"Yes, Prof. How can I help you?" he asked politely.
Bara stared at him for a moment before speaking. "I want to discuss your thesis revision. Can you come to my room now?"
"Okay, Prof. I'll be there soon," answered Elina as she packed up her books.
Along the way to Bara's room, Elina's heart was pounding. She never felt comfortable around Bara. The young professor always had an intimidating and cold aura. When he arrived at the door, he took a deep breath before knocking.
"Come in," came a voice from inside.
Elina opened the door and entered the spacious room. Bara sat behind his desk, staring at the laptop screen. Without raising his gaze, he invited Elina to sit down.
"Please sit down," he said simply.
Elina sat nervously, waiting for Bara to start speaking. After a few seconds that felt like an eternity, Bara finally spoke.
"Elina, your revision is quite good. But there are still several things that need to be corrected," said Bara as he handed Elina a thesis document which was full of notes and scribbles.
"Okay, Prof. I will fix it immediately," answered Elina in a low voice.
Bara looked at Elina sharply. "I hope you can be more thorough. We don't have much time."
Elina could only nod. He knew Bara always demanded the best, but sometimes the demands felt too much to bear.
After the meeting, Elina felt tired and frustrated. He decided to take a walk in the campus park to relieve stress. In the park, he saw a small child playing alone near the swing. The child looked cheerful, but there was something in his eyes that made Elina feel pity.
Elina approached the child carefully. "Hi, you alone?" he asked softly.
The boy nodded. "Yes, Auntie. Papa is busy at campus."
"What's your name?" Elina asked with a smile.
"My name is Adi. Who are you?"
"I'm Elina. Nice to meet you, Adi," answered Elina.
Adi smiled broadly. "Nice to meet you too, Aunt Elina."
Elina felt that there was something special about this child. They talked for a few minutes, and Elina felt comfortable around Adi. When time was almost up, a man came over to them. That man is Bara.
"Adi, let's go home," said Bara in a soft tone that Elina rarely heard.
"Papa, this is Aunt Elina. She's very kind," said Adi, pointing to Elina.
Bara looked at Elina with a different look. "Thank you for accompanying Adi," he said in a softer tone than usual.
"You're welcome, Prof. Adi is a very pleasant child," answered Elina with a smile.
Bara nodded and took Adi away. After they left, Elina sat on a park bench and pondered. Meeting Adi made him see a different side of Bara. Maybe behind his cold and hard attitude, there is a man who is caring and full of affection.
Day after day passed, and Elina met Adi more and more often in the park. Every time she saw Adi, her heart felt warm. He begins to feel an emotional connection with the child. These small meetings give Elina the strength to face the challenges in her stressful marriage.
One evening, Elina was sitting in the living room, contemplating about her life which was full of uncertainty. Suddenly, Bara came into the room with a serious face.
"Elina, there is something we need to discuss," he said.
Elina looked at Bara worriedly. "What is that, Prof?"
Bara sat next to Elina, trying to find the right words. "I know our marriage is not something you want. But we have to carry it out according to the contract."
Elina could only nod. He knew the situation wasn't easy for anyone. However, in his heart, he hoped that one day Bara would see him in a different way.
As time goes by, Elina gets closer to Adi. Adi's presence brings joy in the midst of a stressful life. Bara began to see changes in Elina.
"Why are you so nice to Adi?" asked Bara one day.
"Because he's a good child. He doesn't deserve to feel alone," answered Elina sincerely.
Bara was silent. For the first time, he felt something was different in his heart.
How will the story continue between Elina and Bara? Will this contract marriage turn into true love, or will they remain trapped in a cold and stressful bond? Only time can answer that.