Days continued to pass, and months had changed. Now, only one month remained of the knight's punishment. He grew impatient, eager to silence the mocking voices, particularly those of his two brothers-in-law.
"Din, this evening you will accompany me to grandmother's. I've arranged an optimal time for this meeting, and I ask that you win over grandmother's heart. She can be strict, and her words uncontrolled at times, but she's a good person, so don't be afraid," the knight informed Dinda of their impending meeting with his grandmother that afternoon.
Din's heart seemed to stop when her husband mentioned meeting the grandmother. His grandmother was the wealthiest person in town; it was she who had founded the STR Group corporation.
"But I'm afraid she might disapprove of our marriage," Dinda expressed her fears.
"Shh... fear not. Grandmother doesn't judge people by their wealth. She wasn't born wealthy either. She has lived an even harsher life than ours, having been a garbage collector and laundress, so never fear she will judge by material things," the knight assured Dinda.
Dinda nodded, reassured by her husband's explanation.
"So, are you not selling today?" Dinda inquired.
"No, Din. It seems I will cease selling starting today, and I'll pass the cart on to Mr. Marno. I offered it to him yesterday to continue the es cendol business and thankfully, he agreed. Is it all right if I stop selling?" He smiled, seeking his wife's approval.
"Of course, my husband, your money has returned in abundance. It's no problem if you don't work for a year, haha," Dinda giggled.
Dinda was only joking. Unlike materialistic women who exploit their husbands' wealth for luxury and branded goods, she didn't want to be labeled as someone who took advantage of her spouse.
"Just kidding, dear," Dinda added.
"Even if you were serious, it's no problem, my love. My money is your money, too. From now on, whatever you desire, I shall grant. Now tell me, what do you want? If you remain silent, I'll tell my assistant to send luxury items your way," the knight playfully threatened.
Without such threatening, Dinda never would have asked for anything. The knight knew his wife's character well: beautiful, gentle, modest, and unassuming.
"Don't, dear! Um... I want to ask for a location to open a business," Dinda finally disclosed her request.
"Oh, I forgot, you've always wanted to run a culinary business. Well, I'll arrange everything and within a week it'll all be ready, and you can begin operations," the knight happily agreed to his wife's wish.
"Thank you, dear," Dinda exclaimed, hugging the knight tightly.
He promised to make his wife happy from that point on. Dinda had faithfully supported him through two years of highs and lows without a single complaint. Even when their meals were humble, including salted fish, she never grumbled but rather bolstered his spirits to stay patient and enthusiastic.
"Dear, I'll go to my father's house to deliver the medicine you bought last night. I forgot to take it, and he's out of medication until later today," Dinda asked for permission to visit her parents.
Although nearby, Dinda always sought permission, and she wouldn't go without her husband's consent.
"Sure, go ahead. I'm waiting for Mr. Marno; he's coming over to take the cart and learn how to make delicious es cendol," said the knight.
Dinda nodded and then went to the bedroom to fetch the medicine her husband had bought. Ever since Karim's surgery, he had remained home, no longer working the fields. The fields he did work weren't his, they belonged to a neighbor, and they shared the crop yields. Satria covered all the medication costs and hospital check-ups. His three siblings showed no inclination to help, nor did his in-laws, except for Beni, who had some concern. Beni once gave Dinda two million to help buy medicine for Karim, but she refused, not wanting Rena, her sister-in-law, to misconstrue her intentions.
"Are Rena and Sinta here too?" Dinda called out as she entered her parents' home and found Rena and Sinta sitting in the living room.
"Yes, indeed. What time do you call this to visit your father? He is sick, but you don't care, even though you live the closest," Rena remarked with sarcasm.
"But, father isn't sick, he needs rest. You know his condition, and it doesn't mean he's ill. Besides, while he was in the hospital and until now at home, Satria and I have been taking care of him—covering the hospital costs and medication. Look, I've brought medicine for father. Don't think I don't care. Over the past month, Satria and I have been looking after father, dealing with all the expenses, and I've done so willingly, as a sign of our devotion to him. So, what have you done, huh?" Dinda retorted angrily.
She couldn't understand the behavior of her siblings and in-laws, always assuming she didn't care about her parents.
"Hospital bills paid by loans and you're proud? And all for medicine that probably doesn't exceed 100 thousand," Sinta, Rudi's wife, commented dismissively.
"Even if it is debt, the important thing is not troubling you and not asking you to pay for it. You say 100 thousand? Okay, if you want to know, I still have last night's pharmacy receipt kept in the plastic bag," Dinda replied, reaching for the receipt glad it had been accidentally left and she had stored it in her wallet.
For the past month, Dinda didn't know the cost of the weekly medications her husband bought for her father. Only last night did she learn the amount Satria spent each week. She discovered her husband had been providing expensive medication.
"Nine million five hundred?" Rena and Sinta gasped in unison.
Indeed, Satria was spending about 9.5 million each week on just five types of medication. Rena and Sinta were shocked by the cost of the medicines Karim consumed.
"This has to be a lie. This is someone else's receipt that you found and are showing us, you dishonest Dinda," Sinta accused, disbelief coloring her voice.
"If you doubt it, check the medication in this bag against the receipt you're holding. Oh, and didn't Sinta claim to have a health education degree? Surely you'd know these medications," Dinda smirked patronizingly.
She knew Sinta had studied health care but dropped out after only two semesters, one of which she'd only attended for a month, without even paying tuition fees.
"I wouldn't know about these medications; this isn't my field. These are cardiac drugs, whereas I was studying nursing," Sinta replied defensively.
"Well, nurses usually know more, but then again, if you were lazy and dropped out halfway through, that's pointless; you wouldn't know anything," Dinda insinuated sharply.
"Are you questioning my abilities with that comment?" Sinta demanded hotly.
Sinta rudely snatched the medications from Dinda to check against the receipt. Dinda watched her sister-in-law pretend to review the medicines.
"Yes, Rena, these medications are indeed expensive," Sinta conceded.
"You have a hefty debt, Din. Just for your father's medication, it's amounted to 36 million in a month, not to mention his previous hospital stay and follow-up appointments. Can you really repay your debt?" Rena asked, puzzled.
"That's the easy part. If I can't pay it back, I'll just sell this house. Besides, I've already used this house's deed as collateral for a loan. The house is rightfully mine, Rena. Each of you received 150 million from father when you first married. And my debt isn't that great anyway—only 200 million, used for father's expenses," Dinda replied breezily, though everything she said was a lie.
The deed to her parents' home was indeed in Dinda's name. A week earlier, Karim had handed her the original deed, asking that she keep it safe, away from her mother or her siblings who coveted it. The deed in her mother Rahayu's wardrobe was a fake that still bore her mother's name.
"Insolence! This house isn't yours you ungrateful little sister," Rena shouted.
"What's happening, Rena?" Rahayu asked, emerging from her room.
"This woman, Mother, Dinda has used the deed to this house as security for a loan to cover Father's hospital bills," Rena pointed at Dinda.
Mother Rahayu glared at Dinda with venomous eyes, the mark of hatred plain on her face. It seemed that ever since Dinda married Satria, Rahayu's disdain for her own daughter deepened.
"Have you pawned the deed to this house for a mere 200 million, you fool! The land and house could sell for 350 million, Dinda. If you can't pay the debt, where will Father and I live?" Rahayu questioned angrily.
Suddenly, Rahayu rushed back into her room, rifling through the wardrobe in search of the precious deed. A smile crept across her face as she found what she was looking for.
"Shameless liar! What's this? The deed for the house is still in my wardrobe. Watch out, Dinda, for daring to lie," Rahayu snapped.
"Just kidding, Mother," Dinda replied, unfazed.
Dinda walked to the room that was once hers, where now Father Karim lay resting. Karim had asked to sleep in Dinda's former room as it was quieter due to its location at the back of the house.
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