Zakir and Sarah began to make peace with the fact that their daughter would love as a divorcee at the age of 24. Too young to be divorced, humiliated, and to have suffered. The guilt began to eat Sarah alive.
Naila began to finally breath freely. She followed up with the job she got. A boarding school and that requires a primary teacher. Naila felt hopeful.
"You are leaving?" Sarah asked. Looking shocked. "You did not get any job around here and have to leave now? The divorce is not even finalises yet and the place, it's so far from here," as usual her parents did not agree.
"When have you ever let me do what I want to do? Is this not enough? What I'm going through? Please stop. Stop ordering me around. Stop making decisions for me," Naila said. She sounded really cold this time. Zakir said nothing while Sarah turned angry.
"If you step out of this house, you will never set your foot inside again," Sarah even tried threatening her. But nothing worked.
"Happy to," Naila did not give in. "I have no intentions of letting you ruining my life again," she said and locked herself up in the bedroom again..
Naila was asked to report within two weeks. She spent one week researching about the place. 'Why is a place named as Wanderer's Valley? she wondered. The photos online looked stunning with great sunrise and sunset spots, Gardens, farms, cottages, and some modern villas. She liked. She learned that the Valley is huge with a lot of settlements, a great town, and lots of opportunities. She booked the bus ticket and extra for the luggage. She researched about the school and begged for hostel accommodation for the moment. The principal somehow agreed to her requests and gave her six month to find a new place. Naila spent another week packing everything. Her father transfered some money to her account.
"Go do shome shopping, whatever you will require," he the said, walking into the room.
Naila nodded. "Thanks," that's all she said.
"Did Danish contact you after he left?" Zakir asked.
"No," Naila sighed. "I called him once. He did not answer. Then I saw his Instagram stories, he is out of the country for work again," Naila rolled her eyes. "He should have mailed the divorce notice before he left."
"Contact him the moment he returns back," Zakir said and walked away. It was unusual. This was not the Zakir Naila was used. He sounded soft and been like that since his Danish's mother exit.
Naila got few clothes, cardigans, skirts, and a new suitcase. Sarah did not say anything till Naila's joining date approached. Naila decided to go two days before joining, stay at a hotel, and get adjusted with place, to hunt restaurants, cafes, library and stuff. The place looked too good for her in the photos. Her hopes kept growing. As nervous as she was, she also had excitement.
"Do you have to go tomorrow itself?" That's what Sarah asked the day before departure.
"It would help to familiarise with the place and surroundings," Naila spoke calmly. She did not wish to fight again before she left. Every conversation with her mother ends in bickering and fight Naila did not want it this time.
"Let us drop you then," Sarah said.
"It's far. I don't want vappa to drive that long," Naila said firmly.
"As if you will ever listen to me," Sarah murmured but Naila heard.
"Am I living a life girls at my age are living currently?" That's all Naila asked. "Because I listened to everything you said and commanded that my life has ended this way," Naila smiled. "Can you stop controlling me? I'm an adult."
Sarah said nothing and walked away. Naila spoke in a very low voice, trying not to get angry, but still her mother managed to piss her off.
The next morning, Naila woke up really early. Her bus was at 5.30 AM. Naila filled bottle and packed some snack. Zakir waited in the car for his daughter to fill the trunk with her luggage. He drove her to the bus hub. He waited there till the bus left. He felt restless since she returned home. He even wondered if ut was his fault to have ruined her studies. He tried to recollect what Naila's dreams were. But he realised then, "I never asked her what she really wanted to do, what she wanted to become in her life,". He felt ashamed for a split second. "But I tried to give her only good things," his mind argued again.
Naila settled down and stared at her father who stood waiting for the bus to move. She did not know what that feeling was in her. She took a deep breath
She tried her best to hold back tears and smiled wide. She waved. She waved till she could no longer see her father. She inhaled.and exhaled couple more times and sat back. She closed her eyes. She could not below what she was doing. It felt good. It did. "I'm gonna rediscover all my likes and find myself," she told herself. "Don't fall.sk easily Naila, prepare to fight well," she put the headphones on and started listening to heler favorite songs.
The way to Wanderer's valley looked beautiful. The bus crossed a lot of cities, a lot of rivers, bridges, and even hills. The bus driver stopped couple of times for washroom breakfast and once for breakfast. Naila grabbed a sandwich and returned back quickly, afraid of missing the bus.
"All boarded?" The driver asked half an hour later. Everyone answered. Ten minutes later they started the journey again.
The bus began to go to higher altitude. The path was covered with fog for some distance. The greenery has no end. Naila put on her cardigan as it started feeling colder sitting inside the AC bus for long..
"Excuse me," Someone called Naila..
"Yes," Naila lifted her head.