In-laws, Children and Daughters
Innuendoes

Three months later, the wedding reception was over. But Juwita still could not accept the fact that Berliana was the wife of Kenzie Zafran, her own son.

Juwita is becoming more and more. He begins to influence his son, Kenzie, to divorce Berliana on the grounds of not having children quickly. Every word that came out of Juwita's mother's mouth always denigrated Berliana.

Kenzie is asked to go back to his old girlfriend, or if he can find a more beautiful, smart and rich wife like their family. It is not Berliana who has no one, who is only a santri dalem because he cannot pay the cost of boarding school when studying in ponpes.

"Kenzie, mama's been thinking about your marriage to Berliana. We need to talk about something very important." Juwita prevented her son who had just stepped into his own room.

Kenzie looked over and asked. "What's up, mom?"

Kenzie finished dinner and finished his work in the study, while Berliana was asked to rest first. But it turns out that Juwita took advantage of this opportunity to influence Kenzie.

"You've been married to Berliana for about four months, but why isn't she pregnant? Doesn't he want to give you offspring?" asked Juwita in a provocative tone.

Kenzie shakes his head at the question asked by his mother tonight. "Mother, me and Berliana are still trying. Maybe it hasn't been our sustenance." Kenzie replied calmly.

"But you know how important it is to have children in our family? How can you be sure that Berliana seriously wants to give a child to our family?" ask Juwita again, in her stolen tone.

Before answering his mother's question for the umpteenth time, Kenzie let out a long sigh first.

"Hhh..."

"Ma, I'm sure Berliana also wants to get pregnant as soon as possible in order to give offspring to our family. He's even had a couple of urine tests to be sure."

Juwita's mother frowned at the answer given by her son. He did not believe what Kenzie said, which he thought was covering up his wife's shortcomings.

"But it's been three months. Usually, if the woman is fertile it will directly produce. You can get pregnant after a month of marriage. What if you were looking for a more suitable wife for you, who could give you offspring quickly? Maybe you can find a wife from a family that's worth it to us."

Finally Juwita gave a proposal that he usually said. The advice is always the same whenever discussing Kenzie's marriage to Berliana.

"What do you mean, Mama? I can't divorce Berliana just because of this. I married a fine woman and she's already part of our family."

As usual, Kenzie will reject his mother's proposal.

"But, you have to think about the future of our family as well. What if Berliana can't give us offspring for a few more years? This could damage the image of our family in the eyes of the community and the extended family of Kuta!"

Kenzie again let out a long sigh, but this time he threw it away quickly and was impressed violently. "But, Ma, I'm sure we can. I just want to wish him all the best and he's waiting for the results."

Juwita's face turned sour. He thought that Kenzie had forgotten about him, so would not listen to anything he said.

"You don't care about your mom anymore. You only care about your wife, right now!"

After saying so, Juwita left Kenzie who was still standing and wanted to say something, but finally stopped because her mother was gone.

This is like a social jealousy or uncomfortable feeling that arises because the mother feels excluded, replaced by Berliana who according to you there is a social difference between the two of them.

Juwita feels superior to Berliana for having a higher social and financial status, and she is Kenzie's mother who deserves more attention. Berliana did not deserve to be a member of their family because she did not have the same social position as Kenzie.

"Mom, Mama. When did mama realize that Berliana never vilified the mama in front of me," muttered Kenzie, then stepped into her room.

Kenzie knew how his mother treated Berliana, but in fact Berliana never talked about or pitted her against him. That's why Kenzie feels confident that Berliana is a wife and daughter-in-law who should be maintained. Maybe if it was another woman, his wife Kenzie had complained a long time ago or maybe went away from home because she could not stand the treatment of her mother-in-law.

***

Today is Saturday. Kenzie did not go to the office, and had just finished breakfast together with his wife and mother.

But when Berliana cleaned up the dirty tableware to carry in the dishwasher, Juwita again talked about Alice.

Alice, who is now increasingly successful with her career, is of course increasingly famous in the world of artistry and social media.

Juwita again asks Kenzie to go back to Alice, his old girlfriend. Or if not, Kenzie again advised to find a more beautiful wife, smart and rich like their family. It was not Berliana who had no one, and could do nothing to be proud of.

Juwita is talking about Alice, boasting whatever is currently the last by her former lover Kenzie.

"Kenzie, I want us to talk about your marriage to Berliana again. I'm not sure he's the right choice for you."

Kenzie narrowed his eyes hearing his mother's words about Berliana again.

"What do you mean, Mama? I'm happy with Berliana and we can appreciate each other."

But Juwita did not accept the answer given by Kenzie. "But, Kenzie, Berliana doesn't fit in with our family. Our family is famous and is, whereas Berliana is..."

"Ma..."

Juwita's unfinished words, upset her. Now his son has dared to cut off the conversation which he thinks is very important. Though Kenzie himself has memorized where the direction of the conversation will be carried out by his mother.

"You don't appreciate Mama anymore, Kenzie. You have dared to fight back and not pay attention to Mama!"

Juwita's voice was rising, making Berliana and the housemaids turn their heads. They wanted to know what was going on and debated the two who were still at the dinner table.

Over time, Juwita's voice called out the names of Berliana and Alice. They have often heard Juwita who always compare the two.

"Mbak Berli's. Patient ones, Ma'am. The lady did," said one of the housekeepers who had been working in the house for 10 years.

Berliana simply nodded and smiled faintly at the words of the maid. She was also unlikely to be able to fight her mother-in-law, which she certainly respected as the mother of her husband who had become her priest.