6 Striking Difference II

"What did you talk to Gayatri earlier?!" Aruna's mother's voice was small as she didn't want to be heard by the others.

"Just want to know how she is, and I hope she can accept Aruna well." Lesmana's answer brought his mind back to the moment of his conversation with Wiryo's only daughter, Gayatri.

Lesmana took the opportunity to briefly meet his ex- lady. The beautiful, agile and cheerful lady turned into an expressionless girl.

Lesmana still remembered their time growing up together. The difference was that Lesmana was the assistant who was employed while Gayatri was the master's daughter.

"Miss, how are you?" Lesmana greeted when the two of them had the opportunity to talk together after the dinner session.

"You will be my in-laws, stop calling me Miss. I've warned you many times." Gayatri smiled bitterly at the call she rarely heard now.

"How are you?" Lesmana asked again.

"As you can see, I'm fine", Gayatri replied briefly.

"You have changed a lot, I wish you really well." That statement tickled Lesmana. It made Gayatri aware of the direction of her speech.

"I'm old enough to go back to how I used to be." Gayatri wanted to stop the conversation. But she was disturbed by Lesmana's question who volunteered to give up his daughter.

"Why did you leave your daughter to my father ?" Gayatri openly asked.

"There is no other choice when your father wants something, who can stop it?" Lesmana replied. Gayatri was silent, staring blankly.

"Let me entrust my daughter to you." Lesmana continued.

"I can't promise she'll be fine. Actually, I'm more disappointed in you that you were involved in long plans for my father." The woman put her hands together, fingers rubbing each other—a habit when she's worried.

Lesmana understood her ex- lady's habits.

"My daughter Aruna is a strong girl, I'm sure she is adaptable. It's just that I hope she gets support in her new place later." Lesmana tried to solve his lady's worries.

"That's not the problem, I saw your daughter so young and innocent. I'm sure she doesn't understand the real situation. I'm more worried about you, you believe you are ready to accept this." Gayatri's statement was like a bullet that was shot and fell right in the heart.

A father would surely pass his daughter on to the man he chose. But this wasn't the way. The heart, liver and all their organs simultaneously ached.

"I think surrendering my son to my father is the end of my mistake. In fact, there are still people who have to sacrifice." Gayatri had her hands over her chest. A look of worry flashed across her.

"Can you help Aruna"? Lesmana asked once again.

"You are the starting point of all these circumstances." Lesmana continued his words, trying to inspire empathy for his interlocutors.

Gayatri smiled, a faint, sad smile.

"You are still my best adjutant... Lesmana. How can I ignore your daughter? But your statement needs to be rectified." Gayatri from the start of the conversation, never saw her interlocutor suddenly fix her eyes on her former aide.

"I am not the starting point of the situation you mean after years of making guesses. Only now I am sure my hunch is right. Your return accompanied by handing over your daughter to our family, is the strategy of my father winning the hearts of the Wenceslas Group board 25 years ago". Gayatri tried to dig into the memory of her interlocutor.

Lesmana furrowed his brows. He still didn't really understand what Gayatri was saying.

"Sorry, I don't understand what you mean." Lesmana asked for an explanation.

"Reshape your memories. Did you forget my father has a half-sister?!"

"Yes, I remember. I just forgot where Mrs Clara and her son were."

"A stepsister from my grandfather's illicit relationship. Not being cared for and tread harmless until she comes with her son. A bright young man, more potential than myself, a girl of official descent."

Gayatri's words were like a mantra that could dig into forgotten pieces of memory. Lesmana knew the tough times faced by his master Wiryo, when all the boards (shareholders) united to voice his resignation.

Actually, there weren't many shares owned by each board member, even scattered in each subsidiary unless they get together and make an agreement.

Their reason waa really cliché, namely worried about the successor of the Wenceslas family lineage because Wiryo only has a daughter.

The entire board was, of course, nothing more than the sole proprietorship of the Wenceslas family. Unfortunately, the call was able to shake the Wenceslas Group stability.

For three consecutive years, the conflict grew and grew and repeatedly sank, finally being entirely resolved in year 3.

"My father knew Hendra's presence since he was 2 years old right when your first daughter was born. And soon the conflict was resolved.

Gayatri's words were like a sprinkling of salt on the wound.

"I think Mr Wiryo..." Lesmana's sentence hadn't been finished yet.

"You think he just found out when I came home with my son, right?!" Gayatri asked for a confirmation.

Lesmana nodded.

Gayatri came home with her 5-year-old son.

"After your return, your father asked me to grant this marriage agreement. So it means that all the requests have been prepared." Lesmana's voice trembled.

"Even my unreal marriage can be real." Gayatri reminded him that there was no impossibility in her family.

Gayatri, who was pregnant without a husband when she returned to her homeland, found a different fact. She changed. Her status was now a widow with one son.

The story engraved in the general public was that she married her classmate at Columbia University and then divorced so that Hendra became the official Wenceslas 's heir. Proof of marriage, divorce certificate, and even Hendra's birth certificate were real.

***

'I have been chosen and prepared from the start, it's not a coincidence. Mr Wiryo really embodies the ambition of creating the next Wenceslas's generation.'

Lesmana staggered out of the car. Anantha immediately helped his father to the room. He refused to call the family doctor. He just wanted to rest.

"Honey... If only I could hope Alia would accept her matchmaking bond, we have prepared her differently than her brother. Her career leap is proof of her excellent mentality. Whereas Aruna?? I am not sure that our kindhearted little one will be able to face the Wenceslas family."

During his break, Lesmana became delirious several times.

Lesmana's body temperature increased. It seemed he was shocked by the truth.