Bima woke up the next morning to the sound of silence. The absence of Sinta's soft breathing beside him felt like a heavy weight pressing down on his chest. He turned to her side of the bed, hoping to find her there, but the sheets were cold. She must have left early. The realization made his heart sink. He got out of bed and shuffled to the kitchen, the emptiness of the apartment echoing his turmoil. He poured himself a cup of coffee, the bitter liquid doing little to awaken his senses. As he sat at the table, he replayed the events of the previous night in his mind. Sinta's words echoed like a haunting melody: "I need some space." Bima knew he had to reach out to her, but pride and fear held him back. Instead, he decided to focus on work, hoping that the day would distract him from the chaos brewing in his personal life. At the office, Bima tried to immerse himself in his tasks, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Sinta. He checked his phone repeatedly, hoping for a message or call, but nothing came. His colleagues noticed his distracted demeanor but assumed he was simply busy. Little did they know, Bima was battling feelings of helplessness and guilt.
The Confrontation
During lunch, Bima finally decided to call Sinta, his fingers trembling as he dialed her number. After several rings, her voicemail picked up, and he cursed under his breath. He left a message, trying to sound casual but unable to hide the concern in his voice. "Hey, Sinta, it's me. Just checking in. I hope you're okay. Can we talk?" His heart raced as he hung up, anxiety gnawing at him. He spent the rest of his lunch break staring at his phone, willing it to ring. Later that afternoon, he received a text from his mother. "Are you coming over for dinner tonight?" Bima hesitated. He wanted to see Ratna, but he feared the conversation would only add to his mounting stress. Yet, he knew he had to face her sooner or later. His mother had always been his anchor, but her reliance on him was becoming a burden.
The Dinner Invitation
As he drove to his mother's house that evening, Bima rehearsed what he would say. He needed to set boundaries with Ratna while also reassuring her of his love. He arrived to find the familiar scent of her cooking wafting through the air. Ratna greeted him with a warm smile, though he could sense the underlying tension. "Bima! You're just in time. I made your favorite," she said, gesturing to the steaming pot on the stove. "Thanks, Mom," he replied, forcing a smile. As they sat down to eat, Ratna began to share stories from her day, but Bima found it difficult to engage. His mind was elsewhere, occupied with thoughts of Sinta. "Are you alright, Bima?" Ratna asked, her brow furrowing with concern. "You seem distant." Bima sighed, putting his fork down. "I'm okay, Mom. It's just… things are a bit complicated right now." Ratna looked at him, her eyes filled with worry. "Is it about Sinta? I can sense the tension between you two." Bima took a deep breath. "Yes, it is. Sinta feels like I'm not prioritizing her, and she's right. I'm trying to balance everything, but I don't know how."
A Mother's Concern
Ratna reached out, placing her hand on his. "Bima, I never wanted to come between you and Sinta. I just worry about you. You're my only child, and I've dedicated my life to you." "I know, Mom. And I appreciate everything you've done for me. But I also love Sinta, and I need to make her feel secure in our marriage," he said, his voice thick with emotion. Ratna's eyes glistened with unshed tears. "I'm scared, Bima. I'm scared of losing you. I've sacrificed so much, and now it feels like I'm losing you to someone else." Bima felt a pang of guilt. "You're not losing me, Mom. I just need to find a way to make both of you happy." Ratna sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I understand, but it's hard for me to let go. I've always been there for you, and it's difficult to see you building a life with someone else."
The Turning Point
That night, after dinner, Bima drove home with a heavy heart. He realized that he had to confront Sinta, to truly listen to her feelings. He couldn't allow their relationship to fracture further. When he entered the apartment, the silence enveloped him. Sinta was nowhere to be found, and the emptiness pressed down on him like a suffocating blanket. Bima spent the night pacing the living room, his mind racing with doubt and regret. He tried calling Sinta again, but her phone went straight to voicemail. Desperate, he sent her a text: "Please come home. We need to talk." As he lay in bed that night, a sense of dread washed over him. The tension between the two most important women in his life felt insurmountable, and he feared that his indecision would lead to a loss he could never recover from.
The Morning After
The next morning, Bima woke up early, determined to make things right. He brewed a pot of coffee and prepared breakfast, hoping that a warm meal would coax Sinta back home. He set the table, placing her favorite mug in front of her chair. As he waited, anxiety gnawed at him. What if Sinta didn't come back? What if their relationship was too broken to mend? He glanced at his phone repeatedly, willing it to ring. Finally, around noon, he heard the sound of keys jingling at the door. His heart raced as Sinta entered, looking weary but determined. "Bima," she said softly, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "I'm glad you're here," he replied, his voice cracking slightly. "Can we talk?" Sinta nodded, her expression unreadable. They sat down at the table, the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air between them.
An Emotional Conversation
"Last night, I didn't handle things well," Bima began, his throat tightening. "I'm sorry for not standing up for you. I know you feel like I'm choosing my mother over you, and that's not how I want it to be." Sinta took a deep breath, her eyes searching his. "Bima, I love you. But I can't keep feeling like I'm an afterthought. Your mother's expectations are suffocating, and I need to know that I come first in your life." "You do come first," Bima insisted, desperation lacing his tone. "But I also can't ignore my mother's feelings. She's always been there for me. I'm just trying to navigate both worlds, but it's tearing me apart." Sinta's expression softened, but the hurt lingered in her eyes. "I understand you love her, but you have to find a way to set boundaries. Otherwise, this will only get worse." Bima nodded, feeling the weight of her words. "You're right. I need to find a way to communicate that to her. I don't want to lose you." As they sat together, the tension began to dissipate, replaced by a shared understanding. They both knew that this wouldn't be an easy road, but the first step was acknowledging the problem.
A New Resolve
That evening, Bima picked up his phone and called Ratna. "Mom, can we talk? I need to discuss something important." He could sense her hesitation on the other end, but she agreed. Bima felt a surge of determination. He would find a way to bridge the gap between the two women he loved most. As he prepared for the conversation ahead, he realized that it wouldn't be easy—there would be resistance, emotions would run high, and sacrifices would need to be made. But he was ready to take that step, to find a balance that would allow him to honor both his mother and his wife. With a newfound resolve, he took a deep breath, ready to face the challenges that lay ahead. The journey to peace had begun, and for the first time in a long time, Bima felt a glimmer of hope.