The Substitute Bride of my Best Friend
Accept Your Bad Fate

Shaka's black car has arrived in front of a Middle Eastern-style house. Look at that magnificent and sturdy building from inside the car. "Could Zahira really be in there? But what if there is none? I have to find out where else if she's not at Mama's."

The lawyer's mind raged over the worst possible situation for Zahira until he did not realize that one of the security guards had been standing next to the car and knocked on the window.

Hearing the sound of knocking from outside the window made Shaka come back to his senses. Then, he blinked a few times before finally opening the car window.

"Good night, Mr. Soleh." Shaka greets the guy in navy uniform.

"eeh ... The Shaka. Good night too. Aden wanna go inside the house?" ask security in navy uniform.

Shaka nodded his head. "Really, Sir. Oh yeah, did you see Mama take Zahira to this house this afternoon?"

Seemingly Soleh thought for a moment, recalling whether the master's youngest son-in-law came to the house or not. "It doesn't seem like it, Den Shaka. Last afternoon Ms. Rini went home alone without taking Ms. Zahira."

That made Shaka feel worse. If Zahira isn't in Rini's apartment and house, where is she going? Could he go home to his parents?

***

Not wanting to spend too long in the car, Shaka decided to go into the house immediately. He wanted to find out what caused Rini to yell at him on the phone.

"Is Mama and Papa inside, Bik?" shaka asked one of the house assistants.

"She, Den. Mom and Dad just finished dinner. They were sitting quietly in the living room. Please come in, Den Shaka." The forty-year-old housekeeper opened the door wide until Shaka could get inside.

"Mama, Papa?" call Shaka when he's in the living room.

Rini's forehead puckered when she saw the existence of the child in the house. "Well, how quickly did you come? Not that you're still in Singapore."

Shaka twirled the lazy eyeball. Every time I talk to Rini, her patience is tested. Fortunately he had a high level of patience until when the mother protested, the handsome man was not provoked by emotions. He was asked to rush in. The turn has come to be asked. You freak! grunts in the heart.

"I had just arrived in Jakarta when Mama called me" Shaka said, kissing the back of the hand of the woman who had brought her into the world.

"Good then. So you don't have to wait too long to teach you a lesson." Rini put on a flat face without giving the slightest smile. If usually he warmly welcomes the arrival of Shaka, but for this time it is different. The middle-aged woman was cold because she was still upset over Shaka's attitude towards Zahira.

Both of Shaka's eyebrows furrowed at Rini's words. The tail of the man's eyes looked at Rini and Rio's faces in turn. Trying to guess what really happened. Their faces showed seriousness.

"What the hell is this, Ma, Pa? Why is the atmosphere so tense. Then, it was time on the phone why Mama yelled at me. What am I wrong?" shaka asked without feeling sinful.

"Dumb question! Why are you still asking," snorted Rini annoyed. "Get high up to Australia, but your brain is empty. Is the contents of your brain washed clean by the evil woman to the point of not being able to think clearly!"

Shaka's eyeballs are perfectly wide. A whole new life this time heard Rini say such a rude thing. Even if he and his two twin brothers did misbehave, Rini never scolded him let alone say something that hurt his heart. So why is it different now? Maybe he had made a fatal mistake to make the mother so upset.

Shaka took a deep breath. "I really don't understand what Mom's saying. Please explain to me what this is really about."

Rio looked at Shaka with a fixed gaze. "Who ordered you to go to Singapore? Didn't Papa ask you to look after Zahira until she recovers."

Now Shaka understands why Rini's attitude has changed. The man let out a long sigh and said, "No one ordered me to go there. It's all my own will."

"However, my departure to Singapore has its reasons, Pa, Ma. I went there to prove what Nicholas said that Ziva was close to someone."

"What did you get while you were in Singapore?" rio asked full of probes.

With her head lowered, eyes closed and both hands tightly clutching the edge of the sofa, Shaka said, "I found Ziva in one room with another man. Although they didn't catch them having sex, all the evidence points in that direction."

That instant also heard the sound of someone laughing out loud. Laughter filled the room. "Saucer! That's the reward for a lying husband like you! The man who never gave thanks for getting as good and perfect a wife as my favorite daughter-in-law."

It felt like Rini was satisfied to hear Shaka's words. Slowly, a ray of happiness rose again on her beautiful face.

Rini grabbed the seat cushion next to her, then placed it on her lap. "Abimana Shaka! Mom and Dad never taught me to lie. But this time you lie to all of us, including your wife. Don't you know how Zahira feels when she finds out you lied to her?"

"Sick and disappointed. That is what Zahira felt. Even though your marriage is only a compulsion, but as a wife, of course, she feels sad because you have lied to her for the sake of other women. If Mama was in your wife's position, Mama would have left you as far away as possible. Why live in a household with a man who never once appreciated our existence" said Rini expressed her disappointment towards Shaka. Let her be considered a sadistic mother because she is happy in the suffering of her child. In fact, Shaka's attitude does make anyone feel annoyed.

Shaka's head was getting down. Everything Rini said was true. He admitted his guilt for lying to Zahira. Though his departure to Singapore is not for business but for the sake of self-interest.

"I admit I was wrong, Ma, Pa. Sorry," said Shaka lirih.

"Don't apologize to us, Shaka! Apologize to your wife because she was the one who was hurt the most in this case. Mama and Papa are disappointed but Zahira's heart is more hurt here because you have incised a deep wound." Rini paused for a moment her sentence while closing her eyes. "Mama still remembers Zahira's reaction this morning. He's so devastated and so disappointed in you, son."

"I admit my mistake, Ma. I'm sorry I lied to him."

"Hurry to apologize to Zahira, before it's too late. Don't let you regret for hurting her." Rio chimed in on the words of the wife.

Shaka gathered courage inside the chest. He looked up his head very slowly. Little by little his handsome face was facing across.

"But .. I don't know where Zahira is, Pa, Ma. He left the house without telling anyone."

"What?" Rio and Rini's eyes widened perfectly. Rini even covered her mouth using her palm.

"How can I go. Didn't he ask you for permission to leave the house?" said Rio.

Shaka shook his head quickly. "Zahira didn't send me a message. In fact, his phone number is off."

Rio took a long breath. "Where have you been looking?"

"Garden, hospital and cafe where we hang out first. However, Zahira wasn't there."

"Have you tried to find him at your in-laws' house?" Rini.

Shaka just shook his head in response. "I'm ... afraid of meeting Rayyan's father."

Rini sneers. "That's why don't you ever hurt anybody's girl. Already know your father-in-law is scary, you are looking to die. Now own responsibility for the consequences."

"Mama." Shaka whines like a child.

"Don't be so spoiled! Mama doesn't like to see it!" rini Tegur. The words made Shaka shut up for a moment.

Rio got up from the sofa, then patted the child on the shoulder. "Try finding Zahira at her parents' house. Who knows if he's there."

"If Rayyan introgates you, don't get provoked by emotions! Just listen to what your father-in-law has to say. Papa was sure, he couldn't possibly have done anything as long as your mother-in-law was by his side."

"If Mother Arumi does not exist, how?"

"Then ... Just accept your bad luck!" sahut Rini without burden.

.

.

.

Hello everyone who stopped by the author's friend's work. His story is guaranteed. The title of the work and the pen name are below. 👇