That is Life

While she was reading a romantic book, Nora stopped and thought about herself. She looked around in her room and felt alienated. She did not choose the color of the walls nor the bed nor the cupboard nor anything. Even her clothes, her mother chose them for her. Suddenly, she stood, faced her mirror and said" I'm Nora Farouk, 20 years old. My mother says that I am beautiful, tall and fit and all the guys must admire me. My father wished me to become a dentist."

      Nora didn't want to become a dentist, but she have to. Her father spent a fortune on her education to get a high score in her secondary school. She remembered the long speech her father gave her at her first day in secondary school:

"Nora you are grown up now, and your future is in your hands. I'm giving you now an opportunity that I couldn't perceive when I was in your age. I will give you any thing you want, even if you asked my heart"

"But dad, I do not need all that money and all those tutors. I can study by my own self and be a dentist as you like without spending all your money."

"As I like, what do you mean by as I like", her father said with an angry tone

"I mean, you are the one who want me to be a dentist and I will be."

"You are wrong baby; I just see what you don't see. I know what is better for you more than you do."

Nora felt armless and oppressed. Of course she knows what is better for her. She is 18 not 8, but she could not argue with her father. This moment, she felt she had to say something to her father.

"But father I want to be a painter. I have the talent"

Her father looked as if he lost his temper but he acted calm.

"My darling Nora there is nothing called a painter. Have you ever went and bought a painting"

-"Yes and I just love looking at them"

-"But I didn't and many other didn't"

He kept speaking and speaking about the benefits of being a dentist and how much money she will get, but Nora didn't hear any word of what he said and went on to another place in her mind. She imagined herself a painter, traveling for many placed drawing and drawing and drawing. This imagination made her smile, but at this moment her father said"

"Is this smile means you are convinced?"

She couldn't know what to say and find her self saying:

"Of course dad"

                         Look Nora, I don't to want feel that I am forcing you""

"No dad"

She wanted to end the conversation to complete her imaginative journeys. She yawned and said:

"I will go and sleep now .Good night dad"

"Good night darling"

     In her first day in university, she was excited. It was clear that it is not a true excitement. She was acting to please her father. She loves him to the extent that prevents her from doing anything he dislikes or even to fake feelings to please him. During her first lecture, she opened her notebook. She tried to concentrate, but the speech was not interesting. She found herself drawing her doctor. She spent an hour and half drawing him and a good painting it was.

     Nora spent almost all her first year drawing and painting. She drew her teachers, her colleges, her friends and even the room, the chairs and the tables. When the results appeared, she wasn't shocked. She was afraid of one thing only, her father's reaction and indeed she must be.

    Her father didn't expect her failure. He was sure of her success as she is clever. Her results came as a shock for him. He screamed and yielded and was about to slap her, but his wife prevent him. Nora didn't know what happen to her and where are her feelings. She stood cold just receipting her fathers words and waiting for his word "go away from my face". In her room, she opened her paintings smiling and thinks about her talent and what she is going to do with those paintings that were many, when her father opened her door saying, "You are going to marry the first man to propose". Nora stood to say "what are you talking about, when he slapped the door and went away"

     Her mother was very excited about this idea and for the first time, Nora found her mother talking and talking, advising and advising.

   Indeed this talking hides something, that is a groom ……..to be continued