UNTAMED PRINCESS

•Chapter 17•

MALAK'S POV

"All set?" Na'eem ask as he rounds the car to reach his side. "Yes!" Nadeen claps her hands in excitement and I smile at that. "What's making her so excited about the trip?" I raise my brows when Na'eem got in. "No Idea" he shrugs with a small smile and I take a look at the backseat to see her focused on the game she's playing on her iPad, oblivious to what we're discussing. "Seatbelt, it's a highway" he glance at me and I struggled to put on my seatbelt.

The drive was quiet, but  nice. Nadeen's game sound filled the car and I watch the trees with a little smile on my face through the windows. About an hour later, we arrived at the front of a very large black gate. The place is quiet and I can't wait to see what's beyond the huge barrier. A young man appeared only for a second or two before going back and the gates was opened almost instantly by other two young men.

"Barka da zuwa, Ya hanya" the man that came out earlier greeted us and Na'eem smiled. "Lafiya Kalau Alhamdulillah" he replied and I give a small nod with a little smile to acknowledge the man's greeting before we zoomed in. "Wow....now I see why Nadeen is excited to be here" I say and Na'eem chuckle while Nadeen look out the window like I'm doing right now abandoning the game she was playing.

When I heard farmhouse, I didn't expect this. Maybe just an ordinary huge space with one or two horses they ride but no! This is it. On each side of the road are well groomed grasses with aligned trees that provide shade. A little farther to the left side is what looked like a greenhouse or a nursery with different growing flowers. There are little Houses that are more of a cottage than anything else lined by the left side and this might be the best thing I've seen for a long while. From the bustle and noise of Kano and that of Abuja, this looks out of the world. The most serene place I've seen in years.

"What are these cottages for?" I ask turning to look at Na'eem before looking back at the beauty outside the window. "The workers" he reply. "What do they actually do here?" I ask. "There's a poultry farm and a fish bond at the other end. And also the stable" he reply. "Are they much? The workers" I ask seeing the endless row of cottages. "Yes, there's a school, a clinic and a playground for the kids around that corner" he explains. "Whoa" I mutter surprised that they have all these amenities for the kids. That's so nice of the Tafidas.

"We're here" he announces and Nadeen jumps out of her seat wanting to get out of the car and I laugh looking at her. You can't blame her though, this place is heaven! Turning back, I finally looked at where we're going to stay for the weekend and Oh my God!
This cottage is bigger than the others together with 4 more beside it and I cannot believe that there's something this magical that I can visit when I want. 'Just for a year' my heart taunts

I followed them out of the car and Na'eem took the bags out of the trunk. The door was already opened since the house was cleaned earlier after Na'eem announced that we're coming. "Na'eem this is amazing" I whisper and he laughs dropping our bag. "It is" he agrees. "Can we go see pony now?" Nadeen interrupts and he turns to look at her. "Can we?" I ask too, suddenly excited. "Okay, Okay" he nods as he hold Nadeen's right hand and I held the left one. The walk to the stables from the cottage isn't much far because we arrived in about 5 minutes.

"George!" Nadeen calls and a British man that's checking out a horse turned, a huge smile gracing his lips. "My my kiddo, easy there" he says and she stands in front of him. "I missed you and Nancy, and Beth and Aubrey" she says and he laughs. "We missed you more, and your pony too" he adds. "George" Na'eem interrupts. "Sir" he smiles with a little tip of his hat. "The Mrs?" He ask with a warm smile looking at me and I give him a warm smile too. "Yes" Na'eem answers putting his arm around me.

"George, This is Malak. Malak, this is George. He's our oldest and head staff here, his wife Nancy is the chef and head house keeper. His daughter Elizabeth is a nurse at the clinic and her husband is the head at the fish pond" Na'eem introduced. "It's nice to meet you" I say. "Likewise Mrs" he reply and he turns to Nadeen. "Aubery is probably back from school and waiting for you, let me wash my hands" He says and Nadeen nods before he left us standing. A minute later he's back. "I'll let you explore the stables. Enjoy" George smiles at us before turning to leave with Nadeen.