5. Danira's Demand
1652 Words
"I'm heading out, you just stay home, no need to go to the office," Bara said as he was already dressed in his office attire.
"I'll just go back to Mom's house."
"No need, I'm giving you time to rest here! If you go home, you'll end up looking after the kids, and instead of getting better, you'll just get sicker from exhaustion."
Danira sighed wearily, finally giving in and deciding not to argue with Bara. Besides being her husband, Bara was also still her boss. The man had full control over her, especially on a workday like this.
"Why are you silent, are you going to listen or not?"
"Yes."
"Good, I'm leaving."
Danira was surprised when she felt Bara's large hand stroke her head as he was about to leave the room.
But a moment later, Danira gave a wry smile. She wouldn't be swayed by Bara's warm touch. Not like someone who was one of Bara's past women.
Today, Danira decided to rest completely at home. Ratna would cook and clean the house after returning from college later. A middle-aged woman who usually came regularly three times a week to clean her unit was back in her hometown.
Bara being away for two days was enough to make her feel relieved. She didn't have to be anxious when seeing Bara bringing a sexy woman to his room and claiming she was Bara's sister.
***
Danira closed her eyes; her head still ached and felt heavy. She thought two days would be enough to heal her body from the illness, but it turned out that on the third day she still couldn't go to the office. And today was the day Bara was coming home. She could even hear the sound of Bara's shoes knocking, about to enter the room.
"Let's go to the hospital, you need to be admitted."
Bara immediately expressed his intention. He came home earlier to take Danira to the hospital. Ratna contacted him last night to inform him of Danira's unchanged condition.
"No need."
"Don't argue, Ra. If you're sick for too long, I'm the one who loses. I'm doing this not because I care about you. I'm tired of working alone, and the hardest part is holding back the desires in my body that need to be satisfied. I can't do it in a hotel or anywhere else, but in that room, understand?"
Danira sighed heavily; she also didn't want to be cared for by Bara. She could do it herself if she wanted to go to the hospital.
Danira quickly got out of bed, went to the bathroom, and washed her face briefly. She also changed her clothes to something a bit neater. Her body's illness made Danira too lazy to take care of herself.
When she came out of the bathroom, Bara was already ready with Danira's bag in his hand.
"Ready?"
Danira nodded.
"Can you walk to the parking lot by yourself?"
Danira was annoyed with Bara asking so many questions. Didn't he know that her body was very weak when standing for too long like this? It made Danira want to play a little trick on Bara.
"My legs feel really weak. Could you carry me to the parking lot?"
Bara looked at Danira's weary eyes.
"Sure, let me call the parking guy first."
Danira clicked her tongue in annoyance, then walked out of the room first with Bara trailing behind her.
At the main door, Bara stopped her, suddenly squatting in front of Danira.
"Come on, I was just joking earlier."
"No need."
"Or do you want a piggyback ride? But it's more comfortable on the back, you can rest your head so you don't get dizzy. Come on, I'm busy, my work isn't just taking care of you."
Bara's authoritative tone finally made Danira comply with her husband. It was actually quite comfortable being carried like this, resting her head on Bara's broad back.
After arriving at the hospital and getting checked again, it turned out Danira had typhoid. And because of that, she had to be hospitalized for a few days.
"I'll get Mom and Jani to take turns looking after you here."
"No need, it would just trouble them. If I need anything, I can ask the nurse for help," Danira replied.
"That's just the risk of Mom being so eager to have a daughter-in-law and bringing you into the family. She has to be ready to take care of you when you're sick like this or when you give birth and have a child later."
Danira looked at Bara, who was busy with his phone. It seemed the man wasn't really aware of the words coming out of his mouth.
Having a child with Bara? Danira couldn't even imagine it.
"I'm heading home, Jani's already on her way."
"Yes, thank you."
Anjani Dian Aditama is Bara's only sister, a nineteen-year-old girl whom the man cherishes dearly. Sometimes Danira couldn't understand why Bara cared so much for and protected his sister, yet he enjoyed doing such things with his women. Isn't he afraid that the karma he creates might happen to his sister?
But Danira hoped that wouldn't happen. Jani is a good girl, unlike Bara who has too free a life outside the home. Jani is a homebody who still needs to be accompanied by her mother wherever she goes. Jani was even close to her before Bara married her, and several times her mother-in-law asked her to accompany Jani on outings, outside her working hours at the office.
"Sis?"
"Hmm?"
"Can I ask you something? But it's really personal, and don't tell Mas Bara, okay?" Jani said to her sister-in-law.
"What do you want to ask?"
"What's it like to be married, Sis?"
Danira didn't respond immediately. She was confused about how to answer since her marriage was clearly not typical enough to be a standard for marital relationships.
"It depends on how the marriage starts, Jan. If it begins with a loving relationship, it might be happy and enjoyable."
"Aren't you happy being married to Mas Bara, Mbak Danira?" Jani asked, looking at her sister-in-law with pity.
"Why bring me into this, Jan?"
"Hehehee..., sorry Mbak. But in my opinion, the reason Mama married you two is unfair to you, Mbak. So the chances of you being happy in the marriage seem very small to me."
"Tsk, back to your question, why are you asking that?"
"Someone asked me to marry them."
"Your boyfriend?"
"No."
"Who?"
"My lecturer."
"How come?"
"He has a crush on me, but I don't want to date. Mama and Mas Bara do not allow it. What do you think I should do? Should I accept or not?" Jani asked, demanding an answer.
"Do you like him too, Jan?"
"Well, aside from necessity, maybe you could say I like him too."
"What necessity, Jan?" Danira asked, worried that the necessity Jani mentioned might lead to something negative.
"He helps with assignments that can be overwhelming, Mbak. It's really helpful that he can lighten the load."
"Oh."
"But that's the thing, he got emotional and proposed because I refused to date him. What should I do, Mbak? I'm worried she'll be disappointed," Jani said pleadingly.
"My advice is not to marry too young, Jan, because once a woman is married, especially with children, she can't back out under any circumstances. A mother can't afford to be exhausted or give up. Enjoy your youth first. If the man truly loves you and it's not just lust, he'll wait until you're ready."
"Is that so?"
"Never give your heart and love completely to someone, Jan. Leave more room for yourself, so that if we lose them for any reason, it won't hurt as much. You also need to be ready if he chooses to give up rather than wait. You're still young, there are many good men out there," Danira replied at length. She didn't know much about love, but life's experiences had taught her enough about it.
"Okay, thank you so much for the advice, sis. Now I can be at ease and not hesitate to give him an answer," Jani said while hugging Danira tightly.
"Okay, go home now!"
The two women simultaneously turned toward the source of the voice, seeing Bara's towering figure standing behind Jani. They hadn't noticed the man's arrival because of the television Jani had turned on and their serious conversation.
"You're just kicking me out like that? Who was the one insisting I come here?" Jani protested.
"Mom, right? I told Mom to come, but she couldn't, so she sent you."
"Same difference. So, where's my payment?" Jani said, extending her hand.
"What?"
"The payment, of course. What else?"
"Tsk, there's none."
"I'll transfer it to you later, Jan. Thanks for your time," Danira interjected.
"Haha, thanks, Sis. I'll head home then," Jani said, shaking her sister-in-law's hand before leaving the room.
Bara snatched the phone from Danira, intending to transfer money to Anjani himself.
"No need, Ra. I'll handle it later."
"It's okay, I'm worried you'll forget, and she's been waiting here all day. Besides, why did you say there wasn't any? Don't be tight with your own sister when you're generous with others."
Bara snorted; Danira was obviously referring to those women who warmed his bed. Feeling slightly offended, he quickly pulled out his phone, transferred some money, and showed Danira the proof.
"The 'others' you mentioned aren't given money for free, Ra. I pay them because they're tired of working with me. So, get well soon so they can work again."
Danira looked deeply into Bara's eyes.
"If I asked you not to do that at home, or at least be discreet, could you do it?" Danira asked with a hopeful gaze.
"No, I can't."
Danira could only let out a heavy sigh. Bara was still Bara, a man with burning desires.
- Writer
