When Fate Leads

Chapter 9

As the days passed, Salma became accustomed to the presence of UmarFarouq. She has since inured to his keen and yet nonchalant attitude towards her.

Also, now Salma isn't confined to only her room, she was at the liberty to go anywhere on the Island. She wasn't the prisoner she had been earlier, she was free, yet Salma did not feel free. In her mind, she was still in chains; a repudiated prisoner.

At breakfast UmarFarouq had stopped between a mouthful and stared awkwardly at her
"You look different" he observed.

"What?" Salma returned perplexed.

"Something about you face" he fixed his gaze at her "... is different"

Salma thought a bit about UmarFarouq's observation "Oh!" She exclaimed "I unbraided my hair". How did UmarFarouq noticed such small detail as her hair? ... and she had a veil on, a small veil that flimsily covered her head, but still a veil.

"I see" he said "why?"

"Ok, I don't know if you know this but braids are not permanent" she sang "...just like my stay here"

UmarFarouq put down his fork slowly, he stared at Salma while pondering over her remark. "You really don't think you'll leave this island, do you now Salma?" He asked.

"Oh! UmarFarouq I really do think I would"

"Good luck then" he wished her sincerely "you'll need it". He continued eating his breakfast, unbothered.

UmarFarouq went about his day like any other day, receiving important visitors, talking on the phone, he had even flown out of island and back.

He had hardly stepped his foot on the island when an enthusiastic Inna Gaji approached him.

"UmarFarouq, guess who's here" She welcomed him.

Of course UmarFarouq knew who was there, he always knew who was on his Island: there was only one source of transport to the Island, UmarFarouq's planes. So anyone coming to or from the Island had to use one the planes which needs to be cleared by aviation authorized by UmarFarouq himself and only him: so he definitely knew who was there but Inna Gaji was so keen on surprising him, he played along.

"Who" he smiled radiantly.

"You'll have to see for yourself" she said as she let open the door to his office and there she was, Zara: a small pretty jovial woman: one of the few people who had a soft spot in UmarFarouq's heart.

UmarFarouq laughed, "Zara" he called lovingly "the most beautiful of them all"

Zara smiled, a big smile showing her perfectly white teeth. She approached UmarFarouq. Inna Gaji excused herself, closing the door behind her.

"UmarFarouq mi amor, the man before my heart" Zara praised. She drew UmarFarouq into an amorous hug and he kissed her on the lips.

"Don't flatter me so, least I fall for you" he whispered into her ear.

She laughed "Now wouldn't that be a happily ever after?"

She kissed him again "I missed you UmarFarouq"

"Yet you don't visit?" He accused.

"I will one of these days, call in for a casual visit" She promised with a coquettish grin.

"This is business?" UmarFarouq guessed and Zara nodded.

"I'm afraid it is, I must leave in an hour or so"

UmarFarouq did nothing to hide his disappointment.

"I'm sorry love, I can't stay" she apologized. UmarFarouq understood, he led her to the sofas and they sat together.