The Story Behind the Curtain
Cynical Change

After the morning prayers passed, Erli prepared breakfast for everyone. Rania, Galang and Rafan walk to the dining room. From a distance Erli heard his in-laws talking to someone, I don't know who? what is clear Zulaika— seems very happy to receive that phone call.

Feeling unwell, Erli sat quietly looking at Zulaika who was busy chatting, the woman who was five months pregnant was intending to have breakfast with the in-laws. However, Zulaika was still busy with her phone, occasionally Erli saw Zulaika's loose laughter.

What makes my mother-in-law so happy? Just this time he laughed until he let out a voice, Erli murmured in his heart.

“Why don't you eat?” Rania looked at Erli while pouring water into the glass.

“Hmm, what is Nia?” Erli raised both his eyebrows.

“Why don't you eat?” ask Rania again.

“Nungguin. It's a pity that he had breakfast alone,” Erli replied with a faint smile.

Rania raised both of her eyebrows while nodding slowly. After everyone finished eating Rania cleaned up the dishes they were wearing and Erli drove Rafan outside the house.

As soon as Rafan and Galang left, Erli went back in and saw Zulaika who had ended his conversation and rushed the in-laws into the room.

Rania glanced at the face of her sister-in-law, feeling pity with Erli immediately the girl followed in her step. Inside there, Zulaika had been dressed neatly and now the middle-aged lung woman was dressing up in front of a mirror.

Rania slightly flinched at the appearance of her mother. As long as Zulaika was widowed; never had Rania seen her mother leave with makeup, she also remembered the words Zulaika had said when she was ten years old.

“After father died, mother promised not to wear lipstick or powder.” This speech was made when Rania asked Zulaika to apply her makeup when she wanted to take part in an inter-school dance competition at that time.

Words that have been proven for ten years, but today's incident made Rania shocked and in her little heart wanted to ask the reason Zulaika was wearing various makeup.

However, he was afraid to ask the reason for his mother, the little girl who was currently twenty years old was just glued to the doorstep with blank eyes looking at Zulaika.

“What do you see?” asked Zulaika while glancing towards her daughter.

“Face Mother.” Rania closed the door and approached Zulaika.

“Since when do you have the intention to give yourself again?” chirps Rania while throwing her face away.

“This morning!” Zulaika placed the thing that he had been holding.

“So the woman should look beautiful and attractive,” continued Zulaika while stroking her daughter's cheek.

Rania is confused by her mother's strange attitude, but she is still trying to think positively about her mother. He thinks Zulaika is stressed at the moment thinking about a clothing boutique that has stood for decades hit by huge losses; as a result of bodong investors who have cheated Zulaika.

While still confused about the efforts of her mother, Rania remembers her sister-in-law who is still waiting for Zulaika.

“Before you go, breakfast first Mom! pity Ms. Erli has been waiting for Mother since. Even he was willing not to eat breakfast for the sake of eating together with Mother,” said Rania Lirih.

“Who told him to wait for me?” zulaika said as she grabbed the tote bag located on the dressing table.

Zulaika's steps came to a halt and the middle-aged woman tidied up her hijab while saying.

“Tell him! I have no appetite with him,” concluded Zulaika while reaching for the doorknob.

When the door was wide open, Erli was already standing in front of the door with glazed eyes.

Rania was quite surprised by the existence of her sister-in-law.

“S-since when was Mbak there?” asked Rania nervously.

“New cocoon, Nia.” Erli forced his lips to smile.

Erli thought Zulaika would embrace him. However, in reality Zulaika did not pay attention to Erli even he passed without asking questions or just a pleasantries.

“Where are you going, early in the morning?” asked Rania who was currently running around trailing Zulaika.

“Little kids don't interfere!” snapped Zulaika while getting into the car.

“Not interfere, Mom. But Rania needs to know, Where are you going?” press Rania while holding Zulaika's wrist.

“You stay home. Take care of the pregnant woman! Don't let him touch my stuff!” zulaika's word with great emphasis.

“Mother why the hell? Since Rania noticed, Mother's attitude is very strange.” Staring at his mother's pair of eyeballs seriously.

Zulaika pushed Rania to the point of falling on the tile.

“I told you, don't ask much! Your job is just to learn, shut up and keep that shit in this house!” snapped Zulaika with glaring eyes.

“Mother ...,” shouted Rania who is currently struggling like a child.

As a result of Rania's scream, Erli half-runs over to Rania who is still sitting on the tile.

“Why you, Dek?” Erli pulled Rania's hand.

“Mother, Ma'am!” said Rania, “ibu is no longer the same, I could push Rania to fall.” Rania rubbed her tears.

“Propay yes, Deck. Maybe mom is thinking a lot, so she is not so aware of her actions.” Persuade Erli gently.

“Mbak, bring no phone?”

Erli nodded and gave his phone to Rania.

“What do you want Dek?” Erli asked again with focused eye contact.

“Mas Galang and Mas Rafan need to know this event, Mbak.” Rania's finger is still dancing on Erli's cell phone screen.

It had been the fifteenth time Rania contacted her brother, but not a single call from her was answered by Galang or Rafan.

“Where the hell are they?” he said while kicking a flower pot.

“Already, don't get angry! We chat inside, it's not nice to see people passing.” Erli noticed a few middle-aged lung women who had been watching them since earlier.

Suddenly Rania snapped at the woman who had been staring at her since.

“What else is in front of our house?” tanyanya ketus, “what do you think, we're shooting!” concluded Rania with a waist-rigged.

The three old women turned right while grumbling, “I'm sure, jeng Laika did not educate him properly.”

“It looks like so. Don't think I saw his attitude,” chimps other women.

Rania, who heard the words of her neighbor, immediately opened the two sandals she was wearing while walking quickly after three neighbors who she had driven away earlier.

“If you dare not talk behind!” pekik Rania with her hands raised upwards.

The three middle-aged lung women turned to look at Rania with glaring eyes.

“Bare you, yes!” said the woman with menor look.

“Fix, Zulaika did not really educate this child,” another female sneer.

Inflamed Rania directly threw the sandal she had been holding since earlier.