Make Me His Substitute
Friend-Only
Scroll tears began to fall over Anjani's cheeks when she remembered the husband who had cheated her a few months ago. Due to deep disappointment, Anjani decided to move to his homeland and replace his father's duties to lead his family-owned company.
"You know Aga, from the beginning I didn't want to marry him. But because of circumstances forced me to marry him. And after I tried to accept him to be my husband, he could have married me to another woman." Anjani sobbed. It is not his heart's intention to reject the fact that he is still legally the wife of another person. But complicated circumstances forced him to reject the reality.
"Anjani, you can't make me take out your pain on your husband."
"I didn't make you an outlet, Aga. I have loved you for a long time. Even until the day I married my husband. And after he hurt me, I believe there's not a single good man but you."
Aga was stunned to hear it. He stared at Anjani's face that was wet with tears. Aga can see the deep sadness on Anjani's face for living such a complicated life.
"But I'm sorry, Anjani. Until now my feelings for you have remained the same. I just think of you as a friend and never more. For your husband, you can finish well. You could've just misunderstood the affair."
Anjani is silent. He only shook his head to indicate that he no longer wanted to talk about anything to the man who had hurt his heart.
"Anjani, you're a good woman. I'm sure God has prepared a good man for you and it's possible that he is your current husband."
"He's not a good man, Aga. He dukes me. Is there a good man who so desperately wishes for his wife? What I lack during being his wife, I try to accept it well but he behaves like that. Aga, I'm sorry I've misunderstood your kindness all along. I thought as time went on you would learn to love me but it turned out that my thinking was wrong." Anjani is embarrassed by her own feelings.
"There's nothing to forgive, Anjani. Maybe it's my fault for being so overdone on you that it makes you wrong."
Anjani did not answer. He rubbed his two wet cheeks with his hands. Aga who saw it immediately took a tissue and handed it to Anjani.
Anjani raised her bowed head. He smiled looking at the face of Aga who was smiling at him. He could feel the calmness of each look at the smile on Aga's face.
"Anjani, I don't mean to interfere in your domestic affairs. But I hope after this you can solve your household problems well."
This time Anjani nodded in agreement to Aga's words. "I'll try. But if I fail, is there a chance that I can be loved by you?" Ask Anjani.
"I'm sorry, until then I just thought of you as my best friend."
Anjani pulled both corners of her lips while enduring the pain in her heart. "Are there other women who fill your heart so hard to love me?" Tanya Anjani made sure.
"I can't answer it."
"No problem. But I can guess that your heart is now filled with other women and that woman is the one I've always been close to lately."
Aga gave no response. And the silence of Aga can be concluded by Anjani as the answer yes.
***