UNTAMED PRINCESS

•Chapter 4•

MALAK'S POV.

"Thank God he agreed to come back to this house after everything" Mama said barging into my room. "Who?" I asked peeking from my duvet. "The Tafida boy and please don't embarrass me Malak, you've done enough" she said with a pained expression. She's good at playing the victim...God! This woman! I didn't reply and that's the cue for her to continue talking

"Dress up, they will be here for lunch, hopefully I find a way to make him have an interest in you" She says opening the door to move out. I want to ask her if a person can't just find me interesting on their own, does she really have to do that? I didn't ask, just nodded like I always do. I hate myself for agreeing but I'm also tired of resisting, it's a waste of time on my part.

"And Nafisa look up to him as her role model, she wants to do her 3rd year internship at his firm, if everything goes as planned, that is nothing to worry about but if it doesn't, don't spoil this for her by giving him a bad impression of this family. Working in his firm will get her a great job anywhere" She adds stepping out of the room completely. "Don't worry about it Mama, I'll handle it just fine" I said mustering a smile. "That's the problem Malak, there's always something to be worried about when it comes to you" She replied with a shake of her head, her eyes glinting with disappointment before she closed the door.

I sighed and close my head with the duvet letting out a silent scream. I need to talk to someone. I have 2 friends from the boarding school I attended which are all married by the way, another reason for Mama to be way too desperate. Haleema lives here in Kano while Zulayha is in Abuja. I never discussed much with them so they won't understand my problem.

Adda Humairah must be asleep considering it's 10:00am and a weekend. I settled on calling my favorite sibling, Ya Imran.

"Hi" I said immediately he picks the call. "What's up Malak, how are you doing?" He asks. "I'm good" I replied. "You sound tired though" I add. "What do you expect from a neurosurgeon who works part time in the emergency department? I just got out of a shift and getting back into another in the next 7 hours" he explains.

"I should probably hang up and let you rest then" I said with a sigh a little bit disappointed I have no one to talk to. "No it's fine, what's the problem?" he asks and I kept quiet not sure where to start. "Mama?" He adds after seconds of silence and I sighed as a response.

"You know, I don't think I'll ever understand you guys' relationship" he says. "She hates me" I shrugged with a humourless laugh. "She doesn't Malak, she's just not happy with some of your choices" He replies. "Are they wrong? My choices I mean" I ask in a whisper dreading the answer.

"No they're not, you chose a good path for yourself, it just happens to be something she can't brag about in Hajiya Rabi'ah's world" he laughs. "I think so" I smile. "It is so" he says firmly and I nod as if he's seeing me. I really have to start believing I'm not wrong.

"What's really my fault Ya Imran? I just want an ounce of the love she showers on you guys, can't I even have that? Aren't I her daughter?" I ask and I can hear him sigh. "You don't really have to answer that" A bitter smile plastered on my lips. "Malak...." he Starts.

"If Working in emerge and neuro is too much of a work, try being a therapist" I suggest cutting him off and he laughs. "Oh that's tempting, but I love my job, it makes girls swoon more" he says and I chuckle. "They think the idea of you opening skulls is hot?" I raised my eyebrows a soft chuckle escaping me. "Yes and they also think working in the chaos of emerge, shouting up and down is hotter" he said smugly and I just laugh with a shake of my head. This guy!           

"Alright get some rest before your next shift, bye" I say. "Bye" he replies and I hung up. At least I feel a little bit better.

Time to get dressed up for Mr 'I have a wife but I'm still after some girl'