Serendipity / صدفه

10

Prologue (years ago)

Growing in an extremely rich family is not always a blessing. Fares' father was always away on business trips as his business started growing. He barely saw Fares grow up. His wife would go away with him sometimes on trips leaving the young ones at home. Fares and his brother stayed in Dubai to go to school. They were taken care of mostly by the nanny.

Mayed, Fares' older brother and 13 at the time, spent his time at his uncles house with the boys his age. He was the talkative, admired grandchild of the family. He was confident and talked in a manner similar to his dad even at his young age. The time he spent with his parents built his character well enough to allow him to handle their absence well. Fares, at the age of 6, however, spent most of his time with the nanny in the kitchen or with the other maids. His speaking skills weren't developed as much as his brother and was seen as a burden by Mayed and the other boys in any activity they will play. His existence was not wanted. Butti was the only friend he had and shared his time with. Fares grew up later on to find attention from his parents and friends through the damages and troubles he made during school and from girls of course given his breathtaking looks. Since then it has been that way!

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Nouf

I can't believe he was sleeping. He looked like he was up all night in some kind of party. With all the stories i hear i don't doubt he's one of those corrupted young men. Too bad he's wasting his smart brain in those parties.

Butti comes back looking a tiny bit better. I shoot a half eye at him and pretend that I'm busy listening to what this annoying man is blabbing about for so long. I'm kidding myself i have no idea what's going on. I drift into my stream of day dreams, always a better place to be in.

"What do you think Nouf?" Butti is smirking.
God! He knows i wasn't listening and just wants to annoy me i can feel it. I search for any kind of hint on the topic they are discussing. "Do you think we should go with the first suggestion, ours from yesterday?" adds Butti.

Thank you for the hint. I jump in at the queue and start talking about everything i wanted to say before. Finally i found the chance to expose my brain's biceps. Even the snobbish 30 something year old is impressed. High five Nouf.

My suggestions were taken and we planned our presentation for tomorrow.

"You're most welcome."
I looked at Butti questionably.
"I gave you the chance to talk, remember?"
"I woke you up, i spared you the embarrassment, remember?"
"Thank you very much, I owe you my life" he winks at me and suddenly i'm blushing. "hahaha you're blushing."
"I'm not, its make up. Anyways here's my email send me the presentation please"
"okay" he winks again before leaving.

I scold myself for blushing like that and embarrassing myself. Its not how i usually react. I've been this way now for a while. I think its a sickness. What happened to me?
Oh. My. God. I've been this way ever sense i bumped into Fares. A stupid smile paints itself on my face. That man. Sigh.

The rings of my phone cuts the beautiful memories of Fares' incidents with me.
*Mariam: Is your winter break same as ours?
*Nouf: Yeah, why? any plans?
*Mariam: *dancing*
*Mariam: Yes baby
*Mariam: remember Munich trip two years ago?
*Nouf: Yes :'( it was the best trip of my life
*Mariam: Pack your bags  ;) mama will talk to your mom!!! its time we travel together again!!
*Nouf: I dont think we can :( you know dad is not well those days she wont leave him
*Mariam: I know i meant you only, she'll let you I'm sure :D
*Mariam: Mama is talking to Lojain's mom too, Mothers-daughters getaway to Turkey
*Mariam: and Haifa and her mom and aunt r coming too ;)

There's begging and convincing to do. A girls trip, never to be missed!!

________________________________________

Fares walks into the house as his mother hangs up from an intimate conversation with his aunt. He walks forward to kiss her forehead before heading to his room. He can see the damage he made. Her eyes are puffy from crying and she looks way older than her age. His mom was never like that, she's known for her elegance and poise.

"Fares, can i ask you a favor?" her bright honey eyes were shining as a result of the tears that started to gather in them. Somehow he knew and felt that this time it was different. This time, he had to listen to her because no one else is left.

"Would you travel with your aunt and I? We're going on a ladies trip to Turkey but we need someone with us. Butti is coming too." she said with a faint excitement that he hasn't seen in a long time.

"I'm busy...emm..." he was looking for a reasonable and believable excuse.
"Just this time, please." Her eyes were full of need and love. He felt his mother's need. A need to have her son beside her. It made him happy to know that she cared about him. He knew that deep down but disregarded the thought for years now.

I'll go to make her stop nagging again, he convinced himself.