Apologies all around…I'm sorry that I haven't finished this story, but the last semester was really tough, anyways I'm on my 'research break' right now, so I though I'd finish this story.
Happy Reading
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"Sandstorm?" squeaked Tina "You still get sandstorms here?"
Wahim nodded "and by the looks of it, it's a bad one."
"We need to find shelter…a cave or something." Interjected Sameer
"Where are we gonna find a cave? All I see is sand!" Tina squealed
Sameer surveyed the landscape as he continued driving "I can't see anything, but if we don't find some place soon, the engine will cough up from the sand!"
Tina looked fearfully at the brown cloud descending towards them "How long do we have?" she asked
"About 5 minutes…maybe less." answered Sameer squinting in the wind.
Wahim pointed out into the desert "I think there's something there!" he yelled
"I can't see anything!" yelled back Tina
"We'll just have to take a chance!" shouted Sameer as he turned the buggy towards where Wahim was pointing.
As they got closer, the noticed a dark dot in the sea of sand. "I think it's a cave!" yelled Sameer over the increasing wind.
"I know it's a cave!" yelled Wahim
The wind was blowing harder now and sand went into Tina's eyes; she decided it was safest to just keep her eyes shut. She wondered how Sameer was getting on.
The engine started to splutter "Come on" whispered Sameer as he battled to keep his eyes open against the sand. The entrance to the cave was only a few dozen yards away…the engine coughed and died. Sameer swore in Arabic and turned to the other two. "We'll have to walk the rest of the way."
"Ok" said Tina, keeping her eyes closed.
He smiled at her steadfast expression and helped her out of the buggy "Come on". He grabbed a bag out of the back.
Wahim protected Tina from the worst of the wind as they slowly made their way towards the cave. The wind and sand whistled around them and Tina gasped as something hit her in the face. She grabbed it off and peeked at it, it was just a bit of grass. She flicked it away and shuffled her feet as Wahim pushed her forward.
They eventually made it to the cave, Sameer threw the bag down first, jumped down after it and Wahim lowered Tina to him. He scooped Tina up effortlessly and helped her to her feet. "Thanks" she dimpled at him.
He grinned back as Wahim dropped down beside them.
"Now what?" asked Tina as she blinked into the darkness.
Sameer rummaged in the bag and produced a flashlight "I didn't know we'd really have to use it so soon." It flickered on and filled the entrance with warm golden light.
"Follow me" he said as walked into the cave.
They walked into a hollow chamber, it was a bit damp but after Wahim examined it, it was declared free of creepy-crawlies and any wild animals.
Tina slumped down against a rock "I guess we have to wait here until the storm ends, huh?"
Sameer nodded and pulled some food out of the bag "Hey, at least we have some food and drink." He said cheerfully
Tina pouted "Great, more food…I'm gonna be even more fat when I get out of this mess."
Wahim shook his head and took an energy bar.
Sameer looked at Tina "You're not fat"
"Yeah right" snorted Tina
Wahim indicated to Sameer that he better keep quiet.
They both settled themselves against rocks, planning to wait out the storm. Wahim started to doze off but Tina glared at the food.
"Why don't you just eat?" asked Sameer
Tina now switched her glare to him "Why did you rescue us? If it weren't for you, we would have still been inside the dry, warm hanger instead of freezing in this cave!"
Samee lifted an eyebrow "You really want to be there?"
Tina glared some more and then laughed sheepishly "No, I guess not…but seriously, why did you rescue us?"
Sameer looked up at the ceiling "I guess I thought what my uncle was doing was wrong, especially since he took you so far away from your home…" he trailed off.
"Is that all?" asked Tina, feeling inexplicably disappointed.
"Oh, and 'cause he was doing it for money." Sameer answered, "I think money is so pointless…you don't need it to be happy."
Tina nodded "Yeah, but at least it stops you from worrying about stuff."
Sameer smiled cynically "It creates a lot more problems than it solves…you're living proof of it."
They sat in silence, until Tina asked "You speak English well, where did you learn it from?"
"I lived in England with my mother and father until I was 12, when they died, my uncle got the family business and brought me to live here."
Tina grimaced slightly "Oh, I'm sorry."
Sameer smiled at her "Its ok"
He looked down "You know, you really should eat something; God knows how long we'll be stuck here."
Tina picked up a packet of crisps gingerly "This is gonna go straight to my hips."
Sameer laughed "Why are you so worried about what you look like? I think you look great…more than great actually…" he finished shyly.
Tina looked at him and laughed "Thanks…you don't look so bad yourself." She reached over and ruffled his hair, loads of sand fell from it and Sameer laughed too.
"You should get some sleep…or at least try" he said as he settled, trying to find a comfortable spot on the hard floor. The wind still howled outside the cave.
"You think I can get to sleep in this noise?" asked Tina
"I guess not…you wanna talk some more?" he propped himself on his elbow and looked at her.
"Sure" answered Tina
So they both lay together and talked and ate over the storm. Surprisingly, their lives weren't that different. Sameer joked, and Tina almost forgot that she was lying in a smelly, wet cave, in the middle of a sandstorm, with no guarantee when she would get home.
"Where were you planning to take us if this storm hadn't hit us?" asked Tina curiously.
"Well, we were quite near Jeddah, so I would've taken you there and let you contact your father." said Sameer matter-of-factly.
"And what would you have done?"
Sameer blinked "I dunno…I guess I would've gone back to my uncle..."
Tina noted the sad expression on his face and made a mental note to herself.
Wahim stirred and they both looked at him, when he didn't wake up, they turned back.
Tina yawned but tried to stifle it; Sameer saw it and told her to go to sleep.
She pulled off her jacket and bundled it under her head, and slowly drifted off.
When she shivered in her sleep, Sameer pulled off his jacket and covered her with it. She had a few grains of sand on her face; he bent low and blew it off gently. Tina still woke up with the slight breeze.
She looked up at him and smiled slightly, she got up a bit too fast and his lips brushed against hers. They both froze and looked at each other, Tina gazed in Sameer's eyes as he pulled her closer and lowered his head, she closed her eyes as he gently kissed her.
'Now this is more like it' thought Tina to herself as she wound her arms around Sameer's neck and pulled him close. Tina saw stars in her eyes as she and Sameer floated up to the warm, cozy heavens, she wished she could stay like this forever…
A cough came from nearby and Sameer lifted his head to see Wahim glaring at him. "You're awake" said Tina hurriedly as she smoothed down her hair.
"Yeah" grunted Wahim, "What are you doing Tina? How do you know whether you can even trust Sameer? His uncle kidnapped us after all."
"Sameer isn't his uncle, and he helped us escape!" Tina declared angrily
"To do what?" Wahim challenged "seduce the daughter of one of the Saudi Arabia's richest men for his own ends!"
"Wahim!" shrieked Tina "What is wrong with you? At last I find a guy who likes me for myself and you go and ruin it!"
Wahim was about to speak when Sameer broke in "Wahim, I'm sorry…I really do like Tina…whether you believe me or not…and I'm sorry you don't believe in me…but at least give me the benefit of doubt, I'd rather die than hurt Tina."
Wahim contemplated this for a few moments "Fine…but don't do anything until you get the approval of Mr. Hakim-Baba."
Sameer nodded "As you wish…" he cocked his head "I think the storm stopped anyway, lets get out of here."
They all crept out of the cave, the storm really had stopped and Wahim climbed out, he looked around and gave an 'all-clear'. Tina gave Sameer a quick peck before she was helped out by Wahim. "I thought I said 'don't do anything'?" Wahim told Tina, as he spied the kiss.
"Give me a break, Wahim" Tina giggled.
Wahim shook his head in resignation as Sameer clambered out.
The group returned to the buggy, which was covered in sand. They brushed the worst of it away and Wahim tried the engine. It didn't start…not a sound.
"Don't tell me have to walk to Jeddah?" Tina wailed
"Maybe not" Wahim heard a helicopter approaching and blinked into the sun as he tried to work out where it was coming from.
"Look" pointed Sameer at a growing dot in the sky "Let's wave!"
and all of them waved and shouted at the approaching helicopter. "It's seen us!" yelled Tina joyfully as the helicopter got closer and flew lower.
It landed a few feet away and a few men stepped out. Tina recognized one of them "Its Daddy!" she declared happily to Wahim, as she ran towards them. She hugged her father and even cried a little. "Daddy, I am so happy to see you!"
Mr. Hakim-Baba hugged her back tightly and smiled at the approaching Wahim. "I'm sorry, sir…" began Wahim humbly
"Forget it, old friend, I'm just glad that we found you safe and sound." Said Mr. Hakim-Baba amiably, he caught sight of Sameer "Who's this?" he asked.
Wahim was about to answer but Tina broke in "This is Sameer, Papa, he helped us escape…and he took us to safety when the sandstorm came…and…" she stood on tip-toe and whispered in her father's ear.
"Is that so? Well, I think I'm indebted to this young man." said Mr. Hakim-Baba "What can I do to repay you?"
"Nothing sir, it was my duty to do what I did." said Sameer humbly
Tina whispered in her father's ear again, he nodded as he listened to her and then said "Go and ask him."
Tina pulled Sameer away from the group "Sameer, I don't know whether you'd want to, but it would be really cool if you did, and I would like it if you did and I'm sure you'd be happy there…"
Sameer listened to her with a bemused expression "Tina, what exactly are you trying to ask me?"
Tina stopped in the middle of her tirade "Oh, I wanted to ask if you wanted to come back to New York with us?"
Sameer looked amazed "Are you sure? I mean, would your father be ok with it?"
"Papa told me to ask you, so I'm pretty sure he approves." Tina smiled
"If you're sure, I'd love to go back with you…" he said hesitantly
Tina squealed and threw her arms around him. They walked back to the group "He said 'yes'!"
"Welcome, my boy!" said Mr. Hakim-Baba and ushered them all onto the helicopter.
They all climbed into the helicopter and flew to Jeddah's international airport. Mr. Hakim-Baba talked to Sameer throughout the trip, where they worked out what Sameer would do once they reached New York, Sameer had a few relatives there that would look after him.
"Papa, where did you know where to find us?" Tina asked her father curiously.
"Well, you know that pendant of your's…" he indicated the silver necklace at the throat "Well, that has a tracking device in it…like some other articles of yours…" he laughed.
Tina sat next to Sameer, and eventually, when she caught her father's eye, he nodded at her and Tina grinned back. Tina smiled at Sameer and put her hand in his, Sameer squeezed her hand and smiled back at her.
"Oh man, I can't wait to get back and get a salad!" said Tina as she sank in her seat.
Sameer looked at her, and her eyes twinkled "Ok, maybe a salad and an ice-cream."
Mr. Hakim-Baba looked at Tina surprised "No more diet, Tina?" he enquired.
"Nope" she shook her head "because some people like me the way that I am."
Mr. Hakim-Baba nodded "I wonder who 'some people' are?"
Tina caught Sameer's eye and he winked.
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Even I don't know what to think of this final chapter…I hoped you liked it…review if you do…review even if you don't!
Check out my other PD story…I finished that too.
Cheers everyone
Thanx 4 the reviews
-Gonnabe Writer-