HUSNA

Chapter7

LIMASSOL DISTRICT, CYPRUS...6:00 AM
"Captain, what in Allah's name are you still doing in bed?" Faisal's voice echoed across the small apartment, frustration heavy in his tone. "Get up, abeg! Time is not on our side!"

From beneath the thick duvet, a muffled groan came.
"You know I'm not a morning person, Faisal. It's too early," Abdulhameed muttered, pulling the blanket tighter around himself. His voice was deep, lazy like someone who had fought a long battle with sleep and lost.

Faisal rolled his eyes, arms crossed. "Early? We have a twelve-hour, twenty-six-minute flight to New York, and you're here snoring like an overfed lion. Captain or not, wallahi, I'll pour cold water on you."

That made Abdulhameed chuckle softly. "Relax, my first officer," he said, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. "Let me just take a quick bath."

"Quick bath my foot," Faisal grumbled, grabbing the car keys. "You'll make us late one day, and I'll deny knowing you."

Abdulhameed laughed as he walked into the bathroom. The sound of running water filled the silence, followed by the faint scent of his cedarwood soap...a scent Faisal always teased him about, saying it smelled "too expensive for a human being."

Within minutes, he emerged....clean, sharp, and already half in uniform. He fixed his pilot's wings to his chest pocket, buttoned his shirt, and ran a hand over his neatly trimmed beard before reaching for his cap.

Outside, the early morning sky over Limassol glowed pale gold. The cool breeze carried the faint scent of sea salt from the nearby harbor.

As they loaded their bags into the car,

Abdulhameed's phone buzzed. He smiled instantly it was his mother.

"Assalamu alaikum, mom," he greeted warmly.

"Wa alaikum salam, James ," her voice came through, soft and full of prayer. "May Allah protect you on your journey and bring you back safely, ameen."

"Ameen, mom . I'll call you once we land, in sha Allah."

"Don't forget, Abdulhameed," she added. "Eat something, please. You always skip meals."

He smiled faintly. "I will, mom. I promise."

He hung up and pocketed his phone as they drove toward Larnaca International Airport.

7:00 PM – 30,000 FEET ABOVE THE ATLANTIC
"Flight attendants, prepare for take-off please," Abdulhameed's voice came through the speaker, calm and commanding.

Moments later: "Cabin crew, please take your seats for take-off."

The engines roared to life, the massive aircraft lifting gracefully into the darkening sky.

Cyprus disappeared below them, replaced by the endless stretch of clouds and sea.

After the plane leveled, the announcement followed.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the Captain has turned off the Fasten Seat Belt sign. You may now move around the cabin, but we recommend keeping your seat belt fastened while seated. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight."

Soon, the cabin filled with soft murmurs and the clinking of trays. The flight attendants rolled carts of drinks and breakfast down the aisles. Abdulhameed watched the horizon..where the sun melted into streaks of gold and violet....and exhaled deeply.
It wasn't just another flight. It was the beginning of something he hadn't felt in years: the pull of home.

NEW YORK, 7:30 PM
The landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport was smooth. As soon as the plane came to a stop, Abdulhameed switched on his phone. It rang almost immediately.

"Alhamdulillah," came his mother's voice before he could even greet her. "I've been praying since you took off. You've landed safely, right?"

"Yes, mom . We just touched down," he said, smiling.

"Allah ya kare ka , my son."

He hung up, feeling lighter.

They grabbed their bags and hailed a taxi to the Trump International Hotel & Tower. The bright lights of New York reflected in the car windows, and Faisal yawned loudly.

"Wallahi, I'm dead tired," he said.

"Let's pray first," Abdulhameed replied, removing his shirt as he entered the bathroom. He performed his ablution and spread his prayer mat, the hum of the city faint in the background.

After their prayers, exhaustion took over. By 11 p.m., they'd eaten a quick meal and were asleep again only to be back in the air hours later, heading home to Cyprus.

****

CYPRUS.... NEXT MORNING, 11:00 AM
The moment their taxi stopped in front of their apartment, Abdulhameed was already half-asleep. The fatigue hit him like a wave; his body ached, and a dull headache throbbed at his temples.

"Bro, you good?" Faisal asked, nudging him awake.

"I'm fine," he muttered, rubbing his forehead. "Just tired. I'll be okay."

But he wasn't. The headache lingered, heavy and insistent. Still, he refused to take medicine or see a doctor. "I'll sleep it off," he said simply.

Later that afternoon, the adhan for Zuhr echoed through the neighborhood. They both rose, sluggishly performed wudu, and headed to the mosque.

After prayers, they drove straight to their airline's headquarters to meet their Training Captain (TC).
The TC, a bald, stern man with a sharp British accent, barely looked up from his papers.

"Leave? One month? Not possible. We're short on captains as it is."

Faisal's shoulders slumped. "Sir, we've been away from home for four years," he pleaded. "Just one month."

The TC shook his head. "Denied."

Outside, Faisal kicked at the gravel in frustration. "Now what, Hameed?"

Abdulhameed's jaw tightened. "I'm going back home. Whether he approves or not."

Faisal blinked. "Are you serious?"

He nodded, eyes cold with resolve. "Four years, Faisal. My mother's prayers are the only thing keeping me alive here. I need to see her face again."

Faisal sighed, but a small smile crept in. "Then let's go home, Captain."

That evening, their apartment was filled with the sound of zippers and folding clothes. Faisal talked endlessly...about food, about his nieces, about stick meat and jollof.

"Man, please," Abdulhameed groaned, "close your mouth for five minutes."

Faisal laughed. "You just don't understand how much I've missed home."

After packing, they ordered pizza. Abdulhameed only ate two slices before dialing his father.

"Daddy , I'm coming home," he said quietly. "Don't tell mom. I want to surprise her."

His father chuckled. "You know she'll cry when she sees you."

"That's the plan," he said, smiling for the first time all day.

He showered again, dressed in black jeans, a white long-sleeve polo, and black Blundstone shoes. A p-cap, dark shades, and a light spray of perfume completed the look.

At 5:00 PM, their private jet lifted off from Cyprus...this time heading toward Nigeria.

Four hours later, the familiar humidity of Lagos kissed his face as he stepped off the plane.

"Welcome back home, sir," the airport security greeted with smiles.

"Thank you," he replied, returning the smile.
Faisal hugged him tightly before heading to his family's car.

Abdulhameed walked toward the  black Land Cruiser , heart pounding softly as the driver opened the door.

He slid in, exhaling as the car pulled away from the airport lights.

For the first time in years, the thought came to him..
Home.

It wasn't just a place.

It was a heartbeat he had missed for far too long...