She thought wrong

chapter 1- A

Alia would soon be leaving to Jordan, leaving her life behind in Turkey. She had to do this, whether she liked it or not. This was for her grandmother and her little brother. The least she could do for her grandmother would help her. Her grandmother had fixed her when she was broken. Her solace. Her place of peace. Her grandmother wasn't a person to show affection but she had given Alia a sense of home than she had ever gotten before. Stuck in war was where she had ever lived and grown.

"I know he is in one of the camps in Irbid" my grandmother had always told me. "When you find your brother it will make me rich in happiness" She would always gleam. Somehow she always used to gleam at Alia's brother but never her. "When you meet him I am sure we will all be united"

"When you get there you will stay at Reizan's house, so for the borders not to get suspicious, they would be confused if a Turkish girl came in, so saying he is your husband will assure them" She had recalled her say. She didn't feel any bad way about the husband part because she knew it was all paper and not by love. The only thing She wanted to get her brother out of Jordan and bring him back.

Her parents had died at a young age, while trying to flee Jordan from the Israeli and Palestinian war. Since they were on the border of Palestine, many bad things had happened with Jordan involved.  Alia wanted to do many things in life and one of them was to visit her dads home country again which was the only thing she had left of her father.

Alia and her grandmother had escaped to Turkey, her mothers homeland however her brother was sadly kidnapped by a mob of a cult, but he managed to get rescued and taken to a camp. This camp was on the border of Palestine and Jordan meaning there was always conflict going on there. Everyday Alia would check the news for extra information on camps since they were slowly being wiped out by enemies. Alia always felt a tear in heart, knowing his pain when she was living life in luxury, in a massive mansion near to the sea, she wished it was her that got kidnapped, never her brother. She couldn't go sleep at night feeling safe, feeling content, her heart wasn't at ease, if one part of her heart was missing, how could it?

She had learnt that the mob leader was a man named Kaniel Qasim. He had grown since the 80s, starting his mob from the bottom to the news media. As from the war, no kids, no dying families were cared of, they didn't have blue eyes nor blonde hair to be cared about from the news. No media coverage.  Kaniel however, his sharp blue eyes created a figure in the media, a powerful label for his mob, everyone knew who he was from his eyes. Startling and deadly. Those eyes were the witness and evidence of many deaths.

All the years waiting for the chance to get her brother, all she wanted alongside was good education, to help children and torn families in the middle of war. She had got her fathers emotional side, there wasn't ever a time where she stopped thinking of a sad moment, if she had seen a young kid on the streets, she couldn't stop thinking about them. That was her mindset. Her dream was to provide basic necessities for children in the middle of conflict, she had seen how badly war had affected the Middle East. Her father would have wanted her to help.

She also believed in second chances but it caused her to be naive, her emotions were her weakness, but also her strongpoint.

Alia remembered her husbands name and everything she had to say to the airport officials. "We have been married for 2 years, I was away because I was offered a new job, I decided to quit and move back to Jordan,I am currently pregnant with his baby" she went over. Having a baby with a person meant seriousness and was more believable. She put her fake marriage certificate in a different bag and her passport.

Outside the mansion, the trees growled in the wind, the full moon glowing in the sky, watching the worlds problems go away by the night. Alia stepped outside of her room and walked down the stone stairs, barefoot walking into the courtyard, she touched the fountain holding water and cheekily sprayed some on her kitten, which ran away outside of the mansion.

The next morning, Alia woke up to her grandmother, eyebrow up, clutching her suitcase and passport in her other hand. She shot her a dirty look as if to say how lazy and uncoordinated she was. "You will be late" she spat. She got hold of Alias hand and got her off the chair. "You don't want to be late".

Alia got all her things and called a taxi, she wasn't so far from Antalya airport. Alia was usually nervous, a person who kept herself from other crowds however she was happy to finally be getting to her brother. She was intrigued to find out why Reizan had decided to be her fake husband, he probably wanted something in return. In fact, Alanya remembered her grandmother saying something about him needing help to come to Turkey but couldn't he just book a flight like any normal person?

Alia went through airport officials, recited her story to them, they sent her off to where she was to board the plane. She took a window seat next to an old man. He was quiet until the end of the flight when they were able to see the lit runway. "I hope you make it safely" He whispered in her ear. "It isn't safe for young girls like you". Going down the steps, she was hit with the sweet breeze, it was something that made her cheeks blush and smile to herself. She was finally here. She followed the rest of the passengers to the airport, her hands swaying as if they were dancing. She showed the officials her passport and was ready to collect her luggage when a few men in police outfits tapped her shoulder and asked her to go with them. Without hesitation, she followed them as they brought her to a small office in the corner.
"Miss you may seem to know why we have concerns" One of them started, he kept a baton in his hand, waiting as a predator for his prey.
He looked at me sternly.
"No Arab man would let his wife go abroad on their own" He tried to say politely.
I fiddled with my hands but kept my posture straight.
"Officers, you should know that some people trust their wives" I said calmly. The officers exchanged glances and one of them looked at his watch as if time was precious.
" How long have you been pregnant?" They asked.
"1 month" I replied, maintaining eye contact. "Abbar, this is a waste of time" One of them sighed and walked out of the room.
"Who is your husband?" He kept on asking questions.
"I will be meeting him soon, if you allow me" I spat.
"i will escort you".
I felt my dignity being stripped away. Why did women constantly need male validation without their own choice?
I found my suitcases, while the officer was escorting me to the arrivals, i looked around for my name as i passed by many boards, Alia. Alia. Alia. Nothing so far.
"Your husband?" He looked around with his hands in his pocket, it was as if he was happy at my disapointment.
"I am her husband" A man had said behind us. We both turned around and a grinning man came into our view.
"Habibti" I walked to stand by his side, resting my hand on my stomach.
I wasn't aware that Reizan would look older, he had grey beard hairs and his hair was slowly decaying away.
The officer sighed and walked off, leaving me and the man bewildered.
"Officers these days, wallah they think they are everything, they cannot even fight for our country" The man shook his head and tutted. He then turned to me and raised his eyebrows as in shock. "Follow me" He said as we both strolled out of the aiport, suitcase slowly rolling behind me.