The Unexpected Princess (Completed)

Chapter 21

A year later…

The last words Dineo had whispered to her as they left the village echoed in Naledi’s mind as she stared at herself in the mirror with critical eyes that missed nothing. She smoothed out the imaginary wrinkles she saw on her white pants-suit with her hands, making it straighter. Even though she looked immaculate with nothing out of place.

Her friend had been right. Everything had turned out to be fine.

After leaving the village they roamed aimlessly from place to place not finding the right fit. Being village girls they found it hard to adjust to the fast paced grind and bustle of the city. A fast paced rhythm Naledi found hard to adjust to as it grated on her nerves, and made her feel like she was going to fail at every turn.

But she survived - learned to think on her feet and to use her cooking skills to make money selling cookies in the streets. And definitely not venture out alone at night. There was much that happened in the dark that she and Dineo didn’t want to know about.

Then she remembered her desire to see the world. A desire she informed Sello of on many of their conversations. They got close with the passing of time. Naledi felt he was a link to home she didn’t want to lose and an inexplicable link to the prince that somehow brought her comfort.

Naledi didn’t understand it and strove to ignore the feeling, because it was creepy.

Sello recommended a cruise ship he knew of and helped them to apply for jobs, Naledi as a junior sous chef and Dineo as a hotel stewardess. They got lucky, and were hired.

They cruised around the world for a year. Until Dineo got tired of floating around the world without an anchor. She missed her home and her bead work.

Naledi was ready to come back home too. She’d seen the world, experienced life and she was ready to come back and plant her roots. And find the simple life she had craved.

When they came back they settled in the city of Pretoria, because even with its skyscrapers and fast paced rhythm it was warm and welcoming, and the colour purple of the Jacaranda blossoms was something to behold on a rainy afternoon.

Naledi gently tugged on her dreadlocks, which were styled in a simple yet elegant updo that complimented her entire look. She looked sophisticated and professional.

An image she hoped will impress the owners of the newly opened grand hotel that was already given five stars and proclaimed to be an artistic vision that will offer tourist a piece of South Africa in its second week of opening.

“No tugging or pulling is going to improve your look,” Naledi turned to Dineo as she came into her room. “You look perfect as always. Now stop with the OCD.”

Naledi let out a sigh, because she knew she’ll never stop pulling and straightening her clothes until she was satisfied.

It was an obsession she had developed after she left the village. Everything had to be beyond perfect with her. She was critical of everything she did, the food she cooked, the space she lived in and especially her image – it had to be perfect, above standard so that she was felt good enough for the world out there.

Dineo usually left her to her obsessive routines, never interrupting her. Now, she sat down on the bed and watched her, waiting for her to finish.

Naledi turned back to the mirror and repeated the same movements again – she straightened and pulled until her suit sat just right.

Her eyes kept going to Dineo in the mirror as she straightened herself out. She didn’t know what she would have done without her friend. She had pulled her out of a dark hole she hadn’t realized she was in. Dineo was beyond a best friend, she was her sister.

But Naledi worried about her sometimes. Her friend had given up so much of her life so that she could have her own. Not only her, Dala her cousin was doing the same.

Dala was great. She took care of her grandmother for her and worked at the royal house in her place.

Naledi wondered when Dineo will realize she wasn’t living her own life. Her sacrifice was great, and Naledi didn’t know if she could ever repay her for what she’d done for her.

Naledi shook her head, and pulled the sleeves of her suit to her wrists, then reached for her nude lip-gloss. She applied it, and turned away from the mirror.

“Done,” she said bending over to put on her shoes.

“You look amazing,” Dineo said shifting to sit on the edge of the bed.

“You think so,” Naledi asked already turning back to the mirror. Suddenly she wasn’t so sure. She nibbled on her bottom lip thinking maybe she should have worn a skirt instead of pants.

“Yes, you do. Stop worrying.” Dineo slapped her hands to get her attention, “Now onto serious matters. What’s going to happen once you get this job?”

“What do you mean?”

“Getting a job in a high class hotel like that means its permanent, makes me wonder what you’re thinking or if you’ve forgotten why we left home in the first place.”

“I haven’t forgotten.” Naledi took a deep breath. How could she forget? She knew why she was away from home.

For a whole year she’d held her breath waiting. Every time Sello called her, her heart skipped a beat because she knew this might be it. The moment he tells her that the prince had chosen a wife to marry. Naledi swallowed hard, not daring to think about it. But she knew that moment will come. And she hoped she will be ready for it.

“What are you going to when we have to go home? What if you fall in love with this job?”

“I’ll quit,” Naledi didn’t hesitate. “I want to experience what it's like to work in a five star hotel. Whether it’s for a year or six months, I’m going to take it.”

“Even if it means giving up your dream after you’ve just found it?” Dineo asked staring at her, gauging her reaction with her curious eyes.

“My life is not my own. I understand that now.” Naledi turned to Dineo with a sad smile, “I’ve traveled the world, and experience amazing things, but I know where I belong. Getting this job isn’t going to change that. We will go back home, I promise.”

“Okay, I just wanted to make sure,” Dineo said looking like she had more to say, but kept it to herself.

“It won’t be too long now. There must be a royal wedding in the air back home,” Naledi said with a smile she didn’t feel.

“The prince must have chosen someone else by now. It’s been a year after all.” Dineo added. Naledi could feel her eyes on her. She wiped away all emotions from her face and returned Dineo’s stare. She’d learned not react whenever the prince’s name was mentioned by Sello over the phone or when Dineo stared at her with her piercing eyes whenever she brought up his upcoming nuptial. It was as if they wanted know if she had forgotten him.

Naledi closed her eyes. She wasn’t going to travel down that road in that moment.

“How about you, what are you going to do while we wait?” Naledi changed the subject. She needed to focus on her interview.

“Beeaaaads!” Dineo said drawing the word as if she was in a very bad horror film. She got to her feet, and sauntered to the door.

“Is it getting easier to sell your work?” Naledi asked remembering Dineo complaining about the lack of appreciation for her work. People in the city preferred mass production jewelry sold in stores rather than custom made pieces which were expensive, unlike in the village where a woman’s bead work was a fashion statement that was uniquely hers and a testament of her social class. Those who could afford the intricate pieces made of glass beads where considered to be affluent and high class.

“As easy as beads can get,” Dineo said with a shrug, because she knew she wasn’t making any sense.

“Well, said my friend.” Naledi broke out in a laugh. Dineo joined her as she left the room.

Naledi gave herself one quick look and left the room.