Author's note:
The main story hasn't finished yet!!
I wrote this episode a little time ago and I couldn't wait more to know your opinion about it so here it is.
I hope you like it ❤
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Noursine Saadat has always been a source of distraction for Eliyas, if the one should be more precise, Noursine is most certainly Eliyas's greatest source of distraction.
This fact became evident since his years in college, for example he had a public presentation during his forth year at the commerce faculty's large theater, this opportunity was usually only offered to the students of the graduating classes as a mean for them to present their thesis in order to make their entry to the business world, much more like it, to get jobs.
Being a forth year student though and the heir of the most known filladi co Eliyas had no reason to be selected for such a rare opportunity that his seniors fight for, since he had no thesis to work on nor he needed to find a job, in fact, he was the first to oppose to such differentiation in treatment thinking that he was chosen to make this presentation just because he was the son of the most remarkable businessman in the nation, when he expressed his objections to his professor, he was surprised to be replied:
_" Mr Filladi, the fact I'm putting you on the stand in front of the whole college has nothing to do with your background, if I had any consideration to the name you're holding, I wouldn't have dared order you to do such a challenging task this early, I have seen your progress since your first year here, I know a talent when I see one, if I'm putting you on the stand out there then my only purpose is for your seniors to watch and learn from you as long as they still have a chance."
Needless to say it, Eliyas couldn't miss the inclination hidden in his professor's words: that this opportunity was not only a way to ridicule his seniors for the purpose of inciting them to work harder, but if Eliyas did a poor job, it would also be a way to ridicule him instead and crush his confidence and self-esteem long before he ever became anyone of significance.
He had to, at all costs, do his absolute best for this presentation.
And so he did.. for the preparation at least.
He spent many weeks doing research and writing his draft, even experimented in investing at certain locals for the sake of this project, he didn't have much fund at the time, so investing the little he had only showed how important this opportunity meant for him.
Eliyas's father, mr belguassem Filladi, couldn't not notice how passionate his son was about this presentation, not only he became a frequent guest at the Filladi co ever since he started working on it, he even asked for mr belguassem's advice in many subjects, a thing that rarely ever happened!
So when the D day approached, mr Buelguassem, being the curious person he is, volunteered to go attend his son's presentation at the college, while on the dinner table, he looked at Eliyas and explained:
_" I often received invitations to your college, I repeatedly declined them though until your college finally stopped sending them, as you know, Filladi co seldom hires newly graduates, if I go see you this Tuesday alone then the dean would most certainly ask me to be a frequent guest there for the sake of his students employment, if I refuse it would perhaps cause you trouble, are you able to handle that?"
When mr buelguassem said this, he had a little hope in his heart that Eliyas would for example say: "maybe you shouldn't come after all, I will send you a video record of the whole event later." Or "If there would be any trouble at all, can you help me solve it then?".
He always wished for his son to depend on him in a way or another, or show little humanly emotions like fear and incertitude so as he can come to his rescue, most people envy him for having such an ambitious and independent son, but very often, buelguassem only wished for his son.. to act like a son.
Much to his expectations, Eliyas swallowed his food then indifferently replied:
_" If you come then you should only think about my representation and give me your opinion later if you wish to, as for the rest, I'll take care of it."
As the family continued their silent dinner right afterwards, a servant entered the dining hall holding the villa phone, as she approached Buelguassem's seat she informed him:
_" the elder lady master is calling, she says the matter is urgent."
_" Mother?" Buelguassem asked confused as he took the phone from the servant.
The moment he said "allo" to the person on the other line, Nana immediately yelled:
_" come to our rescue buelguessem! It's Noursine! She ran away from the house!"
Buelguassem instantly became very concerned, much more over his mother's well being, she was very emotional as she spoke, she must be feeling very scarred for her granddaughter, such stress isn't very good for her old age, so he reassured her:
_" don't worry mother, I'll do everything in my power so as Noursine will be home as soon as possible, now tell me what happened."
_" what's wrong with Noursine?" Mrs Filladi whispered, as her husband refused to give an answer, she instead asked him:
_" put her on the loud speaker."
To which buelguassem obeyed, as soon as he pressed the button, Nana's voice came roaring:
_" I just said few words to her, you know how I can't keep my tongue, she has been very rebellious lately, it's so hard to raise a teenager these days, now I can't find her anywhere!"
_"did you check her friends houses?" He asked.
_" do you think I even know who her friends are?? She changes them like clothes! I'm afraid she ran to someone of bad influence, she frequents a lot of them lately, what if something happens to that naive girl?"
_" Mother, don't overthink it, she will be safely back home, I promise you."
As the phone call continued, and the family discussed this trouble in a rather indifferent way, no one noticed that a certain someone was being silent for all the reasons they never thought of.
Eliyas is always silent on the dinner table, therefore, when he gave no word of opinion regarding what was happening no one was surprised, actually, no one even looked at his direction as they quarreled, because if they did, they would have noticed how much paler his complexion became and how heavily he breathed.
He kept thinking of all the worst scenarios that could happen, since after all, when it comes to Noursine's safety in danger, he can only think of the worst possible scenarios as if there's no hope left unless he sees her face again and makes sure she's perfectly fine.
In the drift of his imagination he thought of her being hit by a car, or being kidnapped, or harassed by someone, the thought of her being touched by someone itself made him feel nauseous of terror, he couldn't support it.
He never felt such terror in his whole life, not even for himself! although he long knew he liked Noursine in a way.. he never realized that his feelings were this strong, very illogical and out of his handle.
He tried to calm himself, to think more logically, all in vain though, because a simple thought of her being in harm was enough to crush all his better judgement.
He soon stood up and left the dinner table, he then held his phone and wanted to do something, all he could do eventually was to call Nana and ask if Noursine has returned, he was only a student with no real money of his own and a distant cousin, he had no means to do more.
It was during this particular incident that Eliyas felt his utter helplessness for the first time, although this feeling will always come hunting him repeatedly for many other different reasons.
Anyways, Noursine came back home on her own free will, in fact, she was only hiding at the neighbor's house doing what only Noursine Saadat would do at a stranger's house without a single care about the people worrying about her: watching Tv.
When she came back home, Nana called the filladis again apologizing in embarrassment.
As Buelguassen gathered his little family to inform them about the latest news he was surprised to find out that his only son was missing, to explain his sudden absence the butler said to everyone's bafflement:
_" the young master packed a bag and he left the villa an hour ago."
_" what do you mean he left the villa with a bag! It's 11 pm!!" Mrs Filladi yelled at the top of her lungs.
Having no answer, the butler only avoided making eye contact with the angry woman.
_"he's boarding a plane." Mr buelguassem said with an amused chuckle as he was reading the message he received from the guards team.
Seeing the clear confusion on his wife's face, he added:
_" To C city, then he probably will take a bus from there, he's going to personally search for Noursine."
_"What??" She asked with an even clearer confusion.
Buelguassem's mood was very joyful in contrast, as he dismissed the butler he said with a laughter he rarely does:
_" his important presentation is the day after tomorrow, yet he's crossing the country to look for Noursine, how did I miss that?"
Ines, who was standing there like thin air all along, righteously suggested:
_" Shouldn't we call him and inform him Noursine went back home without a trouble?"
_" No, just let him be.." The father ordered as he left the hall feeling very excited for his own personal reasons.
As for his speechless wife, she spent a considerable amount of time before she finally asked her daughter:
_" why would Eliyas go there? To look for Noursine?? Why would he do that?"
Ines could only sigh as she stood up and wanted to leave, she never liked Noursine in fact, she had suspicions over her brother's feelings towards her, but after Eliyas's decision to suddenly leave the villa at night, a part of her already knew she will have to deal with her discomfort around Noursine for a very long time.
As she was walking pass her mother she had to say:
_" I think it's high time you started seeing Noursine more than just an insignificant nobody, she did nothing yet and your son is already abandoning everything for her sake, you know him too well, this clearly isn't a pastime to him."
Although Mrs Filladi hated to believe this, and eventually chose not to believe Eliyas had any plain feeling for whoever this Noursine was, she still couldn't hold her phone and call her son, afraid that the reply she'll receive would be:
_" I'm going to Noursine."
Eliyas, while on plane, was already informed about Noursine's safe return, Nana called to tell him, nevertheless, he had to see her anyways for the heart's desire so he didn't cancel his trip.
All along the way, and even on the bus, he didn't sleep for a single moment, in his head, he kept thinking of all the scolding words he would say to her when he sees her, and kept imagining what she would say in response, this particular reason kept him awake more than any other, since after all, he could never guess accurately what Noursine would say, no one on planet earth can guess what's on her head, but he had to guess anyways since he's not someone who can improvise on the spot around her, he always had to think a million times before he said anything, when he failed to do so, he would safely remain silent not to ruin things.
However, by the time he finally decided to leave the bus station and go to Nana's house, all his preparation went to vain, since Noursine was already at the highschool.
He lied about his journey there when Nana asked, he said he only took the night bus from D city and he will have to stay for few days to rest from the exhausting trip, as for the reason of his sudden visit he said:
_" I came to see what exactly is going on with Noursine, after yesterday's incident, all the family is concerned about her."
She didn't question his motives for a single second, she even complained to him about Noursine's recent rebellion and how hard it became to deal with her.
She was 18 at the time..
Eliyas barely slept when the noisy neighborhood bothered his nap, so he preferred to stay awake until Noursine comes back from high school.
When she did though, not only her looks were very different, a bit inappropriate, her attitude much ruder than the last time they met.
He barely had a proper control over the stir of his emotions when he asked her how she was doing, but she only casted him an indifferent gaze as she replied:
_" good."
Then she left..
And that was it..
He wasted probably one of the best chances he had at college, he wasted weeks of hard work, risked ruining his image as a student and even a punishment from the college administration for missing the presentation, and literally flied half the country only to meet a girl who didn't even ask how he was doing!
Didn't even say hi!!
He sincerely wanted to give himself a slap on the face.