In a small riverside town lived a man named Samsuri. At 57, he was a civil servant known for his friendliness and helpful nature. His wife, Ratnawati, was also a government employee. They had been married for decades, raised two children, and were counting down the months to retirement.
But life does not always run straight like a paved road.
Somehow, Samsuri became close to a young woman named Nayla, who often hung around a coffee stall near his office. Nayla was no ordinary woman—she was wild, full of stories, and always chasing excitement. On several occasions, Samsuri joined her for joyrides around the city on her motorbike, sometimes with a third friend riding along.
Their relationship grew more intense until one day, news came that shattered Samsuri’s peace: Nayla was pregnant.
Panic struck. The once calm world now spun in chaos. Nayla demanded responsibility. “Marry me,” she said firmly, leaving no room for negotiation.
Ratnawati found out. Her heart broke, but she refused to share her husband. “If you want her, then this is where we end,” she said. They divorced, and the once warm family home fell into cold silence.
Not long after, retirement came. Ratnawati chose to live peacefully with her children and grandchildren, free from turmoil. Samsuri married Nayla, who was far younger than him. Their life together was far from stable. Nayla could not use birth control, and for three consecutive years, she gave birth to three children.
The financial burden grew heavier. Samsuri’s pension was not enough to cover their living and schooling expenses. He was forced to take odd jobs, working as a construction laborer. Under the scorching sun, his aging muscles strained to lift bags of cement and sand.
Meanwhile, Nayla kept herself busy with aerobics classes, social gatherings, and neighborhood events. The home and the children were almost entirely Samsuri’s responsibility. Sometimes, late at night, exhausted and aching, he would sit on the porch of their small rented house.
He would think back to his past—Ratnawati’s loyalty, the peaceful home, and the calm retirement he once imagined. Now, all of that was gone, just a memory.
In the twilight of his life, Samsuri learned one bitter truth: a decision made in the heat of desire can change the rest of your days. And regret never comes at the beginning.
