Time was flying, and today marked the opening of Dinda's cafe. On this inaugural day, she offered a generous 50% discount across all menu items. Dinda herself was busy in the cafe's kitchen, preparing a special dish that required her personal touch. Meanwhile, the other two chefs managed the rest of the culinary offerings.
"Dinda, if you're tired, don't overdo it. Remember to take a break," Satria cautioned his wife.
"Yes, dear, thank you for the reminder. Oh, are you still planning to go to the office this afternoon?" Dinda inquired.
Actually, today also signaled a fresh chapter for Satria as he began his tenure at the helm of his company. However, since it coincided with Dinda's cafe's grand opening, he decided to postpone his office visit until tomorrow.
"I'll start at the office tomorrow. Today, I want to support my wife's cafe launch. I'll help out front, okay, Din?" Satria offered.
"Thank you, my husband," Dinda replied.
With the lunch hour upon them, customers began to flood in, keen to take advantage of the half-price offer on all food and drinks.
*Hmm\, those three troublesome ones are here. Ugh\, there's bound to be a fuss if I serve them. Better to let someone else handle it\,* Satria muttered to himself before directing a server to attend to his brother-in-laws.
At their table, Sinta, Sarah, and Rena were chatting about the bustling atmosphere and the immaculate arrangement of the cafe.
"This cafe is bound to be a hit, with guests constantly flowing in," Rena noted.
"You're right, Ren. And the place is perfect for photos too, just look at that corner," added Sinta enthusiastically, pointing towards a popular selfie spot crowded with youngsters.
"Let's take pictures there after we eat," Rena suggested.
Sinta and Sarah simply nodded and smiled in response to Rena's comment. After a wait, their orders arrived and they dug in with gusto, finding the food delicious and to their taste.
"This is so good," Sinta remarked, praising the cafe's offerings.
"Definitely, it's delicious," agreed Sarah while she chewed.
"Why don't you invite your husbands for a meal here sometime? Let's have a family gathering, but let's not invite Dinda's pauper husband; it'd be embarrassing," Rena joked, eliciting laughter from Sinta and Sarah.
Hearty laughs ensued as the trio gossiped about Dinda and Satria, unaware that the very subjects of their ridicule were observing them—Dinda and Satria. Earlier, Satria had signaled to Dinda about her sisters' presence.
Dinda and Satria exchanged knowing smiles as they watched the sisters' antics. There was no stopping the banter about Dinda and Satria, although it was in the very cafe they owned.
"Din, I need to step out to the company briefly. Indra just informed me there are documents I need to sign, and he can't come here as he's tied up," Satria said, bidding his wife farewell.
"Be careful, dear," Dinda responded with a sweet smile.
Satria casually walked past his sisters-in-law. Sinta, noticing him, called out loudly.
"Satria! What are you doing here?" she asked bluntly.
"Ah, my sisters-in-law are here. I had some tasks here. Please excuse me, I'm in a bit of a rush. Enjoy your meal and remember to pay," Satria courteously replied while smiling amicably.
Not wanting to linger, Satria quickly made for the company to finalize his business. As he walked away, ignoring further calls from the sisters, Sinta scoffed.
"So full of himself, just a driver. Maybe he's just here escorting his boss to lunch," she commented, with nods from Sarah and Rena.
*Hmm\, Satria does look good in smart clothes\,* Sarah mused privately.
Meanwhile, at his parent's home, Satria's mother Rahayu and father Karim were in the midst of a heated debate. Karim disagreed with his wife's plans to matchmake Dinda with Tono. To Karim, marriage was sacred and not to be trifled with, especially as Dinda was still lawfully wed to Satria.
"If you're against it because she's still Satria's wife, that's an easy fix. We can ask for a divorce and once Dinda's waiting period is over, we can marry her off to Tono. He's wealthy, Karim. He can provide for Dinda, and we'll surely benefit," Rahayu insisted, unswayed by her husband's perspective.
"God forbid, Rahayu...! Pray, for Dinda and Satria are legitimately wed with no issues. We'd be sinful as parents to push for their separation," Karim argued, his heart aching over his wife's intentions.
Karim wished for his child's happiness and a peaceful marriage, but Rahayu was intent on Dinda's divorce, driven solely by the fact that her son-in-law was poor and unreliable.
Karim continued to oppose his wife's desires, defending that Satria was Dinda's choice, and only she could decide her fate.
"You play the innocent, but I'm resolved. Whether or not you agree, I'll still press Dinda to divorce that penniless man. What's the point of a son-in-law if he's of no use? Look at Beni, Rena's husband—he's dependable, unlike Satria," Rahayu persisted, still criticizing Satria.
Karim, feeling increasingly unwell, opted for silence, leaving his wife to her rants.
The sound of a car pulling up broke the tension. Rahayu rushed to see the visitor, while Karim remained seated, troubled.
"Excuse me, is this Satria's home?" a well-dressed gentleman inquired.
*Who could this be? Perhaps another one of Satria's creditors come to collect?* Rahayu speculated within.
"This isn't Satria's home; his is over there. But he's at work now. Return in the evening or at night if you're to collect a debt," she said dismissively, pointing towards the humble rental.
To the visitor's surprise, he was mistaken for a debt collector. His actual purpose was to deliver something from Satria's grandmother.
"My apologies, I'll return later when Satria is home. Goodbye for now," said Mr. Agung, Satria's family lawyer, before departing.
"Who was it?" Karim queried, curious about the visitor.
"Just someone looking for Satria. Must have been a bank agent here to collect a debt. Perhaps Satria used that 100 million meant for you on himself. That would explain the hospital bills and new appliances—living large off borrowed money," Rahayu sneered, distrustful of Satria.
Karim only hoped Satria and Dinda had not entangled themselves in debts.
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