7. ME OR HER

              Radit's steady nod of his head made all the customers in the stall fall silent instantly. After that, they looked at Amanda with an incredulous look.

"What's wrong?" Radit asked later. "There's no rule that says a man whose wife dies needs time to remarry, right?"

              Suddenly they shook their heads in unison. Radit smiled and finished paying for the food he ordered.            

              Initially, the atmosphere in the beautiful house belonging to Radit's family heritage seemed quiet after lunch. The mother chose to rest in the room. Meanwhile, the two married couples were still at the dining table.

"Not even a sink?" Amanda chuckled with a dismissive look on her face.

              Radit responded with a casual nod. Inevitably grabbed the cutlery they had just used. "Let me show you the bathroom. Just in case you want to pee or something. Help me wash the dishes too."

"Teach your wife to clean up, Dit, don't be a spoiled brat from the city!"

              Oh my goodness. Her mother-in-law could still hear her even though she was in her room. Did the walls in this room of the house have some kind of super ability that made the middle-aged woman hear everything? Amanda couldn't think of anything at all.

"Yes, Manda!" said Radit, who was too lazy to argue. However, his hands were still busy clearing the dining table. Meanwhile, Amanda just followed his steps, which were now heading for the side door.

              There was a 2x2 meter dishwashing area. There was a medium bucket for water storage there. Radit deftly unloaded his luggage.

"You wash the chili squatting down?"

"Hu um. There's a seat on your left. Use it." Radit pointed at the rectangular object with his chin. As if signaling his wife to help him with his current job. Especially if it's not washing dishes.

"What a hassle. Damn!" Amanda scowled in annoyance.

"Be patient. We'll be back tomorrow."

              How would Amanda feel if she stayed in the village for a long time? Especially when she saw the condition of the bathroom that she had used to urinate. Just a little drizzle and her clothes would get wet because the place had no roof. She wondered why there were still people who liked to live a difficult and limited life like her in-laws. That's what he thought.

"At least it's still safe. No problem even if you have to use a fan," she muttered when Radit mentioned that there was no air conditioning in the room.

              Her eyes then shifted to the two figurines on the wall. It showed a wedding photo that she recognized. Of course, her late sister and her current husband. They looked very harmonious. Even earlier she had accidentally seen a similar one in the living room. Once again Amanda had to realize that she had married her former sister-in-law.

              It took a long time to get comfortable on the iron bed she was currently occupying. Somehow the current scene reminded her of a horror movie she had watched. Even complete with all the furniture there too.

"Why, it's still daytime," chuckled Radit who could catch the uncomfortable look on his wife's face. "Not to mention at night. The sound of crickets is common here."

              Amanda was reluctant to respond to the light-hearted chatter. She exhaled softly and turned her back to Radit who had just sat on the edge of the bed.

              The sound of mothers in the yard forced Amanda to open her eyes. It was deafening because it was so loud. Though it seemed like she had just fallen asleep for a while.

"Oh. So Radit got into bed, huh?"

"Wow. With that old maid that Ningsih told you about? Wow. How could you want to? Even though she's pretty, can she get pregnant? I'm already over three heads. I want to have only one grandchild."

              What the hell is this? An old virgin? Pregnant? I swear. Amanda was disturbed by what the julid neighbors had just said. She certainly didn't want to stay silent. Preparing to reply to what they said.

"Hey?" greeted Radit who had just finished showering. The man looked like a teenage boy in his sarong and oversized T-shirt. "Take a shower first. It's already six o'clock."

              Before Amanda could respond, the creaking sound of the door opening was heard from the front. Bu Ningsih's face was already bright red.

"That's good! What kind of daughter-in-law are you, huh? Waking up at this hour. All you have to do is eat. Yes?" she snapped with a fiery look.

"Mom, calm down first," Radit said. "What's wrong Mom? Did you get caught by the devil before Maghrib? I came home angry."

"How can you not be angry? You and your wife have embarrassed me," Ningsih growled again. "They all wondered why you remarried. I just realized that our relatives don't know yet. You've made me dizzy, Dit."

Amanda's mother-in-law was breathing heavily because she was holding back her emotions. Then Radit guided her to sit in the living room. Not forgetting to massage the shoulders of the frail body patiently.

"Mom's high blood pressure will recur," Radit said with concern. He gave Amanda the code to sit closer.

"You can't go home. Finish the problem here first."

Amanda, who was very shocked, quickly shook her head. "That's not possible. I want to go home."

"Radit is my son. He must obey his mother!" Ningsih looked at her daughter-in-law with hostility.

"Okay. Then I'll go home myself. Fine!"

"Oh My God!! How come we're fighting?" Radit became confused himself.

"Didn't you promise that we'd go home tomorrow?"

"No, Radit," Ningsih was not to be outdone. "Do you want to choose me or her?"