How does a woman deal with her longing to the man she loves?
I don't know..
It's torturing to know that Eliyas Filladi was sleeping down stairs but was still the farthest from my reach.
All my surrounding looked horibly different, the villa seemed more dimly and lifeless, and all people around me looked less lively, even the cook was effected by our long seemingly unamendable dispute because the food tasted awful, or was it just my lack of appetite seeing Eliyas's chair empty in every meal?
The worst place in the whole villa was undeniably our room, it was monstrously painful to stay there alone, to sleep in a large bed looking at the empty pillow beside me, and to wake up every morning in an empty dark place.
At some point, I even started to wonder how was that man able to stay in this room after my departure? I always thought I had it harder since I had to move to a new place after our separation and start anew, but now that I'm spending my nights alone in the same old place with all the beautiful memories I have of it but without him, I'm finding it drastically much more torturing!
I guess news of our mishap reached even my in-laws, since few days later when I was sitting in the garden pensively looking at the trees, I heard someone calling my name.
When I turned behind me to see who that was, I was surprised to find Ines standing there.
The moment her eyes fell on me, she shamelessly commented:
_" Nana was right, you look awful."
I decided to simply ignore what she said, acting more mature I asked:
_" how are you doing?"
She walked closer, and as she occupied the seat beside me she replied:
_" I lived better days."
_" Is mother giving you hard time? She must be very excited for the wedding." I asked teasingly.
She remained pensively silent for a while, then replied:
_" Eliyas sure is an expert in punishing people, isn't he? I would rather prefer him scalding me for acting indecent instead of the torture of being under the mercy of mother's excitement."
_" Indeed he is.." I said with a long sigh.
Since I'm not someone who loves to waste unnecessary time, I straightforwardly asked:
_" You didn't come here to complain about mother, did you? Is there anything I can help you with?"
_" I really admire your honesty dear sister in-law." She smiled brightly.. Then added:
_"I'm here to take you out in a mission with me, you absolutely can't refuse to go."
_" what is it?" I asked feeling very skeptical.
She shook her head and refused to answer.
I mean, when was I and Ines ever in a relationship where she can simply come free load on me and drag me along in her secret "missions"?
Before I had time to understand what was exactly going on though.. She urged me to move saying:
_" go to your room and wear something convenient to go out already! We don't have much time to waste!"
As she was speaking, she already held my hands and forced me to stand up, then started pushing me back to the villa.
Although she was acting very strange, I was still feeling so disheartened to even care for what she was doing or to try to keep up with her, consequently:
- she dragged me.. I was obediently dragged.
- she pushed me up the stairs.. I was obediently pushed up the stairs.
- she followed me inside my room without permission.. I absently let her in.
even when I finally opened my closet to select a decent outfit, she was so impatient that she soon came to see my clothes and started selecting an outfit for me by her self, even at this point, I was still acting like If I've just woken up from anesthesia.
Ines, being her mother's daughter, of course couldn't miss the chance to comment my state, she mockingly said:
_" Sigh, That brother of mine is acting unnecessarily stubborn, If he sees how desperately depressed you are even his stone heart will be slightly moved, here, go wear this."
She threw clothing in my hands and pushed me towards the bathroom.
The moment I walked outside she impatiently shouted:
_" why do you need an eternity to change clothes! Let's go already!"
_"I need to put makeup on." I barely said when she loudly objected:
_" You look just fine without it! Let's go!"
You see, it wasn't until we were finally on road with her driving the car in a crazy speed that It finally occurred to me to seriously ask:
_" where are we going? And can you please drive slower."
Without looking at me she replied:
_" You're a journalist, a good one I hear, I'm using your expertise today."
_" you're not going to tell me anything, are you?" I sighed.
Observing her silence I thought: " this girl is sure her brother's sister as well."
She looked so pretty too by the way although she was simply wearing jeans and a buttoned large white shirt with a weird design, she still looked absolutely stunning, not to mention that her makeup and hair were like the work of an artist, and there I was convinced like a fool to follow her out with my hair in a messy ponytail, and I absolutely don't mean messy in a good way.
Since it was too late to do anything anyways, I simply looked at my reflection on the small mirror, let my hair down and tried to give it a bit of volume, then resolutely convinced my self I look the prettiest when I look 17 years old.
I turned to look at the cars behind us on the road, and felt relieved to see my protection team's cars following us closely, at least If my sister in-law was planning to hand me to a serial killer, I would be protected.
I didn't ask her more, I'm not a gossipy person to begin with and it was pointless as well trying to know anything from her, just kept watching D city's busy streets outside the window, still feeling dispirited to even mind the crazy thing that was happening.
The car finally parked at some resort, as I was taking off my seatbelt trying to get out Ines so weirdly said to me:
_" Promise me, If I try to do anything stupid, you will stop me."
I nodded.. Just nodded.
Then I followed her inside that resort, a receptionist soon led us towards an open air restaurant centered by a big pool where no one was swimming, as she was guiding us towards an empty table Ines suddenly stopped midway, while pointing towards a certain table she said:
_" we'll take this one, thank you."
As if that wasn't already odd, she went so far to push me to take a certain seat as soon as the receptionist left saying:
_" you'll have a better view from here."
When I finally looked right in front of me after I properly sat down, I realized what was going on..
About 20 steps away from us.. Akrem was sitting there with a woman.
I couldn't help smiling from ear to ear in amusement, as it turned out to be, we were there to spy on him.
I mischievously looked at Ines and commented:
_" what a coincidence, Mr Houdil is here too, It seems like he's having great time with his date."
_" technically speaking, She's a business representative to Filladi's, but this is their forth meeting already, she's too young and beautiful with good brains if I must admit, I don't like this, and I was informed they laugh too much for a simple business meeting, have you ever even seen that man smiling! I really don't like what's going on." Ines so shamelessly explained.
She really wasn't planning to fain ignorance in front of me, was she?
Even admitting having people to spy on him.
I laughed shaking my head, So Ines indeed likes Akrem after all, she's so crazy jealous that she even brought me , her eternal enemy, along probably to ruin that 'business meeting'.
If this was the case, then why did she accept Nadir's hand? Isn't she playing with two people this way?
_" What do you think? Does this look just like work or is it something more?" She asked with pleading eyes to my surprise.
I was thinking of reminding her that she and I are not so close for her to trust my opinion, but I started to enjoy what was happening too much anyways, and I teasingly replied:
_" I'm an expert in reading such situations you know, I have a diploma in this field. Well, from what I can see mr Houdil is not showing much, he's not a very expressive person to begin with, but I can't say the same about the lady, mr Houdil is a very capable and smart businessman after all, even if he's not the most handsome, any woman in her position will sure want a man like him."
When I was speaking, she was listening to me very intently with a troubled face, so I devilishly felt that what I said wasn't enough to tease her, I added:
_" It's for the best anyways, you're going to marry Nadir, and Akrem will find his happiness with someone else, it's more fair this way."
Once I said this, she suddenly slammed the table, then weirdly stood up and started walking towards the couple angrily.
I guess this is the moment of stupidness she made me promise to prevent, being the faithful person that I am, I quickly followed her and so generously advised her:
_" don't go interrupt them, you will feel very embarrassed later."
Did she listen to me though? ..Of course not.
I'm someone who doesn't like to meddle in other people's business too much so I didn't try more to stop her, I just promised my self out of respect if she goes too far in embarrassing her self i will perhaps try to do something about it.
When we finally reached Akrem, the drastic changes of the expression on his face was speaking loads: first he looked surprised, then uncomfortable, finally he looked very displeased.. And this was the way he looked at Ines when she so fraudfully said:
_" What a coincidence Mr Houdil! We meet here! How are you doing?"
_" I'm good Miss Filladi, Mrs Filladi, how about you?"
_" Fine" I replied, smiling meaningfully.
The lady who was until now only looking at us uncomfortably suddenly had her eyes shining once Akrem addressed our names, she so excitedly looked at him waiting for him to make introductions.
Her enthusiastic look was so clear that Even the blunt Akrem didn't miss it, consequently he said:
_" This is miss Marwa Kaidi, the spokesperson for J entertainment company."
_" it's such an honor for me to meet you mrs and miss Filladi!" She excitedly said.. While eying me very weirdly she added:
_" Mrs Filladi is my senior in college! Although I wasn't lucky enough to meet her since she has already graduated before I joined, but our college is still very honored to have had her as a student."
When was my college ever honored to have me? I wasn't even allowed to say a word in the graduation ceremony!
I guess after my marriage news were publicly announced my dear old classmates remembered I was once among them.
Although I felt unfairly exploited by my old college, I still gracefully smiled and commented to tease Ines:
_" Miss Kaidi, If I'm your senior and I graduated even before you enrolled, you must be very young! It's so admirable to already see you representing a company .. At your age.. I was probably still looking around for a stable job."
Marwa's eyes seriously were moist with tears of joy when she added:
_" you're making me shy Mrs Filladi! I must say you look so young and beautiful, mr filladi is so lucky to have you!"
Ines and I soon joined their table, as Marwa and I heatedly engaged in a battle of "who compliments the other better" Ines and Akrem simply faded in the background.
I was probably doing the worst job a supportive can do, but who cares as long as I'm called beautiful!
_" You must have many admirers Miss Kaidi" I finally said .. Eying both Ines and Akrem I added: " I bet even mr Houdil couldn't escape your charm, If I'm allowed to say any word about him, he's a very good ___"
I didn't even finish speaking when Ines violently pushed her chair, stood up and left us striding towards the interior part of the resort.
While Akrem followed her fleeting silhouette with his eyes with a troubled face, I only stared at him until he finally noticed I was digging holes in his face, once his eyes landed on me, I made a signal for him to follow her, I even made the effort to wink clearly indicating that matters should be in his favor this time round.
_" Excuse me." He barely said before he stormed off behind her.
As I looked at him disappearing I sighed, how did I end up being Cupid?
_" Is everything alright with them mrs Filladi?" The innocent Marwa asked.
I pretended not to know anything and answered:
_" I'm not sure, I hope it's the case."
_" I don't think Mr Houdil is seeing me in anyway out of professionalism, it's the same for me as well, I think Miss Filladi suits him better." she shyly admitted.
I really admire this woman, she's good in reading the atmosphere, since I really was enjoying her company I felt the need to honestly admit:
_" I think they are suitable for each other too."
After a long time of randomly chatting with Marwa, we both came to realize we were probably forgotten and abandoned by the couple, since I didn't want the poor girl to lose anymore time I apologized for Akrem's unprofessional behavior, promised to schedule another meeting and offered to pay the restaurant which she all kindly accepted.
I held Akrem's suitcase which he apparently forgot, it seemed like I always have to clean after him, then I accompanied Marwa out.
Once we were in the parking lot I asked whether she had a ride, when she replied that she didn't I suggested to take her with me in my way, I mean, I had an unnecessarily long escort of cars anyways, but she shyly insisted on refusing.
While checking the time in her phone, she pointed her hand towards the exterior gate's direction and said:
_" the bus station isn't so far, it was a pleasure meeting you mrs Filladi, you're so kind."
While she walked away quickly probably so as she doesn't miss the next bus I observed her reminiscently, I was in her shoes too in a period of my life, I had to meet with people who asked to meet with me in the most distant of places, in the end while they comfortably drove their cars home, I had to suffer between lines of busses and tramways, and walked great distances.
While observing her back, I suddenly noticed something much more dangerous happening, a car which was driving between lines looking for a place to park was heading right to her, it seemed like she couldn't notice it from where she was standing blocked by a parked mini bus, but I could!
Estimating her walking speed and that of the car's I felt very worried, and instinctively ran the small distance between us to warn her, but once I reached her it was already late for just a warning! She was already standing in the way of the car about to be hit!
Well the car was driving too slow to cause any serious damage, but she was going to get hurt anyways!
I was too close to her so I immediately extended my arm and pulled her towards me, I was successful in saving her but.. My ankle suddenly twisted and I fell on the car that was going to hit Marwa which already stopped by the time I fell on it.
you see, From the angle this whole accident happened, only I and the driver could tell that I wasn't really hit by the car and I just simply fell on it after the driver pressed the brakes.
As for the other eye witnesses behind me, it wrongly looked like I was truly hit.
My falling was so dramatical too to my great embarrassment, first I landed on the front of the car .. Then I slid down and fell on the ground beside it with a thump.
Even Marwa who was the closest person to me in this accident shrieked at the top of her lungs seeing me on the ground.
I felt so embarrassed for what was happening!
The bodyguards soon reached me and they started to act panicky.
As I tried to reassure everyone that nothing really happened and I was fine amid my embarrassment, i started to flick the dust from my clothes.. Only then I noticed that my forearm was bruised from the fall and had abrasions, as I inspected the wound and saw the little dots of my blood I started to panick immediately.
Then I tried to stand up, which was probably the worst thing I attempted, because I felt a sharp pain from my newly twisted ankle.
And that was enough to send the phobic me to a deep darkness..
I freaking fainted.