Episode 8

The round dining table, with its encircling array of seats, already seemed at capacity. Relatives from both Aditya’s and Archiena's sides had congregated.

Archie put on a full-faced smile, determined to steer her parents away from glimpsing her continual sadness.

She disregarded the glances from her sibling and ex-lover, too worn out to engage with either.

"Dear Kaivan, please eat," Dito said to his son-in-law.

"Sure, Uncle," Kaivan responded with a faint smile.

"Why 'uncle'? Call me dad. You're our son-in-law now; we're your parents too," Gita said gently.

Kaivan nodded. "Alright, Mom, Dad," he replied.

Archie glanced at Kaivan, aware that her husband had yet to feel as at ease as she did. Their interactions had been sparse, their connection distant, and yet fate had thrown them into marriage.

"Archie, why so quiet? Attend to your husband," Gita reminded.

"Yes, Mom." Archie rose and began serving Kaivan.

She fetched rice and dishes for Kaivan, not forgetting to pour him a drink.

"My own husband can serve himself, Sister," Adinda said snidely.

Archiena and Kaivan both glanced briefly at Adinda but felt no compulsion to dignify her petty remark.

"Kai, mom called earlier. You know why she would," Risa suddenly said to Kaivan.

"You needn't interfere; it's my duty to deal with mom and dad," Kaivan replied indifferently.

"Mom and dad are bound to be furious when they find out their beloved son married a girl so impulsively," Risa added.

Kaivan remained silent, savoring the meal Archie had prepared. Though it wasn’t her cooking, he was confident he would taste her culinary attempts another time.

"Don't meddle in Archiena and Uncle Kaivan's business, Mom. Let whatever they've done be their responsibility," Aditya said dismissively.

Archie shot Aditya a quick look, nauseated by his overprotective stance towards Adinda.

Archiena's jealousy had once been palpable, but no longer. Her distaste for Aditya had not taken long to solidify.

"Stop this and continue your meal, I want to go home," Anto said irritably.

Anto cast a displeased look at Dito, who stood and departed, certain now that their business collaboration would crumble.

Post-dinner, Adinda bid her parents farewell, longing to embrace her mother. But Gita rebuffed her.

"Take your wife and leave," Gita said without a glance at her daughter.

"Mom, I'm still your daughter," Adinda said, startled by Gita's rejection.

Silent, Gita stood with crossed arms. Her husband tried to soothe her, to no avail; the anger lingered.

Adinda and Aditya retired to their room, planning to move back to Aditya's family house the next day. Adinda wouldn't return home first.

After their departure, it was time for Archiena and Kaivan. They hardly said goodbye, since Archiena planned to return for her belongings tomorrow.

"Where will you two live from here?" Dito asked his child and son-in-law.

"Don't worry, Dad, I've arranged our living situation. I'll ensure Archie faces no hardships," Kaivan vowed.

Content, Dito advised, "Alright, rest now. We need to head home."

Archie hugged her father closely, crying into his embrace. Grief gripped her not only because her wedding to Aditya was canceled, but also for the burdens she'd placed on her parents.

"Rest now. Your mom and I need to get home," Dito said tenderly.

"Don't be sad, you'll visit home tomorrow," Gita consoled, patting her daughter's head.

Then, Archiena and Kaivan retreated to their room. They glanced around the expansive space, awkward and uncertain.

"Where should I sleep, Uncle?" Archiena inquired.

"People usually sleep on stones, so if that suits you..." Kaivan shrugged off the question.

In bewilderment, Archie paused, then processed his words.

Kaivan offered a thin smile. "You take the bed; I'll manage on the couch," he said after enough observation of Archie's confusion.

Archie climbed into bed while Kaivan freshened up in the bathroom.

He emerged in less than five minutes, ready to settle on the sofa.

"Uncle, don't," Archie objected.

"Sofa sleeping could ache your body. Just lie beside me; the bed's plenty spacious," she continued.

"Afraid?" he eyed her narrowly.

"Scared you might try something?" she asked, received an affirmative nod from Kaivan.

"I trust you won’t, Uncle. Just sleep here," Archie stated, then lay down.

Ultimately unused to the couch, Kaivan agreed and approached the bed, mindful of the generous space that would keep them apart.

Backs turned, they lay in place, not even facing one another.

"Uncle?" Archie called out.

Kaivan just cleared his throat, preoccupied with messages from work on his phone.

"Thanks for everything. Sorry you've had to sacrifice here," she murmured quietly.

Disturbed, Kaivan partially turned, setting his phone aside.

"Without you, my parents, especially myself, would be enduring shame," Archiena added.

Again, Kaivan merely cleared his throat, the 31-year-old man puzzled for a suitable response. Opting for sleep instead, he decided this talk could wait.