THE FORCED MARRIAGE

"Marry Radit."

"WHAT?"

Amanda looked up. Her eyelids widened perfectly with a face that still looked gloomy. She did not expect to hear such a shocking sentence just now from her father.

"You heard it right. I want you to marry Radit. To be his replacement wife as well as Ayra's surrogate mother."

"NO!!" refused Amanda sarcastically. This time she spoke out loudly in opposition to what she thought was a crazy request. "I do want to get married, Dad. Of course, it won't be Radit, but Andre. He even proposed to me in London."

Amanda confidently held up her left hand. More precisely on the ring finger, which was already embedded with a blue gem ring given by her beloved. However, her father remained unmoved. As if the evidence just now meant nothing.

"I never ask anything from you. Please obey this time. You're the only one I can count on."

Amanda chuckled softly. "I love Andre, Dad. I only want to marry him!"

"Ayra needs a mother's love. Only you can give her that. I'm not willing to let Radit marry another woman. You're Dinda's elder sister, so it's only right to take your sister's place. Don't be selfish, Manda!"

"Selfish??" snapped Amanda with a grumble. "What about me, Dad? My future is at stake. This isn't right. Radit is still -"

"Manda! Dad?!"

The voice just now cut off Amanda's emotional outburst. Her father sighed softly and smiled bitterly.

"You finally came, Radit."

"Sorry, Dad. I was accompanying Ayra who was still fussy," said the man named Radit.

"That's all right. You guys can talk. Iapa went up to the room first ."

Amanda snorted softly. She caught her breath for a moment. Her eyes then took in the man's appearance from head to toe. It had never occurred to her to be Radit's wife.

"Papa told us to get married. You would have refused too, wouldn't you, just like me? So let's -"

"I agree."

"Hey?" Amanda laughed and shook her head in disbelief. "You realize who you're talking to, huh?"

Radit nodded briefly. It left the girl in front of him speechless.

"I know. You're my sister-in-law, but back when Dinda was my wife. Now... she's gone. People who die can't come back to life, right?" Radit then concluded. "The only thing on my mind is Ayra. I hope you will understand."

"That's easy for you to say?"

"Yes. Dinda won't be angry because her position is being replaced by you."

"Crazy person!" hissed Amanda in disbelief at what she had just heard.

Instead of responding to the curse, Radit rose to his feet while revealing a faint smile. "I don't think there's anything more to talk about. I assume you agree. This is all for Ayra's sake."

Amanda was shocked that Radit did not seem to object to the sudden arranged marriage. At the same time, she couldn't understand what was going through her former sister-in-law's head.

Tonight is the last time where relatives and neighbors attend the seven-day event of the late sister. Amanda, who had been silent, was disturbed by a soft voice that reached her eardrums.

"Tell Radit to go to bed. While Manda is back from abroad too. Poor child, let someone take care of him."

"Yes. Maybe Manda's soul mate was blocked because she was preceded by the late Dinda?"

"That's why you don't want to be stepped on."

Many more conversations made her earshot. The girl with shoulder-length hair chose to walk to the second floor. Hoping to calm her frantic mind.

"So what??"

Amanda almost spit out her drink because she was surprised by her father's presence from the right side. She snorted softly and then noticed the man's unusual gaze. Her eyebrows knitted together as she glanced at the woman who had just joined them.

"Dear," the woman called Amanda in a low voice. "Radit is a good man. We are proposing this marriage for your sake and his. Especially Ayra. She certainly still needs a mother's love. You're the one who's right for her."

"Oh yeah?" Amanda smiled wryly with a cynical look. "You said this so I wouldn't be distracted by taking care of Ayra, right?"

"Amanda!!" her father scolded. "Mind your manners! Tiara is my wife even though she didn't give birth to you."

"Great! Just keep defending your favorite woman!" snapped Amanda, who was getting angry.

The father was about to speak up, but that intention was aborted after getting a gentle rub on his right arm. The couple stared at each other for a few seconds until finally turning to Amanda again.

"You're almost 35 years old, Manda," said her stepmother. "You should get married. Andre is not a good man, dear."

"Don't be a smart ass!" Amanda quickly denied it. "Life in the entertainment world has many consequences. Especially news that's not true. I'm sure Andre is the right choice."

"What about your niece? Ayra needs a mother figure, kiddo."

"I can take care of her without being married to her father!" said Amanda in a raised tone.

"Dear, think again." The forty-year-old woman looked at her sadly.

"Everywhere there's a sugar baby or a sugar daddy, and me? Heh. I'm not going to be a sugar mommy. Radit is too young to be my husband. This is crazy!"

"Age is just a number. What matters is -"

"Right," Amanda cut in quickly. "Just like you and my dad. He is older than you by more than 20 years. It's natural, even though it seems ... so."

"Stop diverting the conversation, Manda. We're talking about you!"

"I still don't want to. Period!" Amanda leaned in with a gaze full of rejection.

"What a rebellious child! It's so hard to tell your parents." Her father was getting angry. Again, his wife tried to calm him down by gently stroking his right arm. Meanwhile, Amanda, who was already annoyed, immediately got up. "Where are you going, huh?"

"I'm tired," Amanda replied with her body already standing upright. "Papa has never understood what I want."

"Manda, wait! You have to marry Radit. Otherwise -"

"What? If not...Tiara will marry Radit. How about that, huh?"

"You!! Aggh!"

Amanda was about to walk away. However, her stepmother's shriek made her turn around.

"Dad?!"

Amanda's heart pounded violently when she saw her father lying on the floor. Immediately she sat down limply not far away.

The emergency room witnessed her busy nervously waiting for the results of the examination from the doctor. She didn't realize that a man had been staring at her. It was only when they both walked towards the glass door that had been opened.

"Mr. Yuda's family?"

"Yes. I'm his daughter," said Amanda, who was about to go inside. However, her arm was pulled roughly from behind. Making the beautiful model frown.

"I'll do it."

Amanda knitted her eyebrows together as the man cut her off from entering. As a result, she relented and waited outside with Mama Tiara.

"Radit loves your dad." The woman beside her gave a long sigh and then smiled slightly. "Since he was little, your daddy and deceased mama have known him, right? That's why they matched Dinda and Radit."

"Then, after Dinda's gone, won't Radit be free? Did he just agree to marry Dinda because he was forced to?" Amanda accused him unprovoked. Her laughter erupted instantly.

"Manda, don't say that."

"Why?" Amanda smiled wryly. Then she whispered, "Mom, we're only five years apart in age. I'm not interested in Radit, hmm?"

"Don't digress, Manda!" said her stepmother. "I never thought of leaving your father."

The sound of the glass door opening interrupted their conversation. Amanda and Mama Tiara turned quickly to Radit who had been inside.

"Daddy is fine. He's just stressed and has a lot on his mind." Radit explained himself. "He still has to stay in the hospital for at least two days. The doctor found symptoms of a heart attack. So further examination is needed."

After that, only Tiara and Radit were talking. Meanwhile, Amanda chose to step aside even though she was only about five meters away from them. Until her papa was moved to the treatment room she was stunned when the middle-aged man first called her name.

"Manda, Daddy is calling you," Radit said as if repeating his father-in-law's voice.

Amanda took a hesitant step. Her legs felt heavy as she approached her father's gurney, which was only a few centimeters away. The girl bowed her head because she was overwhelmed with guilt.

It was only when she looked up and found her father smiling at her pale face that tears broke out. Now she instantly realized that this man was her only remaining family member. Their relationship should be getting better and warmer, right?

"Dad," she said in a trembling voice. She moved to touch the back of the frail man's hand. Her whole body instantly got goosebumps. It had been a long time since they had been this close. "I'm sorry."

His father shook his head softly. He then returned the gentle strokes with his hand. "I love you very much. I love you just as much as I love Dinda."

"Daddy?" Amanda now kissed her father's hand repeatedly. She gazed longingly into the eyes of her father. The long debate earlier seemed to disappear instantly from her memory. Replaced with a warm interaction between them even though it was only limited to face-to-face.

While now Radit and Tiara slowly left the two of them in the room. Knowing that the son and father needed time to talk heart-to-heart.

"I don't know how long I can stay alive."

Amanda, who was now sitting next to her father, shook her head quickly. "Don't say bad things like that, Dad. I don't want to be alone."

Her father smiled as he rubbed the head of Amanda who was leaning on the lip of the gurney. "That's why. I want you to live with Radit. You can take care of Ayra together." There was no more argument. Until the sentence continued. "He's the only one I can trust to take care of you. Maybe this is the path that God has set by taking Dinda first."

Mr. Yuda's words were still ringing in her ears. Amanda sat alone, daydreaming about the life that was getting heavier and heavier on her shoulders. Even the food in front of her eyes was still untouched.

The crazy request she had received earlier was now slowly turning into a plea from a father. On the one hand, she could not get rid of the image of her lover who had filled her life for almost three years. What should she do?

"You?" Amanda squinted as she saw Radit pulling the chair in front of her. "Who is Daddy with?"

"There's Tiara," Radit replied in a quiet tone. He looked down at Amanda's untouched plate of food.

"I want to see Daddy."

"He is fine. Everything depends on our decision," Radit said straight to the point.

The atmosphere became quiet as both of them were lost in their thoughts. Right now Amanda's head felt like it was going to explode. Her return to Indonesia had changed many plans that had been carefully arranged.

While Radit? I don't know what's on his mind right now. The man was busy with his gadget.

***

"How is it, dear? Have you thought about it?" asked Tiara as she approached Amanda who had just opened her eyes.

"Can I say no again?" she asked back. The girl sat up while looking at her papa who was still closed on the gurney.

"Radit has agreed."

Amanda muttered under her breath. She then got up and walked out of the room. She wanted to breathe in the morning air to clear her mind for a moment.

Not for long, though. The girl was now able to accept the destiny written for her. However, just arriving at the threshold of the father's treatment the sound of a commotion had caught her attention.

"Don't be such a rich man and just tell my daughter to marry your son!"

"Amanda is Dinda's late sister. She'll make a good mother." Mr. Yuda tried to explain.

"So what about Radit? Don't you think about his fate too?"

"Mom, calm down first. Don't be like this. We can talk about it," said Radit, who tried to grab the middle-aged woman by the shoulders.

"No, Radit. You always contradict what I say," his mother snapped with a glare. She loudly continued her speech again and turned quickly to Mr. Yuda. "My son can find a much better wife than Amanda. That woman is old, stubborn, and has a big age difference with Radit. My son should marry an aunt. Heh?"

"Don't insult my son!"

Mr. Yuda was about to let out his angry words. However, his intentions faded when he saw the princess who was already frozen in the doorway.

"Amanda?"

The girl shook her head weakly while trying to smile. She walked in as if she hadn't heard the sharp words Radit's mother had directed at her.

"Look, her clothes are lacking in material like this. Is it appropriate to be Ayra's birth mother?"

Amanda wanted to say something scathing to counter the sarcastic accusation. Her mouth was about to open but closed again when a burly hand gently touched her right shoulder.

"Mom, I'm still going to marry Manda."

The words just now made Amanda turn her head slowly. Right beside her Radit stood upright while lowering the hand that had touched her shoulder just now. The girl blinked softly. She couldn't believe the words of the man she still considered her brother-in-law.

"You don't consider me anymore, Radit?" His mother shook her head with a sad look in her eyes. "I came all the way here to defend you. Is this what you're doing?"

"Mom?"

The woman stepped back. Then looked at Amanda, her father, and her stepmother with a displeased look.

"You have completely brainwashed my child. You're evil!"

After saying that sentence, she walked away. Radit hurriedly excused himself to catch up with his mother. Meanwhile, Amanda, who looked shocked, still hadn't made a sound.

"Let's have breakfast first. I already ordered chicken porridge. Take a look at the sofa table over there."

Because Amanda was still unmoved, her father gave the code to Tiara to invite her daughter to step toward the place in question.

"Dad"

"I already had breakfast. I am fine too. Don't worry about me. Go on," Mr. Yuda said with a smile. "Don't think about anything. You are my daughter. So, no one has the right to judge you. Whoever that may be."

How could Amanda ignore it? Especially since those heart-wrenching words came from Radit's mother. A woman who would become her mother-in-law later. Very disturbing to her thoughts at this time.

The food she swallowed was tasteless on her tongue. Amanda ate in silence while staring at the television screen that was showing who knows what. Her attention still hadn't shifted from the bad words expressed by her future in-laws.

"Mom is a strict person," said Radit who was now sitting next to her.

Amanda still did not respond to his words. She preferred to look at the medical staff who were changing shifts at the nurse station there. Radit deliberately invited her to talk to explain the surprising condition this morning.

"Aren't you ashamed?"

That was the first thing Amanda asked after Radit explained at length about her mother's attitude. She smiled wryly at the man who was linking his eyebrows.

"Ashamed?" Radit repeated what the girl had said. "Ashamed of what, ma'am?"

"I'm old. I turn 35 this year, Radit. And you? I think we're almost ten years apart." Amanda said sadly. "Your mother is right. You'd be embarrassed to have a wife like an auntie."

"Really? Yes, too."

Amanda's heart sank when she heard that. She didn't expect Radit to say something like that.

At first, she thought he would comfort her with sweet words or even divert her to a more useful conversation perhaps. However, what did he say just now?

The confidence that had never faded from Amanda Belani was shattered. In London, many women pursue their careers before marriage. So she didn't realize that Indonesia would face this phenomenon.

Until one minute later there was laughter from the man beside her. Making the fashion magazine catalog model widen her eyelids.

"Why did you accept this damn arranged marriage? You just want to play my daddy??" he accused with anger that was about to peak.

Radit shook his head quickly and then smiled. "No. Dinda was right. You're indeed very angry. I wonder how you became a model? Though there must be a lot of work that is very emotionally draining."

"Don't change the subject."

"Yes, yes." Radit cleared his throat for a moment and then eliminated the remaining laughter that had made his interlocutor misunderstand. "Before that, I want to ask. Is age a requirement in marriage?"

The older brother of his late wife just shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. I've never been married."

"Indeed, but you can learn from Tiara's and Daddy's marriage. They've managed to stay married for a long time."

"We're different," Amanda interrupted quickly. "Everywhere it's normal for husbands to be older. What about us? Never mind, Radit."

"I don't care. It's me and you who got married. So we're the ones living it. Not mom or anyone else."

Their conversation stopped there. Radit could tell that the woman who would become his wife's successor was suffering from a crisis of confidence. The face that was originally looking up was now more downcast.

"Wait!"

Radit stopped his steps when a janitor ran up to him. Amanda, who had walked over first, did the same. Observing what the thin man was about to hand over.

"What is it?" Radit asked later.

"This is. I saw that you left the cell phone behind."

Suddenly Amanda reached into her sling bag. She patted her forehead regretting the faux pas just now.

"Thanks," Radit muttered as he accepted Amanda's flat object.

"You're welcome."

"See?" Amanda snatched the cell phone that Radit handed over quickly. "This is just one person who said that I'm your elder sister. Not to mention the others."

Radit replied with a casual nod. "It's true, isn't it? You're still my elder sister now. Where did you go wrong?"

"It's hard to talk to you. You still don't understand," Amanda snapped.

The girl was annoyed that Radit still didn't take her words seriously. She stepped quickly to enter her father's room. However, before swinging the door handle her hand was grabbed with a lightning movement.

"Now we are still brother and sister, but later we will become husband and wife. Am I wrong?" muttered Radit who was already smiling sweetly. He returned the mature girl's fierce gaze with his calm eyes. "Don't keep getting angry. Your beauty will fade quickly."

Did the words just now succeed in making Amanda melt? Not. She then chuckled softly and hurriedly swung her steps towards her father's treatment room.

"You've finally arrived. Where have you been?" asked Mr. Yuda, who had been expecting them. "You sit here. We need to talk about the wedding."

"So soon?"

"Yes," replied his father firmly. "Radit has already spoken to his mother. There's nothing that stands in your way anymore."

"But, Dad. I haven't even -"

"What else, Manda?" her father interrupted with a demanding look. "I heard from Tisa. She said that you've taken leave for the next three months."

Yes, but that was to take care of my engagement to Andre initially. Amanda could clearly only say that silently. Especially when her plans had changed drastically like now.

"I've contacted the EO for your wedding preparations," reported Mama Tiara who had just appeared from the doorway.

"Everything is in order. The day after tomorrow, you will become husband and wife."

"WHAT?!"