For seven days after Tanisha's death, she was mourned all through those days as Islam demands, the death of a young Qatari princess daughter of the famous found princess Nuaimat spread round the world like wild fire, dignitaries, royalties and other called and alot paid a condolence visit to Nuaimat and co in nigeria, almost all the whole royal family came to Nigeria for the seven days mourning,
During these days, Nuaimat was still the same, quiet, tearless, eyes red and emotionless, she only nods when talked To and tried to offer a polite smile to any polite comment, everyone tried to bring her around but they all failed, she just wouldn't bulge.
On the eight day, Zohra was looking round for Nuaimat to take her down for breakfast, on searching she noticed the door to Tanisha's room open, on peeping she saw Nuaimat by the old cradle at the far end of the room, it was never moved out even when Tanisha out grew it,
Nuaimat was holding a pink fury small shawl, her eyes fixed on it, she was gently caressing it,
Zohra
Nuaimat's changed self wasn't something we didn't see coming, but it makes us sad to also see her like that, i kept mute watching her, what troubles me must is the fact that Nuaimat's tears lasted the very day our daughter died at the hospital, she is yet to shed tears, and in her eyes is this emptiness, this cold feeling and is always red.
"Aima" i called, i was sure she heard me but she didn't turn, "come down for breakfast" i said, "am not hungry" she said coldly
"Fine i will bring it up and eat with you" i said
"Am not hungry Zohra" she added coldly, the way she said my name made me shudder a bit, "fine am telling Grandma Maya" i said and went away, on coming downstairs with tears in my eyes i met with Harees, who gently hugged me as i begin to cry in his arms, "it's owkey Z, its owkey" he cooed,
"Nuaimat, she is all cold, i am worried" i cried, "don't worry, we will bring her around, besides it's just eight days, it's still fresh in her mind" he said, i nodded and he walked me towards the dinning table,
"I said it she won't come down" said Lawisa sadly, "she needs help" said Jameena,
"Is not like she is going crazy or something, she lost her daughter, so it's normal" said Maha as she picks on her food,
"Zohra where is Nuaimat" asked Aunty Laila coming towards us , "she won't come down" i said, "fine we take the meal to her" said Aunt Aina forwarding a tray to me, "Aunt Aina, may i" asked Sabira to also everyone's shock, well even Sabira's arrival was a shock, she was one of the first to arrive with Harees, and their parents are yet to call nor come, "am not sure that is a good idea" said Khalisa, Sabira glared at Khalisa and collected the tray and headed upstairs, well i just hope she comes out in full piece,
No ones POV
Sabira headed straight to the room she was told was Tanisha's, on entering she saw Nuaimat by the wall looking at a large frame of a picture of Tanisha and her, the two were in a garden lying on there stomach, the two face the camera with the same type of smile showing a mother and a daughter,
"You two look alike in that picture" said Sabira after placing down the tray, Nuaimat turned to see Sabira,
"All pictures i have seen, the two of you look alot alike, well except for the dimples" added Sabira,
Nuaimat kept mute, "you know you are not making her happy by doing this, she would have wanted you to move on and be happy"
"You speak like you know her" said Nuaimat without looking at Sabira
"Tanisha, wait just because you and i don't go all smiling and stuffs, that doesn't mean i am the same with your daughter, well all the kids don't like me that much, but my first encounter with her was after a row between me and you, i was up in my room when she came in" Sabira chuckled and continued
"why dont you like my mummy, she asked me, i was shocked at her boldness, why are you up here, i asked her, to tell you to stop bothering my Mummy, she bluntly replied, with that she went out, that afternoon i was walking on a corridor when i heard some of the kids gossiping about me and guess what, i heard Tanisha saying, they should stop, it's not good talking bad about an elder, i another kid said "Tanisha she doesent even like your mum, Tanisha said, i know but they are adults, and we are kids we don't understand what is going on, right there Nuaimat i felt a great sense of respect for you for teaching Tanisha like this, and a soft spot for Tanisha, from that day onwards i admire your daughter" Sabira sighed, and continued "Nuaimat, Tanisha was a very besides and good girl, she was innocent and good she deserves peace, and what you are doing won't bring her peace"
with that Sabira walked out and finally let the tears in her eyes fall, on coming out she met with Zohra, Zaid and Muayad, "i heard about all your plans for father, am grateful you aren't handing him over to the authority, and am sorry he killed your father and for your mum to Muayad, whatever the case maybe, i support you" she said wiping away her tears,
"i heard your wedding is on the same days with ours" asked Zohra, and Sabira nodded, to her shock Zohra hugged her and said "welcome to the bride to be clique" Sabira stiffened a bit but then relaxed into the hug.
On the tenth day Nuaimat sat down on the stairs leading to their wing, she was looking pale and white, everyone has left except for Harees, nothing could be done to please her, she remains cold and quiet,
One thing no one noticed was that ever since Tanisha died, Nuaimat has being holding the hair pin, she was now fiddling with it, when Zohra and Muayad came in,
"Someone wants to see you" said Muayad,
"He insisted" added Zohra sounding unease, Nuaimat looked up to see ABBAH, he was looking older and more mature, but still has his handsome features,
"Nuaimat, i searched everywhere for you, and i tried contacting you when i heard of you, Nuaimat i regret my actions and am sorry for my daughter's death" he stated sadly, Nuaimat stood up and looked at him for some seconds,
"am sorry Abbah, you never get to meet Tanisha, infact i pity you, because you not getting to meet her makes your life pathetic, even if my daughter was alive, i won't hesitate to make your life a living hell for coming here, now she is no more, i don't want to ever see your face, and i if you dare show up in my door step, then i promise you pain and agony" she said coldly and with that she turned away and begun ascend the stairs.
Two days later again Nuaimat was seated in the main sitting room, she was quiet, and was starring into space, Zaid and Harees were there with her, Zohra and Muayad were out.
Minutes later the two came in, Nuaimat didn't even budge at their entrance, "Ya Aima someone is here to see you" said Muayad, on turning she saw her father, who stood looking at her with tears in his eyes,
Nuaimat gave a dry and cold chuckle and turned away, "daughter i..... "I AM NOT YOUR DAUGHTER" she stressed without turning, "you are, you will always be, i accept any punishment from you, i know i deserve it" he said admist to tears,
"Please father have a seat" said Zaid as he stood up and helped the now trembling dad, "thank you, Zaid, thank you" he said,
Zohra placed down a tray of water and some drinks in his front, Nuaimat stood up and walked away without a single glance at him,
"I am not welcomed" said dad in a broken voice, "please father, you are welcome here, don't worry avoid Nuaimat, she has being like this since Tanisha's death" said Zaid,
"Am sorry about that, Tanisha has being a huge part of your lives, such a sharp and smart girl i heard, believe me it breaks my heart to not have meet her and to think i did that horrible thing to her mother my own very daughter" he cried, "i never thought i do this to Nuaimat, i loved her more among kids of mine, she was just different and has everything about her mother, when will Nuaimat take me back" he also cried,
"It's owkey father, lets give her more time, i am sure she will come around" said Zaid.
The next morning Nuaimat woke up early and hungry, she put on a robe and went downstairs to the kitchen, on entering she saw her dad, he seems to be looking for something, she hid her shock and walked to the fridge without offering him a greeting, he stood watching her as she grabbed a jug of thick mango juicy from the fridge, closed the fridge, "please show me where the cereals are" he politely asked, "cereals" she asked, "am hungry, no one is awake to cook" he said innocently, she shook her head, opened the freezer and brought out a frozen marinated halve cooked chicken, and packaged chips, she placed the chicken in the microwave, and empty the chips in the dip fryer, she poured the juice in a cup and handed it to him, twenty minutes later, both timers went off, she quickly served him in a plate and handed it to him, "i don't care what You are here for, but i pray you are not here for me" she said and walked out.
In the afternoon Uzair, Aisha and Ameerah came to visit, Nuaimat didn't join them in the sitting room with her dad, she was now out on the pavement viewing the playground that was made for Tanisha,
She was staring into space as the gentle breeze blows her wavy hair, from a far one looking at Nuaimat will say a damsel but in distress, she wore a short sleeve free long gown which was brown and has cream decorations on it, she has being standing there for past two hours, when Zohra came up to her, "made you some chocolate" she said forwarding a cup,
"Why are you all doing this" she asked sounding annoyed, "what" asked Zohra,
"Your attention on me, focused on me, you all want to please me, but it's not that easy, get on with your lives and let me be the way i are, not can please me after my daughter's death, so get it, i mean all of you" she said and then walked away leaving stunned Zohra,
Nuaimat
.They will never understand how haunting everything is, i got Tanisha expelled, she had to stay at home and staying at home she got bored and what, she died, how on earth am i expected to live with that, to live with the thought that my arrogance caused me my daughter, none among them will understand what am going through, the sleepless night, countless haunting dreams, the aches, no one will understand my pathetic life, yes my life it's pathetic with no Tanisha in it, so it makes me annoyed to see them look at me with pity, to see them trying to please me, to see them trying to tell me everything is owkey, its as if they are trying to cover up my messed upness, they want me to believe i am not at fault and that is what agitates me the more, nothing can be done to help me or so i thought there was nothing to make me EASE UP.