Her Husband is Old and Ugly
It was still morning when Arya drove Mumut and Bian to the office. Mumut had her head around Bian's shoulder. She was still sleepy while he was typing seriously on his laptop. There would be an important meeting in the company today, and Bian must prepare it properly. Now and then, his left-hand stroked Mumut's head or kissed her head. The act was like giving Bian more energy. Bian closed his laptop as they nearly reached the office and hugged his wife. The act shocked Mumut, and she opened her eyes. Bian immediately showered her with kisses that embarrassed her because there was Arya in the car. Arya was quiet but then he closed the partition between the front seat and the passenger seat, so that they could have more privacy to express their love.
All-day, even into the night, he wouldn't be able to meet his wife because this morning, there would be a company leadership meeting. In the afternoon, he had to meet two different clients outside the office.
Finally, they reached Bian's special parking lot. Before getting off, Mumut smoothed out her messy headscarf with a smile. Bian got off first.
Not many employees had arrived this morning. Bian walked a few meters in front of Mumut, coolly replying to some employees' greetings. Even so, Bian's attitude had been warmer than before, when he never replied to their greetings. Mumut stared at Bian's back with a smile until he disappeared behind the directors' special elevator.
"Oh, why are you smiling? You seem happy, huh?" said Hari, as they met in front of the elevator.
Mumut just smiled back. Hari stared at the girl in front of him with a smile. Hari felt the girl was even prettier after their last meeting yesterday. She still looked as simple as before, something was quite different. The elevator door was open, Mumut, Hari, and some employees occupying the upper floors immediately entered it. Out of the elevator, Hari and Mumut headed to the pantry. Harti and another office boy entered the room shortly afterwards.
Suddenly Mumut's phone rang and the girl picked it up. Hari's chest rustled when he looked at Mumut's mobile phone. It was a high-end mobile phone that Mumut couldn't possibly buy with her salary as a janitor. His heart hurt when he heard Mumut say "Honey" to someone at the other end. Hari secretly glanced at Mumut's left hand and saw the diamond ring there again. Hari felt annoyed when Mumut smiled while talking, her occasional laughter sounded intimate.
"Let's get to work! Don't just gawk!" shouted Harti on Hari.
"Alright, honey, have a great day at work. My boss is already yelling at me," Mumut laughed as she hung up.
Mumut was getting ready to do her job. She immediately changed into her uniform and prepared the necessary equipment. Since leaving for work together with Bian, Mumut felt uncomfortable to wear her janitor uniform, so she wore a dress to work.
Mumut crossed paths with Bian as the man was about to head to the Hall with Randy. While he spoke, his secretary followed them with a stack of documents. Mumut nodded her head while smiling at the two men as before she became Bian's wife. Bian only glanced at her briefly then returned to talk to Randy, who almost laughed at their act. Bian's secretary replied to Mumut's greeting kindly as usual. When Bian disappeared behind the hall door, Mumut entered Bian's room to clean it.
Randy almost teased Bian when they were in the hall, if only the secretary wasn't around them. So he smiled at himself when Bian ignored him.
***
While cleaning the room, Mumut heard some of the secretary's staff gossiping about her. She only smiled when she heard that they were badmouthing her husband because of the rumors that her husband was ugly and old. When they realized Mumut's presence, someone instead deliberately asked her.
"Mut, so you're actually married? I heard that your husband is rich, right? Why are you still working as a janitor?"
Mumut just smiled, "I have a lot of debt in this company, Sis."
"Oh, why don't you ask your husband to cover your debt, and you'll just have fun with your husband!" said another in a cynical tone, seemingly envious of Mumut's luck.
Mumut smiled again, she believed Bian had closed all her debts in this company because yesterday, Mrs. Padma had told her that her debts had been settled.
"There comes a time when I will stop working as a janitor," Mumut smiled triumphantly. The secretaries looked at her with annoyance.
Before she left the room, Mumut nodded and said, "Excuse me ..."