Although it was a Saturday and Anisa did not need to leave early for work, she woke up at dawn. She had responsibilities at home, to prepare breakfast for her mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Quietly moving around the kitchen, she made lentil soup, garlic bread, and a few waffles and pancakes, carefully arranging everything on the dining table. šµ
Zayan's mother ate silently, her expression calm and unreadable. The sister, however, behaved as she always did ,pointing out nothing but flaws in the food, finding fault even where there was none. Anisa listened without responding, her face composed though her heart felt heavy.
Just as they finished eating and began to get up from the table, the sound of the doorbell rang through the house. Anisa walked to the door and opened it. Standing outside was a middle-aged man with a serious, authoritative appearance. š
"Mister, who are you?" Anisa asked cautiously.
"I'm from the city bank," the man replied. "Are you related to Zayan? š
I first went to the address he had given me, but I found this address through the religious monastery that is now there."
"Yes, I'm his wife," Anisa answered.
"Then this is the correct address. Where is Mr. Zayan? I need to meet him," he said. š£
"My husband passed away about eight months ago," Anisa replied, her voice steady but curious. "Why do you need him?"
The man paused briefly before continuing. "Your husband took a business loan from our bank about a year ago. Several installments are still unpaid. We have already sent reminder letters. If the payments are not settled, we will have no choice but to take legal action." ā
Anisa felt her chest tighten. "How much did he borrow?" she asked.
"One hundred thousand dollars," the bank officer said plainly. šø
"A hundred thousandā¦?" Anisa repeated, frozen in shock.
The words echoed in her mind as the weight of a truth she had never known crashed down on her, threatening to pull her entire world apart. šÆ