27

Zarah's p.o.v

I knew something was off, I wasn't  paranoid about the fact that Safeenah might see Yusuf, because Yusuf has the rights to see his daughter. Though Prince Abubakar's nasheed was heart warming, but I miss my baby, all alone at the kiddies virtual world.

 I came out of the VIP zone after Maryam advised me—knew what she was talking about, but I can't really choose, I was in love with both men. I went out and navigated towards the kiddies zone and what I saw was what I was actually expecting, to be frank. Dale was attacking my ex-husband, I felt slight pain in my eyes, wait was I crying for him again?

I assured my self I won't cause trouble, all I want to do is stop Dale, but as I walked down to them, I slapped Dale harder than I've slapped anyone in my life. I couldn't hesitate, no one should ever be treated that way. I looked at Safeenah, she was looking at me with a look that told me she think I am a monster.

"Why would you do assault him?" I asked Dale as I tried to wipe Yusuf's bloody nose. "Iam okay, I did nothing, I just wanted a moment with my daughter!" Yusuf said, out loud.

Really? Was this the right moment for him to burst such bubbles?

Safeenah was confused, she is six for crying out loud, she understood nothing, "his he my baba?" Safeenah asked me and I could see tears in her eyes.

"I..I..Can explain baby, he was your dad...." I tried to say something but she cut me short and went bonkers on me.

"I can't believe you hid him from me, you always told me baba is dead and he was right here, I hate you Ummi, I hate you!" My daughter raised her voice at me for the first time, my heart breaked as she said 'I hate you'.

"Uncle Dale, I wanna go!" safeenah yelled, I couldn't say anything, I only nodded at Dale, and he gave me an assuring look, he drove off with Safeenah.

Don't judge her for telling her daughter her father died, but she had no choice then, she was young, she raised their daughter alone, he never called, and she heard he moved back to his home town,  Shanghai, who could have thought he'll be back.

"Dead really, you told my daughter I was dead?" Yusuf asked me with an evil smirk, and I could read vexation in his voice.

Why was he smirking, he kinda looked like the devil now, "so you're putting the blame on me, for saying you died? Didn't you die? The Yusuf I once knew died three years ago, all I can see now is a billionaire chef jerk, you weren't there when Safeenah graduated from kindergarten, even on father's day, you didn't show up, oh God can you explain what death is if it is not all these?" I asked him hypothetically, and I could noticed we've got some audience—they all gathered round us and I don't give a damn, all I wanted now was to give this jerk a piece of my mind.

"So, I should be blamed for all of that, what happened to the mails I always sent to Safeenah on her birthdays?" Yusuf asked,

 "Yeah, you always forgot her birthday, you sent them every two months earlier to her birthday, so I ignored them, are you even worth to be call a father?" I said to him, I could see Maryam's pitiful eyes piercing through the crowd.

"This is not a movie, evacuate immediately." I heard prince Abubakar said as he shooed away the crowd,

Speaking of knight in shinning armor.

"So much to learn Zarah, I warned you we shouldn't get married at young age, in marriage you've got to endure," Yusuf said again.

"Oh yeah, I get it now, I shouldn't have married you, and thank God you came, we are officially over and stop wearing that stupid ring, let all these be over, I hate you and we can never be together!" I yelled and I walked but he grabbed my hand and stopped me.

"I want custody of my daughter!" He said without thinking and I said to him what I should have said. "Lemme she you try!" I knocked his filthy hands off and ran off in tears... I was heartbroken, again but this time its more painful.

* * * *

Did he installed a tracking software in her? He sure knew where to find her whenever she's down, he walked behind her gently, I guessed he really enjoyed the ex-couple show.

"I know how you feel perfectly." Abubakar said, Zarah didn't turn to look him, she just kept crying, "Zarah..." Abubakar paused, "I know how it feels to be heart broken, I'm also a victim of one." Abubakar sighed,

He sure knew how to calm people down, he should be a therapist or something, "my first love died a year ago, that was why I was always cold. If you'd notice, I inherited that nickname a year ago. Cancer took her away from me. I was deeply in love with her." Abubakar said as he faked a smile to be strong but still yet tiny droplet of tears could be seen on his cheeks.

"Someone told me it is okay to cry," Zarah giggled silently.

"Using my words against me, impressive performance Zarah. You're a fast learner." Abubakar said and Zarah helped him wipe his tears.  "It seems we've encounter different types of predicament in life, but we should be brave, we should try to make it out alive." Zarah said thoughtfully.

"This reminds me of Humood's song 'Dadin'mai' you are so smart Zarah, I can't believe Mr. Yusuf just lost the most precious jewel in the entire multi verse!" Abubakar said and they both stood up, they both started walking towards the empty highway, due to the after party, the road was closed, as they walked; scent of fresh asphalt and wild orchids drifted past them.

Zarah's face broke in a frown again and Abubakar noticed. "What's wrong?"

"What if he press charges, what if he wants to take Safeenah?"

He smiled and focused on her, "I'll make sure you win." Zarah smiled, "do you believe in reincarnation?" Abubakar asked Zarah,

Zarah gazed into the Prince's blue eyeballs and fell in love with him more. "No, why do you ask?"

"I believe in reincarnation, because I just found myself a new Ayeesha."
Prince Abubakar said and Zarah smiled with a bright blush, she understood what the prince meant, a flashing could be seen, like someone took their pictures,

"Oh no, I can't believe people still do this, what miles can you run?" Abubakar asked.

"It depends, why do you ask?"
Zarah answered and another flashing could be seen.

"It's go time!" Prince Abubakar yelled and grabbed Zarah's hand, they took off and ran towards the wild flowers.

As they run, the two stared at each other and they smiled, this moment was perfect.

* * * *

"Go away!" Safeenah yelled as she heard the door bell rang, "Safeenah,  it's uncle Dale." Dale said from outside and safeenah opened the door, she bursted into tears as she saw Dale.

"Oh child, sorry," Dale said sympathetically and he carried her on his chest. "Why don't you want to see your ummi?" Dale asked.

"She slapped you, and she lied to me, why would she?" Safeenah said feeling betrayed.

"You have all the right to be angry, but at your mum? No! You should be angry with the genesis, your failure dad." Dale said and patted Safeenah's hair.  "All your mum wanted to do is keep you safe, your mum never betrayed you and you hurt her feelings also today. " Dale added.

"Was I that mean to ummi? I didn't know, I'm so sorry, I am a bad daughter, uncle Dale please I need my ummi." Safeenah whined about to burst into tears.

Dale gazed at the chiffon yellow curtain. "You can come out now." Zarah came out behind the curtain, she had been hiding there for a while.
"Ummi! I love you, I am a rude girl to say that to you, please forgive me." Safeenah said in tears as she jumped on her mother.

"I forgive you, have I been forgiven?" Zarah asked, "yes but on one condition, take me to bed and buy me a new dad on amazon!" Safeenah joked as she was already sleepy. Zarah smiled and she picked her up gently, she carried her to the bedroom, lay her on the bed and kissed her goodnight before turning off the lava lamp. She walked out to the living room, Dale was still there—waiting. As Zarah came out, Dale smiled and blushed. "Thank you so much, how can I repay you?" Zarah asked.

"By loving me." Dale blurted out.

"What?" Zarah's eyes widened in shock.

Author's note

Two words for Zarah, please.