When Fate Leads

Chapter 6

It had been almost two weeks since Inna Gaji told her the master had gone away on a trip. Since his take off, the Island had been unusually silent and not much people come and go.

By then Salma had formulated a routine for herself: waking up every day, praying, bathing, eating, talking to Inna Gaji or the helps, reading from the master's books which Inna Gaji had borrowed her, sleeping: that was almost about everything she does everyday. She would have loved to see what the Island looked like but she wasn't even allowed out of her room.

She had no doubt that the Island was a beautiful place and she would have loved it if she was there on a holiday but she was a prisoner: to her the beautiful island was a prison and thus, she was praying so hard for her freedom. When the master gets back she would talk to him, she would plead with him to let her go home. Inna Gaji had told her the master was a good man, Salma prayed and hoped that he was.

   It was early in the morning, Salma was reading 'The essentials of Rumi' when Inna Gaji came in with a tea tray, she was all merry and Salma had to wonder why.

She placed the tray on the table,
"UmarFarouq sent word, he is coming home today" she told Salma.

"Oh!" Salma exclaimed. She put the book down and sat up.

"I must speak to him as soon as he comes back" She said "Inna Gaji I really want to go home wallahi, I know my mother is so worried by now"

"You will go home Salma dear, I will talk to UmarFarouq for you"

"Thank you Inna Gaji" Salma smiled "thank you so much"

Inna Gaji smiled back at her "Now dear, I can't stay here and chat with you, I must go prepare to receive the master. Oh! How I missed him so"

"Of course" Salma grinned.

"I will send you Fatu to come keep you company" Inna Gaji said as she made to leave "I see you two are fond of each other"

    UmarFarouq's plane landed on the Island at quarter past three in the afternoon, Inna Gaji was there to welcome him.

"UmarFarouq, my child" she kissed him on both cheeks "Oh! My, see how you have loose weight"

UmarFarouq laughed, that was Inna Gaji's way of telling him she was about to stuff him with food for the next couple of days.

"Inna Gaji, I hope I meet you in good health" he said

"Forget about me, come" she held his arm and walked with him "you must eat and rest"

UmarFarouq smiled lovingly at her, he wished he would just eat and rest as she had instructed but he didn't have that kind of luxury, he had business to conduct right away...

"Welcome back UmarFarouq" Irrfan greeted at the entrance of the hall "A Doctor Sambo is here to see you"

"Is he here already?" UmarFarouq asked wearily.

"I'm afraid yes" Irrfan replied. Inna Gaji glared at him.

"How long has he been waiting?" UmarFarouq enquired.

"An hour"

"Let him wait for another 30 minutes, I must freshen up, Columbia was rough"

"Yes sir"

"Is Sam still here?" UmarFarouq asked

"Yes, he's been here for three days" Irrfan answered and as if Sam knew UmarFarouq was asking about him, he appeared suddenly.

"UmarFarouq" he greeted him with a hug.

"Sam" UmarFarouq replied, he was glad to see him.

"We missed you around here" Sam confessed.