Sharing Love: Is My Husband Yours?
In-law and Son-in-law

"The sun is high, not yet awake," the babble of my mother outside the room woke me from sleep. I stared at the clock, it was almost seven o'clock. 'I'm bad luck, ' I thought. But I pulled my blanket over my whole body.

"Relsek!" Suddenly the door opened from outside. I didn't lock it last night.

"What time do you want to be molested?" said mom in the doorway.

I just kept quiet, looking at my mother with a lethargic look. "Suami doesn't come home, doesn't mean she can laze," he said and I remained silent, trying to close my eyes.

Then, my mother walked towards my bed. He stood watching me from the tip of his foot to the tip of his head with an unpleasant look. Then, he touched my head. "You have a fever" he said in a high tone of intonation.

"Troubt it, '" his grunts then rushed out of the room.

I put my palms to my forehead, trying to feel the warmth of my body temperature. 'I have a fever, ' I thought. I haven't felt well since last night.

My brain is too dizzy and my heart is too sore to deal with all of this reality.

My husband does not love me, he is like everyone else and ignores me. I'm stuck here without knowing what Mas Darwin really kept secret to me all this time. 'Who am I to ask about the thing Mas Darwin covered? Is it to mom?'

Without me knowing suddenly mother was in my room again. He brought a plate of rice and a glass of water. "Wake up!" he said it harshly. "You must eat to take medicine."

I got up and tried to sit on my bed. "Mom" call me. "Mommy used to say that Darwin loved a woman very much. Is their relationship over? Or was there another woman whom Mas Darwin liked before marrying me?"

"Nothing," replied the mother casually. "Know Darwin's mother only loved Alya. No other woman he likes." Mother's answer is enough to make my heart feel a little pain.

"So his name is Alya" I said.

"Yes. Why why?" ask mother. I just kept quiet.

"That's an old story, Darwin's past. You don't have to worry!"

"What if Mas Darwin still loves him, Mom?" my many.

Mom looked stunned then she said, "Because of this non-no-no thinking, that's why you're sick."

"Hurry and eat rice and take your medicine!" Mother gave me a medicine that was still wrapped in my hand.

I stared at the medicine in my grasp for quite a while and mother realized it. She said, "It's just paracetamol. Don't be afraid, it's not cruel to give you poison."

I smiled a little. Mom thought I thought she was going to poison me. Though, all I think about is that only the current mother cares about me. Even though he scolds me every day, he doesn't like me. But, I can't deny that only he currently cares about me. I was moved by his attitude this morning.

He walked over to Mas Darwin's desk and opened a window nearby. "In the morning the window should be opened so that fresh air enters. So, room air circulation is healthy, not stuffy," he said.

"The day is bright, the room lights should have been turned off. Electricity costs are expensive," he said again while turning off the lights.

"Mom...." I called to make him look. "Thank you" I said. Unknowingly I shed tears. I don't know why my heart is so sad and quite moved because it turns out there are still others who care about me in this house.

"Do you have a problem with Darwin?" Mom immediately fired a question like that at me. "Eat him, you cry."

I just shut up and mom said, "You cover up, I know. Darwin doesn't like weak, whiny women like you."

"What kind of woman did Darwin like?" I immediately hunted my mother with my question.

"Yes, like Alya," said the mother.

"Alya.." I muttered. I was so curious as to what kind of woman named Alya was.

"Alya is an educated woman, Darwin's college friend used to be on campus. She was perfect. Maybe Darwin already has a very happy family now if the mother used to bless them," said the mother bluntly.

"Then, why did Mom stop them from getting married, Mom? Why would you prefer me to be Mas Darwin's wife?" I was so emotional.

"Darwin cannot marry Alya. Until whenever you will never agree," said Mom. "And, the thing you need to underline... I never chose you to be Darwin's wife."

"Because of chance and luck you could be my son's wife, Darwin. Don't interfere with Alya and Darwin! Just take care of your position as Darwin's wife! As a wife you should be able to make your husband happy, not even looking for a scapegoat because Darwin doesn't like you. Alya can't be used as the reason for your household like this. Do not try to find justification for what you are experiencing. In essence, you as a wife are not good at taking care of the husband, fail to please the husband," babble mother. Then he rushed out of the room, leaving me with tears after hearing the words of mother.

I don't understand where my wrong position is. Darwin didn't like me maybe because his heart was filled with other women. Why do you always blame me? I've tried to be a good wife, trying to take my husband's heart. Why don't you realize all that?

Mom always punished me wrong. He never wanted to see the real situation. In fact, Darwin was always away from me from the beginning. If from the beginning he didn't want to learn to like me as his wife, why did he marry me?

This riddle about Mas Darwin I can't answer. 'Why would he marry me? For what?'

I can't think anymore. I called Nelly to spill all the weight of my mind and heart. "Nelly.." call me on the phone with tears.

I also told him everything. I don't think much longer. This household business should not be leaked to anyone else. But, I can't keep going like this. My brain can't think straight anymore. I need some advice.

"Rania, you need to find out what your husband is really hiding? Don't be left like this for too long! Don't give another woman a chance to enter your household!" nelly said after hearing all my stories.

"But how is Nell?" I've lost my mind because I can't think straight.

"You have to come to Indralaya" said Nelly. "Come and see for yourself your husband's situation there!"

I'm speechless. Nelly continued saying, "Your husband can keep secrets from you because you are not beside him. You're in a different city. You can't control what your husband does there."

"Go, see how your husband is there! Maybe that woman is every day next to your husband" Nelly said.

My heart rumbles. 'What is Nelly saying?' Then, I said, "You mean Darwin cheated?"

"It's not impossible, Rania. Your husband is a normal man. You proved it yourself, right?"

I just fell silent, speechless. I can't imagine if it turns out that Mas Darwin was really cheating behind my back, not just liking other women. 'Is that what Nelly said?'