M E E R A (On Hold)

CHAPTER 5

Please read the A/N at the end of the chapter.

Dubai

The Collins landed in Dubai at half-past ten at night. Meera was too tired to stay awake. She could hardly walk to the car. Amber had to support her to their hotel room. Meera managed to change and jumped onto the bed. She was immediately off to deep slumber.

Amber was very excited to be in Dubai after a long time. She had pestered a very tired Robert for accompanying the women to shopping, again. However, Robert didn't cause any fuss this time. He knew Amber won't be waking up the next morning before 10, and their flight back home was scheduled at 12.

And Robert was right. Amber's excitement cost her sleep. She passed an almost sleepless night. Both mother-daughter woke up at 10.30, making Robert smile.

"Thank God!" He muttered.

Meera, at this point, was tired of flying. She was not used to traveling so much. Amber noticed her daughter sitting with a smug expression staring at their luggage.

-"Hey! What's wrong?" Amber asked in concern.

-"I am tired." Meera replied slowly not understanding how to express the correct thing in English.

Amber understood. Traveling from one part of the earth to the other was very hectic. But for Meera, it was more than just a physical journey, but also a psychological one. But explaining her with heavy words would be futile now.

-"I know and understand your pain. You are doing way better than we thought you would." Amber smiled and continued, "Just a few more hours and we'll be home."

-"How many hours?"

-"Well, we're going to get on the flight at 12, then play some games, or maybe watch a movie, have dinner and go to sleep. By the time we wake up, we'll be home." Amber explained.

Meera felt better. Maybe the journey won't be very long. She hoped.

The drive to the airport was brief. It did not take them much time to complete the formalities, and within forty minutes, a minibus came in. They boarded the bus and took their seats, and it drove off. Meera was surprised and somewhat alarmed.

How come only we are here! She thought.

-"Kidnap korchhe na toh?" She whispered that came out louder than intended.

("Are they kidnapping me?")

Amber heard her.

-"Did you say something, love?"

-"Huh? No." Meera replied with an awkward expression returning to her thoughts.

The bus honked and came to a stop disturbing Meera's brainstorming session. She followed her parents out of the bus. Meera did not care to look anywhere else than her shoes. She was nervous, anxious. However, Amber's sudden halt in her movements made Meera bump into the latter, making her lookup. The thing in front made her numb.

There was an airplane standing. It was smaller than the ones she had been traveling. But what shocked her the most was the 'Collins' written on it in golden color. She whipped her head up towards her mother standing next to her with utter confusion on her face.

-"Well, this is ours." Amber 'tried' to clarify.

-"Tomader gota akta plane ache?!!" She almost shouted.

Meera was quick to realize that she had spoken out in Bangla not being conscious much about her surroundings.

-"I mean, you own a plane?" Meera translated.