The Marriage With D
Part 1's
"If you change clothes directly to the kitchen, help Bi Wati ready for dinner, there will be guests tonight"
The line greeted Ara as she passed through the living room. He had just come home from work and had to help prepare dinner, to be honest he was very tired because today there were so many jobs in the office. Plus he had to walk from the highway leading into the house complex because angkot certainly could not enter into the housing. Ara was used to it actually but sometimes the fatigue also came.
After cleaning herself and changing her clothes Ara immediately rushed into the kitchen.
"cook what Bi?"
"eh non Ara. It's just cooking rendang but it's almost finished kok non, non-gausah here must be tired of coming home from work" Bi Wati said as she pushed Ara's arm away from the kitchen area, Bi Wati was indeed the closest to Ara. Bi Wati has been working here since Ara was six years old. In addition to serving as ART Bi Wati was also in charge of caring for Ara when Ara was a child.
"don't Bi. Later if Mama sees me not in the kitchen Mama will be angry. Mama told me to help auntie" said Ara as she walked closer to check the rendang being cooked Bi Wati.
"who is the guest, Bi, how much cooking? the house was also redecorated, I saw Nina - one of the ART - in front of each other again busy living room. Pantes no one's helping Auntie cook."
Bi Wati immediately looked at Ara with a sigh, then he brought both of Ara's hands into his grasp.
"so Aunt had heard he said someone wanted to propose." Clearly Bi Wati with a lethargic face.
"Continue"
"The girl who is in this house right now is only non Ara, Aunt is afraid of non, Aunt is afraid of the same mistress the master married non Ara is the same person who is not good" said Bi Wati with teary eyes.
"it's impossible to be Bi. Aunt must have heard it wrong." Ara was actually a little worried about hearing that, it was not impossible for her mother to marry her in order to get rid of her from this house.
It was no longer a secret in this family about how her mother treated Ara since childhood. Being beaten and locked up in a barn or bathroom has become Ara's daily food.
Even Ara almost died due to being thrown into the pool by her mother when she was seven years old.
"non Ara, said madam non fig told to get ready, and and beautiful." Said Nina coming from the direction of the living room
"this is non from the mistress" continued Nina while handing over the paper bag she had held
Ara received the paper bag and then peeked into the paper bag to see the contents.
A pastel pink dress then Ara looked towards Bi Wati who was also looking at her with a worried face. What he feared was true.
"Ara to the room first ya Bi" said Ara while walking out of the kitchen
Ara knew that Bi Wati was very worried. But all Ara can do is obey, rejecting his feelings for free. Rather than just adding to the problems in this house it was better that he relented.
...****************...
The long-awaited guest finally came, a middle-aged couple that Ara could guess was not from an ordinary family, visible from the appearance of the wife who was so graceful. The dress worn by the woman must be a great designer design, plus some jewelry from famous brands that complement the look.
The dinner is over now these old men are having a pleasant chat. Ara did not pay much attention. Until they choose to move back to sit in the living room. Ara began to realize that the real discussion was about to begin.
Ara sat on the single sofa right next to the female guest, from earlier she continued to pay attention to Ara's appearance while smiling but with a sad look.What's wrong with the woman? The woman named Ayana and her husband who was benama Josh very much attention Ara from when they came.
"What age is she now?" tanya Ayanna opened a chat with Ara who had been silent since
"su-su-already twenty-three aunts" replied Ara nervously
"well, mature enough.." Ara simply nodded while smiling clumsyly in response
"have you heard the meaning and purpose of aunt and o'm here?"
Ara stared at Papa and Mama who threw their eyes away in the other direction. If Ara answered no doubt the guest would feel shocked, because of course he thought Ara already knew about this.
"aunty" Ara chose the safe way, she knew if she answered not then Mama and Papa would be angry, even though in fact she only found out today.
"how? you want to marry a auntie's son"
"Sorry before aunt, but aunt's son has never met Ara, and vice versa. How can two people who don't know each other suddenly get married?" Finally Ara ventured to convey her reluctance, even so she felt a piercing gaze from the direction of her Mama.
"Who? Don't you know Dean?" aunt Ayana looks really surprised
"Dean?" murmured Ara who was heard by Aunt Ayana.
"You don't work at Dean's?" ask aunt Ayana to make sure
"Dean Ardi Nugroho" added aunty Ayana mentioning the full name of the son
The name was very familiar to Ara but where had she heard it?
while trying to remember ara continued to recite the name.
"Dean said he'd met you. You work at the Nugroho Group, right?"
Hearing that instantly Ara's body stiffened instantly, her back was like being doused in cold water. How can the leader in the company where he works is the person who will be betrothed to him? Is it not wrong?
Aunt Ayana was still looking at Ara with a confused look, as if there had been a misunderstanding here.
"Ara you don't joke around, I thought you've seen Dean's picture" Ara just gawked to hear it, she was told about this proposal just this afternoon, that was by Bi Wati.
"You must have forgotten" continued Mama trying to melt the atmosphere a little awward because Ara who looks confused.
"When will the wedding be held?" The question from Papa immediately stole their attention. Ara increasingly felt that her response was not needed here. Ara seemed to want to make a sound again before her eyes accidentally collided with the eyes of the Mama who was looking at her sharply. Finally Ara just chose to bow and be quiet.
"From our side everything is ready Mr. Subroto just determine the date" replied om Josh steadily.
Ara no longer listened to their conversation, she only caught a little of the chat about the date of her wedding which will be held three weeks from now. The event was simple because he said it was a request from the bridegroom who asked for the wedding to be held in the church and without a reception, and would only invite the nuclear family only.
...****************...
Departing today feels very different for Ara, the spirit that is usually passionate to work becomes lost. Her Papa's words this morning really made Ara unable to avoid the marriage.
His head was now filled with worries about the marriage that was in sight. Why should Ara? the question was raging in Ara's mind at the moment. Not to mention the fact that her future husband is Dean Ardi Nugroho. Ara did not know him very well, but Ara little know, he was the leader of the company where he worked, Ara has worked there for almost two years.
ting*
Notification of incoming messages from her mobile phone alerted Ara.
+628233635xxx
*Lunch time you will be picked up by aunty yaa driver, aunty accompany you fitting a wedding dress. Auntie also told your mom.
From aunt Ayana*
Ara simply replied to the message. Everything about this wedding is sudden, everything is like without preparation. They have prepared it he said but the one who is not ready here is Ara. She had never even spoken face to face with her future husband.
Soon Ara will be at the office. What if she meets Dean? Dean must have known him all along. Then why didn't he ever tell Ara? Since when did the man know?
Ara entered the office with mixed feelings, her mood was really bad today. But he is aware that he must remain professional no matter how this place of work, his personal problems should not interfere with his performance as an employee.
Working in a big company does make us have to set aside everything about ourselves, because we are required to always be professional at all times. Even though we are in a very bad state.
But Ara likes to work here, in addition to his salary is good, his work environment is also good.
Is after marriage Ara still able to work here? Maybe he might not, but Ara hopes she can still work even though she is married later.
Other than everything about this impromptu wedding preparation Ara's little heart quietly asked 'what does the man think of him?'