GIRL IN RED
CHAPTER 52. REPLYING TO MOTHER-IN-LAW
As they walk down the path repeatedly Arimbi forces himself to remember because he does not want to be trapped outside anymore. By the time they had finished the tour, Arimbi's legs were sore and tired.Fortunately he was not wearing heels or he was already limping now.
“I want to sit down for a minute, Beni. It is very tiring to walk around this vast complex.”
Arimbi inhales air filling his lung cavity, “Isn't it better to have an electric scooter?” arimbi asked as he walked towards the stone bench and sat down. There are several stone benches and swings scattered throughout the complex for anyone who needs to stop and rest. Beni asks kindly to Arimbi, “Mrs do you remember the way now?”
“About that…..Beni, I'm so tired of walking around so I don't remember anything. Even I'm more fucked up now. What should we do now?”
‘Ah how is this? If the Emir comes back later and he finds out that I haven't taken a walk here, well, I can upset him! Is he going to explode?’ whispered heart Arimbi.
Beni was increasingly speechless as she also knew it was indeed a bit difficult to remember all the streets in the complex. Even the workers there, when first working also lost several times because the path is a bit confusing.
“Hem...then we walk again Madam. If you still don't remember the path, we'll spend the whole day tomorrow walking again. After that, you can remember everything.”
“Alright.” said Arimbi with a sad and tired face.
Dreeet dreeett
Beni's phone rang, he took out and checked the caller's name before answering the call. Arimbi did not know who called Beni but he could hear what they were talking about.
“Please tell Madam Serkan that she will be there in half an hour.”
After the call was over, Beni looked at the arimbi and said, “Mrs Arimbi, Mrs Serkan would like to see you. It will take about half an hour to get to the main house. So we have to go there now. We can't let Mrs Serkan wait for long.”
‘What? My mother-in-law wants to see me? Aissss let alone this? The first time he met he hated me so much and didn't like me.’ he whispered inwardly.
“Beni, do you know why Mrs Serkan wants to meet me?”
Rania Serkan was the Emir's mother and she hated Arimbi for cutting her wrist at the time to reject her marriage proposal which was considered demeaning.
Arimbi was very confident that the meeting would be an unpleasant one. The Emir is in office now, if his mother-in-law tries to make things difficult for him, should he fight back? Or should he accept it in silence? Arimbi really did not know how to react later.
“I don't know Madam either. The butler of the main house who just called me and told me to tell you.”
“Oh! Beni, is there a butler in every house?”
“Iya, Mistress.”
This was the second time he had entered the main house with such a luxurious living room and just like the first time, he was stunned by the luxury around him. Back then the living room was full of people but this time there was only Rania sitting alone on the sofa waiting for her.
Rania looked displeased and when she saw Beni bringing Arimbi in, she greeted him sarcastically, “Are you a turtle? Even turtles get here faster than you!”
“If I were a turtle, he would still be on the road here and only arrive tomorrow.” replied Arimbi no matter if his words sounded sharp.
“If I speak you better shut up! You can't talk back to me! Understand you?”
“Mrs Serkan, I won't talk back when mom's not sane but if mom's in her right mind I have to defend myself!” reply Arimbi no less fierce.
“So you know that I am Mrs Serkan, Arimbi Rafaldi? Don't you realize where you are in this family? The Emir didn't bring you back to let you live comfortably and luxuriously here! You are here to correct your mistakes and you are nothing more than a housekeeper! Unpaid helpers! You should be more respectful when you talk to me, because I am your employer!”
“Oh yes? But the Emir never said I was his maid?” Arimbi is not afraid though. This was the first time he had a feud with Rania. If he retreated then Rania would look down on Arimbi. It is true that he was guilty of slashing his hand to refuse marriage to the Emir but it was a mistake he made before he got back up.
But now Arimbi realises his mistake and he even fixes it by marrying the Emir. He intends to stay by his side for the rest of his life. But that was no reason for Arimbi to let Rania trample on her dignity and pride.
“You?” Rania glared at Arimbi as her index finger pointed at Arimbi.
After a while Rania tried to hold back her hatred and said indifferently, “Forget it. I don't have time to fight with you. I have some clothes I'm going to wear tomorrow but they're dirty and hard to wash. If I take the clothes to the laundry to dry, my clothes will not dry on time. Go and see Lestari, she's in charge of taking care of my clothes and she'll give you those. Wash the clothes for me and remember, be careful when washing them! Don't get damaged and make sure you wash it.”
Arimbi pursed his lips, He knew that this mother-in-law would make things difficult for him. There was no reprimand, no playful hands but Rania Serkan just ruled it like a maid. This is how Rania responds to Arimbi.
“Honored Lady Serkan, your home employs many helpers. It's their job, not mine!” arimbi firmly refused.
“You will do whatever I command! I told you you should respect me more! How can a hick like you talk to me disrespectfully? How ridiculous! That's why you'll forever be a hick! Hmh! You are not worthy to be a member of our family! Disgusting!”
Finally Arimbi realized something after hearing Rania's words just now, without his rejection of the Emir's proposal though, Rania will always look down on Arimbi.
“What's wrong with the villagers? So what if I grew up in a remote area? What am I ha? Am I a shameful person? Did I steal mom's money or food? How did you feel uncomfortable just because I grew up in a remote area? If you insult village people like this, don't eat food and anything from the countryside! Are you sure that all of your ancestors were raised from rich families?”
Rania turned pale, she did not expect that Arimbi could talk to her like that. Arimbi's words pierced her heart deeply but she was unable to repay them. How can there be people who have no ancestors who have been poor and from the village? Doesn't the village first exist, then the city?
“So this is the behavior of a woman from the upper class? Is that the adab that mom has? At least the women from our remote village still have decency and treat people with courtesy and do not look down on others!” Arimbi still does not want to lose. His words were really full of insults and he did not care anymore.He would not let anyone insult him just because he was from the village.