My House of Resilience
Chapters 27. Quarrelling

Ari was riding his motorcycle. The money she had given Tanti was rejected by the woman. The envelope went back into his shirt pocket. He did not return home to his parents, but went straight home to Marlena, his wife. His current workplace is very close to his current place.

"Mas, you just got back?" ask Marlena.

"Yes, I'm taking a break, yeah! I'm so tired." Ari doesn't usually behave like this. After finding out Marlena was pregnant, she changed more. However, Marlena does not yet know what the reason is.

Marlena just said yes. The journey from the house of in-laws to his residence took several hours.

During the divorce proceedings between Ari and Tanti, much has changed from the man. That man wasn't as loyal either. Especially some time ago, Marlena had held a pregnancy thanksgiving. However, Ari's family asked her to be given a thanksgiving at her home. He said he only made rice blessing and other completeness of the tingkeban. Marlena was not invited there. Only photographic evidence of food will be shared with close neighbors and families, he said.

"Mas!" call Marlena. She shook her husband's body so that he would wake up, but his snoring voice rose. To stand up to leave her husband asleep, Marlena's hand accidentally touched something thick in the pocket of her husband's shirt..

Whatisthis? How thick?

Marlena took it. His curiosity is quite high. He saw an envelope that might contain money because he had not opened it yet.

"Amplop for whom? These last few days, I asked for money, but he didn't give me the excuse of not having money. Even during divorce proceedings. Who is this money for? The more you come here, the stingier you are, Mas" complained Marlena in a soft voice.

Marlena took the envelope to keep it for a while. Later if Ari is awake, he will ask for details of the envelope he holds.

The awaited time arrives. Ari had already come out of her room in a neat state. Have taken a shower and don't look like a miserable person.

"Mas, are you neat? Where are you going?" ask Marlena.

"I want to sit in the living room, enjoy the afternoon. Why?" the answer is very light.

"Mas, I'm asking for money! Make pregnancy control to the hospital" Marlena said.

"There is no money" replied Ari. He was trying to remember the money that Tanti had returned. Ari went back to the room to check the pocket of his shirt that had gone into the dirty laundry.

Ari does not realize that Marlena is following him. Marlena remained silent until Ari let out a confused voice.

"Where do I keep it? Did it fall on the road?" Ari was roughing her hair.

"You looking for this, Mom?" Marlena showed the envelope that was still neat so Ari shifted her gaze.

"You took it?" accuse Ari.

"It's for me, right?" ask Marlena who is acting like a plain pretender. He will soon detonate a time bomb.

"Dek, return!" ari pinta.

"Eit, what was this? For who? Is it for another woman? Not satisfied already double? Or, do you want to repeat the same story?" Marlena deliberately asked a variety of questions.

If you say Marlena is braver than Tanti, it is true. Wait for a calm woman who resigned, but slowly began to rise. When it comes to Marlena, she'd rather have a direct confrontation than wait for an unclear time.

Marlena pulled the money and hid it in her pocket.

"Can't! All this time I've been patient you don't live. Turns out the money you gave to your ex-wife, Mas."

Actually after Tanti refused earlier, Ari was happy. He won't be short on money for the next few weeks. The money has been made to provide shopping rations on Marlena, pregnancy thanksgiving, and installments to redeem the house to be paid to her parents.

"Not so, Deck! You can take a little. The rest give it to me, "forcibly Ari.

"Can't, Mom. These past few weeks you've been negligent. Shopping money is reduced a lot. If you need money, mending just ask me."

"Dec, give it to me! If it's like this, there's no self-respect for me as a man" Ari protested.

Marlena laughing. She did not think through the words of her husband just now. Still thinking about self-worth.

"Your worth has been gone since you decided to cheat with me, Mom!"

Gluey!

Ari thinks Marlena is a good woman. He was more cruel than his ex-wife. Even if Tanti was never given anything, different again with Marlena.

"So what you say, Deck! So the woman must obey and respect the husband. Not turning on a husband like this. Return money! Or, if not, I'll-"

"Will what? Get out of the house? Want to get married again? Or, want to add more infidelity?" cycad Marlena.

Marlena had grown more and more willing to threaten her husband. She will not be afraid if she has to suffer the same fate as Tanti who must bear the title of widow faster. However, Marlena did not want to suffer like Tanti who had to slam bones to meet her own life needs because she did not get the allotment of spending money.

"Sir, give!" Ari's voice could no longer be conditioned. She's upset.

"Oh, dare to snap now! It's worth it Madam Tanti would rather let go of a useless man like you than survive with prolonged injuries" Marlena said.

"Give it or I'll-" Ari raised one of her hands. He intends to slap Marlena.

"Slap me, Mom! Slap it! Just make your voice harder, Mom. Let the neighbors hear. They came to watch the drama of the commotion we had made. And, if you want to slap me, go ahead. The KDRT is clear. What do you want now?" threaten Marlena's.

Marlena brushed off the hand of her husband who was trying to take the money in her hand.

"Oh yeah, one more. If you want a KDRT, rethink it. Want to go to jail for 5 years? If you're in jail, I can remarry, Mom. You'll rot there. And, regarding this money, your wife needs more than her ex. Please keep that!"

Marlena just left Ari. This might be the karma that Ari received. Marlena's not as good as she thinks. Ari always keeps Tanti in trouble. Now, when she wants to mend the relationship, Marlena's even meaner than she thought.

"What do I have to do now?" ask Ari to herself. Would he repeat the same mistake?

His relationship with Tanta is broken. He was trying to survive his new life. Marlena is pregnant. His family asked him to talk to Tanti. Ari's head feels like it's about to break. Not to mention the need that is increasingly uncontrollable. His job was not surfing just yet.