Shattered illusions

2:Back to routine

Manchester,England.

Hanan stepped off the plane at Manchester airport, relieved to have arrived safely. She scanned the arrivals area, searching for a familiar face. Her mother had assured her that mubaid, would pick her up.

Twenty minutes ticked by, and hanan's impatience grew just as she was about to call mubaid, she spotted him walking towards her, a sheepish grin spreading across his face

"Ya mubaid! you kept me waiting for 20 minutes!" Hanan exclaimed, trying to hide her smile.

Mubaid's signature smile faltered for a moment before he enveloped her in a warm hug. "Oohh,baby sis, welcome back! I missed you so much!"

Hanan pushed him away, still sulking.

"Twenty minutes, ya mubaid!"

Mubaid hugged her again his voice filled with apology. "I'm so sorry, I got held up. I miscalculated the time."

He effortlessly lifted her suitcase and slid it into the spacious trunk of his sleek BMW M5, and they set off.

Inside the car, hanan asked, "how have you been?"

I'm good thanks," mubaid replied his eyes on the road. "How's baba, maamah, and Ashraf?".

They're all doing okay. They sent their regards," hanan said, gazing out of the window .

The soft music playing in the background filled the silence as mubaid continued driving. Then, hanan broke the silence
"Ugh, I'm not ready to dive back into books."

Mubaid chuckled and stopped at a nearby food stall. "Let me grab you something to eat. You look exhausted."

Hanan smiled gratefully. "Thanks, ya mubaid.
I'm too tired to cook."

After collecting the food, and back in the car they continued to hanan's apartment. Mubaid helped her with her luggage

"Come in for a bit", Hanan offered, unlocking her door.

Mubaid declined glancing at his watch
"Can't, someone's waiting for me. Take care of yourself, okay?". He hugged her goodbye, and she replied softly, "okay".

As mubaid left, Hanan stepped inside, collapsing on the nearest sofa.
Exhaustion washed over her, but as she gazed around her apartment, a warm smile spread across her face.

"I missed this place ", she whispered, feeling a sense of comfort and familiarity.

After resting for good 20 minutes, hanan stood up, feeling refreshed. She took a shower, dressed in a comfortable outfit, and performed her missed prayers.

In the living room, she discovered the treats mubaid got for her. Her hunger pangs intensified, and she eagerly dug in.

With her hunger satisfied, hanan dailed her parents number to assure them of her safe arrival. Her mother answered, and they chatted warmly, catching up on everything.

As the conversation went on, hanan's eyelids grew heavy. "Good night, maamah" she said, bidding her farewell.

She cleared the dishes, turned off the lights, and collapsed onto her cozy bed.
Sleep enveloped her, and she drifted off, anticipating the long day ahead.

—- —- —-
The next morning, hanan woke up refreshed. She showered, dressed comfortably, and tidied up her apartment. She couldn't decide packing and unpacking which she hates the most, unpacking loomed, but she tackled it head-on, deciding it was better than procrastinating.

After whipping up a quick breakfast, hanan checked her emails, reviewed notes, and prepped for upcoming lectures. She noticed she'd missed two lectures, but shrugged it off, determined to catch up.

Feeling restless, hanan decided to surprise hooriya, whose apartment was just a two-minute walk away. She adjusted her outfit, donning a mini hijab, and headed out.

Hooriya, unaware of hanan's visit, opened the door to a surprise reunion.
Her eyes widened as she took in hanan's bright smile.

"Hanan"! Hooriya squealed, embracing her friend tightly. She knows hanan was coming back but she wasn't expecting her yet, "I had no idea you're already in town!".
The two friends laughed exchanging warm hugs matching each other's enthusiasm. As they settled into the apartment, they collapsed onto the sofa, releasing their exhaustion.

Composing themselves, hanan asked, "how have you been? How's your studies?".
Hooriya smiled. "Good Alhamdulillah".

Hooriya's eyes sparkled with concern. "And how's your family?"
"Baba, Maamah, and Ashraf are all doing well, Alhamdulillah, they send their regards Hanan replied.

Why didn't you call me to come pick you up at the airport? "Hooriya asked." Ya mubaid was already waiting for me before my arrival, tho he was late picking me up. And he couldn't come in claiming someone was waiting for him "hanan said".
Hooriya then said "oh, maybe it's his friend I have been seeing them together lately.

As they chatted, laughter and stories flowed freely hooriya shared about her unconventional break, skipping Abuja to visit her grandmother in sokoto. "I missed her so much", she explained.

Despite hooriya's return to Abuja, their schedules hadn't aligned for a meetup. Hanan listened intently grateful for their reunion now.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, hanan stood up, mindful of their early lectures the next morning. " I should get some rest. We have a long day ahead.

With a final hug, they parted ways.

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With love,Maryam💕