When Fate Leads

Chapter 7

UmarFarouq must have been sitting there for almost fifteen minutes before Salma moved, she opened her eyes slowly then she closed them back.

She was dreaming: in her dream, she had seen the most beautiful man: genteel, sitting legs crossed, on a chair right in front of her. His face was so calm yet his clean beard gave him an impossibly serious look. He wore a flawless white suit that relinquished to his body so perfectly: perfection so unbearable, it made him looked mean. His black shoes shone brightly, she could see her face on them and the only jewelry he wore was a silver watch. He was suave, so clean: too neat for a person.

She smiled sleepily, what a dream, she thought as she stretched and yawned. She opened her eyes and the dream was still there, he was still there. Confused, Salma rubbed her eyes, and looked again: the beautiful man was still sitting there, undisturbed. She sat up abruptly and gathered the duvet around herself.

It wasn't a dream, this man sitting across her wasn't a dream, he was real.
"Auzu billahi minash shaitani rajim" She cried "who are you?"

UmarFarouq squinted, a look of askance spread across his face. This woman thought he was the devil himself and she was seeking refuge in God from him. On the down low, UmarFarouq felt offended but this wasn't the first time someone had referred to him as the devil: it certainly won't be last.

"You are Salma" he stated flatly.

"Who are you?" Salma's voice trembled, she hugged the duvet closer.

"I am UmarFarouq" he answered.

"The master?" Salma's eyes grew wide with surprise.

"The master?" UmarFarouq repeated "I rather you call me UmarFarouq"

Salma softened her grip on the duvet, she couldn't believe this man was the master of the Island that had kept her captive, this beautiful man was the master? She had anticipated the master would be older than this man and definitely scary but this man sitting before her, this man, if he was a word, would be 'Serenity'. Salma almost smiled.

UmarFarouq wondered why she looked so relieved: he was UmarFarouq and people should quiver from fear in his presence. He adjusted in his sit, he reached into his jacket and removed one of his guns, he placed it carefully on his lap.

A gun? Salma jumped suddenly to a far end of the bed, she recoiled into herself. UmarFarouq was pleased with himself, now that's better, he thought.

"Oh! Oh my God" Salma started to cry "please don't kill me" she begged.

"Please, shut up" UmarFarouq chided "If I wanted you dead, you would be dead already"

Salma thought for a second: well, he was right about that but still...
"What do you want?" She had to ask "I don't have any money, my family don't have money..."

UmarFarouq shook his head wearily "are you as stupid as you sound?" He asked fixing his gaze on her.

"I am a nobody...I swear" She stammered.

UmarFarouq kept his eyes on her, not once did he even blinked, he sighed.
"Don't let me regret not shooting you while you were asleep" he prayed.

Something about how he said that made Salma believed he was actually capable of shooting her right then, right there.
"I am so sorry" She apologized immediately: this safe looking man wasn't safe, she thought, she must behave if she wants to leave this place alive.

"You wanted to see me, yes?" UmarFarouq said.

This was her chance "I want to go home" Salma said.