UNTAMED PRINCESS

•Chapter 43•

NAEEM'S POV

"You don't say anything to anyone about it, especially my family. I'll explain everything to them when I have it all figured out. Please" Sa'adah said rocking back and forth on her heels and secretly scratching her thumb. "Okay" I reply and she looks away from me. Her eyes stays on the large french window facing the garden in the living room and a small teary smile lift her lips.

In that moment I realised how she have lost weight in the past few days, the bloodshot red eyes and dark circles. Seems like the both of us couldn't get to have a wink last night.

She avoided me all through yesterday and only went to the room when she was sure I was with Nadeen to pick some of the stuff she left there before moving back to her room to pack. In all honesty, I needed my own space to think too so that's fair.

"Give me a minute" she says in a low tone bringing me out of my trance then hurriedly make her way to the studio. A minute later she came back with a fancy black and gold envelope.

"What's that?" I ask when she hands it over to me. "It's the graduation invite. If you happen to get the time, I was hoping you could maybe drop by for a few minutes and see the paintings but if you're busy it's okay, I mean......."  "I will be there" I make a mental note to ask Abdussamad to reschedule everything for that day to a day after or before. "Okay" she breathes.

"I think I should get going" she said her nervous ticks starting to show again. "Okay" I nod. "Uhm...Nadeen, I...." she trails off. "I think it's best if you leave before she's awake, will save us all the tantrum" I offer. "Yeah, yeah I should. It was so stupid of me to think I should even see her now, it's just that we didn't even say a proper goodnight yesterday and....you know what? You're right, I'm sorry and I should get going" Sa'adah blabbers.

I know she's trying to make this as less awkward as possible but it only makes it worse. Plus prolonging the goodbye is not going to stop it.

Without a word from me she turns towards the entrance and I follow her out. She insisted on driving the car to her brother's house herself because we don't need a third party in our business.

I stand by the front door as I watch her get into the car.

Please stay, just stay here with me and let's figure it all out together.....

God, I'm going to miss this woman

From her feisty replies, her cheeky grin every time she have the upper hand, the silly arguements, the weird way she cares, her relationship with Nadeen, the morning coffees I make her, the way she secretly loves to cuddle but will never agree....... everything

I'm even going to miss that cat of hers and I never liked the cat because it takes away my wife's attention from me.

The gate opening is what brought me back to real life as I watch her walk away from our home, our family, our daughter, us.....and everything else

~

"Papa where's Mama?" Nadeen ask after taking a spoonful of her cereal. "She's not here" I answer. "Where did she go to?" She ask again. "Not now peach" I sigh turning around to face the television. I can't face her and lie to her, but the truth will shatter her more.

Even with today being a Friday, I took the day off and informed Nadeen's school about her absence. She was thrilled to be home at first and most of the activities she told me she was going to do consists of her Mama so I don't know how long the day is going to be but there will definitely be a lot of explanation.

After she's done sulking and taking her cereal she got up to take the empty bowl to the kitchen.

"Papa I can't find Lulu" Nadeen shouts from a part of the house. Probably the hallway or staircase. "She's somewhere" I answer. That's not a lie right? The cat is somewhere, just not here.