Serendipity / صدفه

13

Nouf

I'm done packing and ticking my long checklist of things to remember. Our flight is in few hours and the only thing left is to say farewell to my parents and enjoy a little bit of drama and attention. My mother began her emotional scene and began rambling about how can she have the heart to be separated from her only child. She cried a bit, allowing dad and I to enjoy teasing her for a while.

I dressed up. This time i could actually dress up. I usually dont put any makeup wherever i go, it just seems tiring here. The weather makes it feel like an annoying task so i keep my makeup for gatherings, weddings and parties only. But today, i chose to cover my hair with a Hermes scarf, tied fashionably. I wore my favorite airport outfit;beige matching set of wide pants & top. And did my no makeup, makeup look!

Just as I was heading to the car, where Mariam and her mom came to pick me up, my dad surprised me with a very tight hug like I'm going to go missing somewhere. I couldn't help but shed some tears.

"Its just a couple of days, i'm not migrating walla", i say after landing a kiss on their foreheads. "and my phone is on, i'll keep you updated with pictures."

I step into the car and we drive off to Dubai International Airport - Terminal 3. I'm suddenly all emotional and wanting to express my love to my parents. I know I do express it to them, all the time, but this time i left them both for the first time ever. A new, beautiful experience for all of us hopefully.

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نداء لرحلة رقم 5567 المتوجهة  إلى إسطنبول

Mariam, her mom and Lojain were in the lounge, while Nouf went to get a book to read for the vacation. It was the only thing left on her check list, even though she doubted she'll find time to read. She kept on checking her phone to make sure she doesn't miss the flight.

_________________________________
From: Butti
To: Nouf
Subject: Are you stalking me?              

If you see this as soon as you receive it and look
behind you, you'll break your promise.

Have a safe flight.

Butti
_________________________________

The email was surprising to Nouf, she stared at it for a while to understand. Butti was passing by to pick a book himself. He enjoys reading a good book in his travels, especially when travelling with his mom. Shopping time, means reading and carrying bags time to Butti.

He stood there waiting for her to turn. He was quite sure it was her and just to be sure he walked closer and picked the book that is closest to her. The presence of someone beside her made her look away from her screen.

"Aah" Nouf gasped when she saw Butti. "Are you everywhere?"
Grabbing the book in her hand and flipping through it casually he notes, "Nice choice, The secret. I read it before, you'll like it."
"Are you really travelling?" Nouf was surprised that she would bump into the same person again and again. She wasn't living in a tiny village or so for this to happen regularly.
"no, i came to see you" he raised an eyebrow in a surprised manner. "Of course I am. I didn't recognize you without the abaya. You look..."

She looked beautiful, he recognized that. There was something different about her, she had this glow in her face that Butti noticed. The shape of her body was a bit clearer without the covering abaya. She was beautiful.

"... You look, like Masha from masha and the bear... why are you dressed like this?" Butti points to her headscarf tied in a fashionable way. He looked at her as her face expression changed as he expected. He knew exactly how to make her irritated and mad. He also knew what to reply next to make her laugh. But Nouf kept quiet, the words that Butti spilled were more hurtful than he could ever imagine.

"I see you're popular with women these days" comes the husky voice from behind Nouf, pulling away the chance that Butti had to talk. She turns around at the familiar voice and stared at him just like every other time. "You!", Fares exclaims. "You know pretty face, every time i see you something beautiful happens to me. I think you're a lucky charm." Nouf's face turned into crimson red. Her knight acknowledged her and called her pretty. It took her every ounce of energy to stay conscious and not faint at what she just heard and saw. "You talk don't you?"

"You know her?" - Butti exasperated. How the hell does he know her. She's not his type and why is he flirting with her and the effect it has on her was obvious through the different shade of red she turned into. Butti was suddenly feeling all defensive and to him it was because he needed to stop his cousin from creating complications and problems with decent girls.

"Yes, we met a couple of times" he winked at Nouf and that poor girl flew away to cloud 9. There was nothing equivalent to her feeling right now. Nothing. "I'm Fares, you?"

"Nouf" adds Haifa that just joined the crowd, she's standing between Fares and Butti."so you met Fares" she says as she punches his arm and he pulls her cheeks. "And thiiiiis" she says while hugging Butti's arms, "is Butti, my brother from another mother"
"Brothers?!!" Nouf's head was spinning around. What is going on around here? Is the world shrinking or the number of people is decreasing?
"She's your friend thats traveling with us?" Butti was as shocked as Nouf. Why is this girl everywhere.
"yeah," she answers Butti casually then looks at Nouf, "Butti is my cousin and u5oy blr'6a3ah"
"And i thought i got rid of you" Butti targeted his words to Nouf before walking away, he was annoyed that she was here but at the same time excited for reasons he did not know, "we'll miss the flight hurry up"
Haifa was confused at Butti's words. "We were together in that Leadership program i told you about, It didnt occur to me that he would be your cousin" Nouf explained to her as they walked to board the plane. She was still upset at Butti's comment but kept on reminding herself about Fares' remarks that made her heart skip a beat.

Nouf's stomach started spinning around in anxiety. She's travelling along with her friends... and Fares... and Butti. What would this trip hold for her?