw the tea there still with watery eyes, just seconds after Erina muttered an apology. Erina realized she shouldn't vent it to Maya who doesn't know anything.

"Honey, I'm sorry, I'll eat your rib soup." Bisma immediately sat at the dining table and intended to eat his wife's cooking.

But, Erina came and took the bowl of soup before Bisma could touch it, then Erina also threw it into the trash.

"Max ..." Bisma screeched at the trash and his wife took turns, Erina did not mess with her words, her favorite rib soup actually went into the trash.

"Mas, I never forced you to obey me." Erina looked at her husband.

"Mas knows! I'm really sorry to have said something rude to you, but why should you throw away the rib soup ..."

"Forget about the rib soup!" Erina interjected the words of Bhishma. Honestly, Erina felt hurt to remember the rib soup that was rejected by Bhishma.

"Darling ..." Lirih Bisma tried to grab Erina's hand, but her wife dodged faster and made Bisma feel very guilty.

"Mas, I'll stop taking care of you, you have a lot of money and of course you don't need me to take care of you."

"Dear, please listen-"

"Please don't interrupt!"

Bisma sighed, then instructed Maya who was still there to leave them. Maya immediately followed the instructions that Bisma gave, the maid knew the two masters were fighting. Because the cry of Bhishma was heard downstairs.

"I've never forced you to obey me, so from now on do whatever you want to do." Erina.

Erina took a breath before finally leaving Bhishma in the dining room. Erina wanted to forgive Bhishma because her husband could eat, but her already hurt self-esteem refused to forgive. Because the word bisma has been very outrageous.

"Erin, we're not done talking!" Shouted Bisma, then ruffled her hair in frustration as Erina continued to step up and ignore her.

"Bisma, you've gone too far." Leo's comment approached Bisma, the man had been there since hearing Bhishma shout in the room.

"Erin is just doing her job as your wife, but you're saying it's like she's the bad guy who's been managing your life." Continue Leo.

Bhishma ignored Leo's words, she rushed after Erina who went to their room. Leo who saw that was only able to shake his head. Actually, Leo did not expect to hear Bhishma yell at Erina, not knowing what happened to her best friend.

After Maria's mother's funeral, Leo escorted Krystal to the apartment and accompanied the woman briefly in her apartment, Leo thought after Bisma apologized to Erina yesterday everything would be fine, but it turns out that Leo even heard Bisma yelling at his wife.

While Bisma heard Erina crying sobbing, the man set his breath before finally stepping closer to where his wife was lying. Bhishma's steps came to a halt beside the bed, her hands slowly touching Erina's hair and stroking it gently.

"Erin, I'm sorry, please don't cry like this." Bhishma said still with the hand that stroked Erina's hair and kissed the woman's forehead. For God's sake, Bhishma didn't mean to hurt Erina. Because everything just happens without being in control.

Erina held down Bhishma's hand, then her closed eyes opened and looked at Bhishma who was also staring at her. Perhaps Erina had been wrong all this time because it had made Bisma had no other choice but to give up and maybe Erina who was also selfish.

"Darling, I didn't mean-"

"Sorry!" Erina interjected the words of Bhishma.

"Max ..." Lirih Bisma's.

"Mas, there are still other foods that you can eat the better you eat." Erina suddenly forgot her heartache and pride when she saw her husband's guilty face.

Bisma smiled hearing Erina still cared for him, Bhishma thought they would part because of her stupidity today, but it turned out that Erina was still kind enough to tell him to eat.

"Hm, alright, then you should wake up, we'll eat together." Bisma tried to help his wife to wake up.

"If you don't like the food I make for you, you can-"

"Mas love whatever food you cook, let's help you wake up." Bisma is still trying to help Erina wake up.

"Mas, you asked me to open up to you and here I am, although sometimes I like to raise my voice and always be indifferent to many things, but I can at least be snapped."

Bhishma was made to feel even more guilty after hearing Erina's words and Bhishma could not say anything but an apology. Bhishma should not have yelled at his wife, she was too drowning in grief and made him forget the source of his happiness.

"Sorry ..." Seemingly Bhishma, only that word was able to come out of his mouth. Erina took a breath and took a sitting position.

"Mas, you don't need to apologize too often, everything will be fine, you better eat and I'm sorry I can't keep you company, I'll stay here."

~TBC

"It is not good to linger in sadness, other than you will hurt yourself, you can make others hurt."

"Everyone has patience and emotions, just different levels."

Don't forget to leave your tracks. Thanks ❤

Regards,

Nur Alquinsha A's.