Chapter 16
318 Words
Chapter 16“Wake up! Wake up please,” I heard Khalid say when Talya picked up the phone the next morning. I was already packed, ready to go to the airport. I dropped my suitcase to the floor and looked into the viewer.
“What the...?” she screamed into the receiver and so did I, watching her.
“What’s happening?” she shouted.
“I’m downstairs. Would you mind opening the door?” She did. Talya was fuming and so was I.
Khalid was standing, fully dressed, towering over her as she opened the apartment door. He smiled. Good God! I thought, what are you doing, man? If you’d leave the woman alone, we’ll all be better off.
“What are you doing here?” Talya shrieked, trying to pull her hands away from his grasp.
“You get dressed and we go – right now.”
“NO!” Talya yelled. “I am not your daughter. I am not your wife. And even if I were either, I would not do your bidding without explanation. I want to know why you woke me this early.”
Khalid looked dumbfounded. “I’m sorry, Talya, I just wanted to surprise you.”
“And you have done that.” She was still angry. I was laughing. “Okay, but I want to have a shower first...”
“Don’t you want to come with me to the beach?”
She shrugged, turned away, and left him to make his way to the living room.
In a few minutes, Talya was ready – outwardly but not mentally, I was sure.
She stood in the passage, keys in hand, glaring at him. He had been sitting on the sofa. He stood up, came towards her with an appreciative glance, and took her in his arms. She had lost the battle (temporarily). “Good Morning, Talya. How did you sleep?”
“Not long enough!” Talya looked up at him frowning. “Why do we have to go to the beach at sunrise?”
“Because, we need to go where our last journey began and thank Allah for seeing us safely home,” Khalid answered, peering into her eyes
“All right then... Let’s go.” She shook her head, her displeasure visible.
PART 2:
Chasing after Ben Slimane
- Writer
