Not the Perfect Wife
286. S2 - Nur Hamil?
All have finished eating, as well as Papa Hamdan who ate himself of course with porridge brought by the nurse. The man was able to do small activities, albeit very slowly. Hamdan wanted to talk to Khairi, but he felt bad that there was Merry. Afrin who understood also immediately took her in-laws out.
"Ma, come on, let's get out! We buy clothes, Mama, right, haven't we been out for a few days? Definitely bosen. There is also Mas Khairi here," asked Afrin.
"May," answered Merry without much reason.
The two women left behind two men of different ages. Afrin will take her in-laws to a nearby boutique. But Mama Merry refused.
"We go to the park, Frin," said Mama Merry listlessly.
"Why, Ma? Don't you want to go to the boutique? Want to go somewhere else? Or to your boutique?"
"No need, Mama knows you're asking out so that papa and Khairi can talk together," said Mama Merry calmly by continuing to step foot into the quiet park
"Ma–Mama know from ... where?"
Afrin was shocked to hear the words coming out of her mother-in-law's mouth. Where does the woman know? Did Papa Hamdan tell you about it when he came out earlier? Then, why are they asked out if everyone already knows.
Mama Merry walked up and sat in a long chair. There's a lot of people there. From children to the elderly, from the healthy to the sick. The woman could only look at them without even mingling.
"So Mama didn't sleep when you talked about papa's past."
Afrin sat beside Mama Merry quietly, as if afraid that the chair would collapse if occupied. All the words stuck in his throat. Guilt suddenly came.
"Sorry, Ma. I didn't mean to hurt Mama. I just ...."
"Mama understands. No need to feel guilty. Anyway it's not your fault. It's all my fault for coming into Hamdan's life" Merry said with teary eyes.
"Mama can't talk like that. Mama must believe if the soul mate, sustenance, death, it is only God who rules. Man is just doing his part and trying to get better. Don't be pessimistic just because of your past. If Mama Nur does come back, Mama must show that Mama is a strong wife. That's what Papa needs to accompany him today, tomorrow and beyond" Afrin said, encouraging her in-laws.
Actually in the heart of the woman hesitated, but she did not want to make Mama Merry down. Although the hope Afrin said was pseudo, at least it was to build up her in-laws' mentality. She is also a woman, very much know what it would be like if our husband preferred another woman. Especially his past.
"Thank you for supporting Mama. Though before Mama has often hurt your heart," said Mama Merry by holding the palm of her daughter-in-law.
"Mama don't be like that, for me Mama is also like mother. You are my mother" said Afrin smiling.
"If Nur comes, do you consider him the same?" mama Merry asked with both eyes of Afrin, hoping her daughter-in-law would give an answer that would make her heart relieved.
Afrin understands that Mama Merry is experiencing jealousy. Especially considering how the husband still remembers his past well. However, the woman did not want to give an answer that would only make her happy for a moment and then just pain.
"Of course, Ma. Mama Nur did not raise Mas Khairi, but she did. I don't justify what he's doing. It's just that she's my husband's birth mother and I have to respect and love her. My affection for Mama Merry and Mama Nur is the same, nothing different."
Mama Merry nodded and did not ask again. Afrin is a good woman, no wonder she can still be kind to him. Even though his parents used to hate him.
Meanwhile, inside the ward room, the two men of different ages were silent. Who else if not Papa Hamdan and Khairi. They think about what will be said. Given how big of a secret that the middle-aged man had.
A long sigh sounded earthy making Khairi careless. He knew that Papa Hamdan had coded Afrin to take Mama Merry out, but why was she silent now?
"If no one wants to, Papa, talk about it I should go" said Khairi who wanted to move on.
"I'm sorry, Papa," said Hamdan bowed.
"Sorry for what? Did Papa make a mistake?" ask Khairi pretending to be stupid.
"Many ... Papa made a lot of mistakes. Even Papa could not describe them one by one," Hamdan replied, leaving Khairi scornful.
"Tell me, I will listen to all the mistakes Papa has made" Khairi said casually.
Hamdan took a deep breath and threw it away slowly to relieve the tightness in his chest. The man told his son everything, just as he had told Afrin. Khairi was feeling hurt. Indeed the man already knew everything, but still his heart was wounded hearing all the statements from his father.
Which child is not hurt after hearing if his mother is treated arbitrarily like that. She does maid work when she is a daughter-in-law. Slandered to do contemptible things even though his good intentions want to help. Why is Omanya so willing to do that? Isn't she a woman too?
"Why, Papa, don't believe him?" ask Khairi.
"That's Papa's stupidity. Had Papa not judged him and found out the truth, this would not have happened" Papa Hamdan said with tears in his eyes.
"But unfortunately it's too late. Regret is of no use" Khairi said, making Hamdan's tears flow and crying in silence.
Khairi could not bear to see his papa like this. Moreover, the condition of the man is still not well. As a child, he knew that Hamdan was a stubborn man, but did not expect that it would be that hard to ignore his responsibilities.
"Pa, did you know that you were pregnant when Papa divorced her?" ask Khairi. He knew the answer, just wanted to be sure.
"What's? Ha—pregnant?" asked Hamdan stammered. He was surprised to hear this news. The man did not know about this news and not a single person told him including Nur. Where does Khairi know?
"Yes, my mom was pregnant at the time, but why did Papa let her go?" khairi asked in a disappointed tone.
"Do you know where Nur got pregnant? He didn't say anything at the time. Her stomach is flat too!"
"I found the key in Papa's briefcase. I wonder what the key is. I'm looking for something that fits. After I searched all over Papa's room, it wasn't there. Last night I asked Bik Asih and Fatma to keep Mama's company here so that I would be more free to look for her. Thank God, I finally met you."
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