
BEFORE the disaster comes, usually someone will get a hunch. At least that's what the soap opera described hundreds of episodes that Agni sometimes watched with Shia first. The shape of the assortment, the most often they see are glasses and plates that suddenly break.
"Kok can be so, yes" Shia murmured as she watched the main character who was as hot as she received a call from the hospital. "There's no other way to tell us something bad is going to happen."
"The name is also a soap opera, which does not exist to be made up." Agni herself is not the type of person who believes her. His life was too much of a bad test. "Worships, no one knows when they will come. If anyone gets a hunch, it's probably just a coincidence."
Coincidentally.
The short chat was instantly forgotten a few days, even years after. Until this morning, Agni faced a series of strange events. From Rano who was absent sick. His favorite shoe is broken. Then some of the raw materials of the Uak Puput stall that suddenly rotted. As much as possible Agni ignored him; assuming that all of that was just a coincidence on a less favorable day.
*
At the office, Agni greeted her co-workers. It felt normal that he no longer bothered about the things that happened before arriving here. As soon as the elevator door opened, Agni stepped into the room thinking about what food she would bring to Rano's house to visit her later in the afternoon.
"Where is he?"
The shout instantly distracted everyone, including Agni who was about to enter the room. People exchanged looks. Susana on the floor was silent; making footsteps from the direction of the stairs sounded clearer.
"Where is he, Mas?" ask the voice loudly.
"Why do you want to find him?" The second voice made Agni and a few people turn their backs. Dareens. "We can talk about this at home. Don't be embarrassed here!"
"Thy? Can you be ashamed now?" The woman, unmistakably Tanisha, emerged from the top of the stairs with a haughty look. "I'll humiliate you two! Let them know what kind of boss they've been proud of!"
Agni regretted hurriedly going to the office. He should have taken the angkot earlier. It's okay to wait for the driver to ngetem, the important thing is that he avoids the household drama of his boss.
"Where..." Tanisha scanned the room until her eyes tethered to Agni. It might just be Agni's feeling, but the look in the eyes of the figure instantly sharpened as they sat down. "Where are you going!"
"Tanisha, please." Dareen tried to calm him down.
"Why? You want to defend him in front of all your employees?" Hardik Tanisha's. "Truly shameless! Blatantly defending the mistress while your wife is here!"
Agni gawking. Who did Tanisha mean by a mistress?
"You," Tanisha stopped a few steps in front of Agni. The anger on her face made Agni instantly shrivelled, "for many years I tolerated my husband to employ a female secretary. It still seems unbelievable. You guys play behind the back too!"
"Mom, I'm a minute," Agni excited when Dareen hinted him not to mention the name Inggrid, "I have no more relationship with Mr. Dareen than being a secretary."
"Then what is this?" Tanisha took out some photos from the bag and threw them at Agni. "Secretly stopped by our house, got into the hotel and just came out the day after. You guys are doing it in there!"
"Mom, I swear, I'm not playing with fire with Mr. Dareen. It's just a misunderstanding. Isn't that right, sir?"
"Not ask for a defense!" Tanisha almost screamed in front of Agni's face. "I thought you or I fired you from your position!"
Agni wanted to ask for help, but the employees chose to hide. Some even secretly recorded the incident.
"For God's sake, Mom," Agni squeaked. "Maybe I admit to a mistake I did not make."
"Smart you also kink. Did you seduce my husband with that venomous mouth of yours?"
"With all due respect" Agni's voice trembled violently, "Mother accuses the wrong person. I'm not going to drop my pride for the sake of..."
"Much of your talk!"
"Sir Tanisha!"
Plaque!
The sensation of pain mixed with heat spread across Agni's left cheek. Both knees were limp, almost making him fall to the floor. The silence that filled the room slowly filled with murmurs and whispers that Agni did not want to hear. For what filled his mind now was not only shame, but also fear that was so familiar to him.
"Mak Tanisha what the hell, anyway?" The third voice acted out the buzz around him. A voice no less familiar to Agni's ears. "Remember my message? We're not going to play physical."
"She deserves it," Tanisha sobbed. "One slap isn't enough for the less fortunate woman!"
"Mr...." The figure issues a********frustration. "Mas Dareen, can you please take my brother to a quieter place?"
Dareen simply nodded, then guided his now crying wife.
"Hey." A hand patted Agni's shoulder. "Sorry, is anyone hurt?"
Agni's heart was pounding. Is he dreaming? Hopefully so. Since it was possible that after seven years had passed, he was reunited with the man in a bad situation.
**
"Can I see her cheeks for a second? Or do we need to go in your room first?"
However, who was able to withstand the enraged lion? Ishaan can only follow and make sure Tanisha doesn't act rashly.
However, because he rarely stopped by Dareen's office in Bandung, Ishaan was confused to find Tanisha who first entered. He checked one by one the room until he heard a commotion on the floor. Unfortunately when Ishaan finds Tanisha, the older brother has already done the act he feared the most.
The woman, whom Tanisha accuses of being Dareen's mistress, leaned over while holding her cheek. Ishaan then asks Dareen to secure Tanisha, while he takes care of the rest of the commotion.
"Whoever recorded the incident, please delete the video and do not try to spread it to social media." Ishaan glared at the employees on the floor. "We have a team of professional lawyers ready to drag you to the green table."
While the employees were running back to the table and cubicle, Ishaan once again turned to the woman who was still down. Around her feet, the photos Tanisha collected were scattered. Ishaan took them one by one; giving the woman space to calm down.
"If you want to take care of your own wounds, it's okay. I'm going to my sister-in-law's room" she said. "I'm trying to be neutral here, but you don't try to escape before this matter is over."
Without Ishaan guessing, the woman looked up; meeting their gaze.
The photos fell out of Ishaan's hands. Is he dreaming? Hopefully not, because this moment he has been looking forward to for the last seven years.
However, why did they meet in the midst of her brother's household problems?
*
"I'm not Mr. Dareen's mistress."
Ishaan wants to believe. No, he believed fully in Agni's statement. They are not strangers. On the other hand, the collection of photos that Tanisha collected contained the figure of Agni in various places. From Dareen houses to five-star hotels. Everything was taken from a distance, so Agni's face looked hazy. But Tanisha certainly has many ways to identify it.
"I'm honestly confused. My position here is just to help my brother."
"Mother Tanisha," Agni grimaced, "she's the sister you used to tell me about?"
Ishaan nodded. When he offended Tanisha in front of Agni, he never mentioned a name. Perhaps because of that Agni also did not know they were actually brothers.
"Agni, as I said, my position is neutral in this case. Just...." He saw the photos on the table. "I don't want to accuse you of all sorts, but all these portraits clearly make my sister think you're her husband's mistress."
The figure before him fluttered. "I'm serious, sir, I don't mess with Mr. Dareen. I have a boyfriend anyway."
Hearing that statement, Ishaan was dumbstruck
"Daughter?" Ishaan is parroting.
"Yes, he works here as an accountant. Unfortunately today was absent due to illness."
Something sharp pierced Ishaan's heart. Turns out it wasn't just Tanisha who broke her heart today.
"Can I see Mr. Dareen and Ms. Tanisha? I need to get everything straightened out."
"Don't be rash, my brother must still be upset and will act more recklessly when he sees you" Ishaan intercepted. "Let me check. You wait here."
Ishaan hurried to leave Agni's room, but she did not meet the two men directly. He even forgot where his sister-in-law's workspace was. The one place he wanted to go right now was the nearest toilet.
It's too late, inner Ishaan while washing his face. Of course, Agni would choose someone else. Seven years is not a short time to change one's principles. Agni who once claimed not to be interested in committing alone can immediately change direction when meeting the right figure.
Ishaan smiled bitterly. Why isn't he the right person for Agni?
Phone's vibrating. Upon seeing Tanisha's name on the screen, Ishaan immediately received the call.
"I want to go home" whined the brother. "Dareen still doesn't want to admit that he cheated on her with his secretary."
"Don't you hear what he's explaining?"
"He kept his secretary, I don't remember his name."
"Egypti." Ishaan's reflexes. "I'm taking Mommy home now. Position where?"
"I want to go to the HRD first to ask them to make a dismissal letter for the woman!"
"Mister, hey, hey." Ishaan immediately came out of the toilet. Where is this office HRD room? "So Ma'am has become a spectacle for many people, don't be ashamed...."
"Your brother-in-law is ashamed!" Then, Tanisha cut off the conversation.
Ishaan's position is pinned. Despite the evidence, he was sure Agni would not go that far. Then if Agni is not playing with fire, does that mean Dareen is also not cheating?
Or is there another figure who actually became Dareen's mistress?
***