My Husband's Second Love
Episode 6

I looked at my mother with a confused look, "what does this letter mean Mom?" I try to find understanding.

"Are you stupid or naive?"

"Don't you naive pretentious, the letter vividly explains his whereabouts."

"Is it because of this letter that Mas Han came home earlier, did you come to Mas Han's office?"

"I'm asking you not to come here to get Rum's explanation."

"So I don't have to explain anything."

"Originally you know, I just wanted to show you that whatever happens, this marriage will be done."

I was silent, my eyes did not move a single inch from the existence of the map lying on the table.

Back I heard mother's voice, "you can read there, your position will still be the main one, Sekar will only be pregnant with your child. When the baby is born, there will be more options for him. What is clear is that she will never be the legal wife of your husband."

I still have no argument, for me to argue, to give excuses or to ask for justice would be useless.

"You should be grateful, remember where you came from. Even though you're a scholar, your family is a Rum commoner. It's good Nehan married you, your degree so lifted, try otherwise you will just be a poor woman who must work hard to support her mother."

When I heard my mother-in-law's long words, the image of my mother now living in the village alone flashed in my eyes. My net warms up, I can't cry, I have to be strong.

"The only option you have is Rum, asking your husband to marry Sekar, or you will divorce me."

The teak chair I was sitting on seemed to be burning, there was a fire burning all over me. I just want to run away and avoid far from the family he said this noble. The shadow of the happy family that Mas Han once promised yawned somewhere.

"What the fuck are you, ma'am?" my head was as quick as lightning looking towards my father, asking for help to be saved from this situation that made my breath cramped.

"You shut up, sir, don't go on a woman's business. This is my business with your son, you just need to see no need to interfere."

"Rum, let's talk to you here, "my breath feels loose, my lungs are back to breathing oxygen as they please. Without waiting allowed by my mother, I stood up and followed where you were going.

"Sir, I'm not done yet!" shouting mother.

I ignored my mother's screams and walked to the park. This park is called the father of the middle garden because it is located in the middle, surrounded by house buildings, just like the house I lived with Mas Han.

"We sit and enjoy the roses that are blooming Rum."

On one side of the garden there is a table on which there is already a pot of tea and several empty glasses.

"It smells good, doesn't it?" father says.

"Yes sir, fragrant."

"You know Rum, I love roses but I'm scared too."

I listened well. Dad is not an ordinary man, he is an amazing man that I respect a lot.

"Do you know why you love roses?" ask father.

"Because of fragrance?" my answer.

"Yes, that's one of them."

The father looked at me, "in addition to that because roses are a depiction of women."

"I mean father?" I tried to follow where my father was talking.

"According to the father, the woman is like a rose, beautiful because it has many colors, scented, though fragile, easily wilted and falls off if not treated properly, it is beautiful, but actually he has a strong self-defense, can hurt and make someone bleed."

"Father could have been," a strange philosophy about roses. If you do not want to get hurt just cut the durinya and we can be satisfied to enjoy the roses as long as we want.

"And what you like most about roses is that each color is a depiction of a different purpose."

"Because of that, you planted a lot of roses?" my many.

He did not answer, this time he took my hand and patted it slowly, "Rum, you must be strong, be a rose that is not easily fragile, your defense is in yourself Rum. Let Nehan keep roses of different colors at home, but don't let Nehan plant them in your garden. Your garden is yours and you are the main cast."

"What if one day Mas Han decided to plant it secretly sir, the rose would no longer be a table ornament in a vase, anyway, but did you plant it in the garden even though it is placed in a corner and hidden?"

"You can choose another garden so that you can grow free Rum, you deserve your own happiness, without having to hear what people say."

"Which way, what kind of rose mother?" askaju kidding.

"The type is poisonous, the duration is sharp poisonous too, but you like the color and fragrance, so you just have to be careful when you are going to touch so as not to be pierced by thorns."

I bowed my head with a smile, now I am more sure what I will do, as the father said, if there are other roses to be planted in my garden, I could choose to grow in another garden, even though I had to die first.

"I want to go home, Mom. Maghrib almost came, Mas Han called several times asking Rumi to come home."

"Remember my message Rum," I said goodbye, sure of what I was doing.

...***...

Mood Mas Han is still bad. Breakfast with a sullen face leaving for work with a bent face.

Many times he asked me where I was going last afternoon, but I didn't want to say anything. Mr. Dul also I ordered silence. I brought some groceries to disguise my departure to the in-laws' house.

Just like yesterday, this morning after Mas Han left, I secretly have an appointment with Sekar. He said there was something he wanted to tell me.

We met at the agreed place. This young lady is really beautiful and agile, her way of grooming is also classy.

"What do you want to talk about?" I asked without further ado, I began to consider from various sides and points of view of everyone who wanted this marriage to happen.

"I'm sorry, but I've taken the time to ask to meet."

"But it seems we should meet."

"Yes.." I said asking him to continue, straight away, I don't want to spend a lot of time on nonsense.

Just as I took a breath, fixed his seat, "first I will introduce myself personally."

"My name is Sekar, ma'am. I am a secretarial student. I understand my position where, my goal is only one mbak, continue college if necessary to get abroad."

"Why force yourself if you can't afford it, until you sell yourself like this."

"Who said I sold myself, Ajeng's mother, Mas Nehan's mother would still give me education even though I was not willing to marry Mas Nehan, this is only a form of my gratitude. I will leave after your child is born, all in my reckoning, ma'am," he replied confidently.

"Featuredly trust you, do you know the heart is the only thing that can't be counted fluctuations, it will go up and down as it pleases."

"I know, but I also know what to do when my heart demands to be fulfilled by its desires."

"Well, I keep your promise, even though I'm not at all sure of your belief. But we'll see."

After my meeting with Sekar, I was more and more convinced to decide everything, there was no more doubt in my heart. I will fight for us, even though I do not believe in being able to hold you, but I want to obey everyone's wishes.

"You want to make everyone happy but ignore our happiness, Rum."

"Listen to me, I want to be accepted by your whole family. I'd like to be accepted as a full-fledged daughter-in-law, let me follow mother's request."

"What mom told you, what Rum!" my body trembled at the cry of Mas Nehan.

"Mom will force us to divorce mas," Mas Han fell down, he knew that his mother could very well do anything.

"I love you, I want to be with you. Let me make a sacrifice this time, I want to take the opportunity that mother gave me, mas," my tears broke, I sat on the floor of the room. Mas Han followed me sitting down and hugged me tightly.

"I'm sorry Rum, this isn't what I promised you first," just this time I saw Mas Han's netra wet with tears. My beloved husband is crying with me.

...***...

Two weeks passed, the mother's house was busy with endless preparations. I don't know how I should put myself, I want to cue my daughter-in-law in this family, it's too busy it feels funny, because it turns out my heart is upset not playing.

I was in the room with my husband who was constantly angry. Many times I had to tidy up her clothes, but many times it also came back tangled.

"Don't be angry, keep on mas," I said because the mood swing Mas Han makes me dizzy.

"You crazy wife, you know?!"

"Yes I know I'm crazy, but I'm crazy like this for you."

"Where is a wife who wants to be complicated about this."

"Yes.iya."

"Mbak, the forerunner is ready, the groom is asked to be ready on the spot" one of the spell fairies informed us.

"Come on."

"You're crazy, Rum."

"Come, mas.don't like this, like your little boy mas, just sign it anyway, this is just a betel wedding right, so just don't wear it for long."

"Crazy you,"

With dozens of crazy words sliding from Mas Han's lips, I finally managed to bring my husband to the front of the ruler. But my heart trembled violently when I saw my husband's bride so beautiful and young, this rose, was she just going to be a decoration in a vase?