Beyond Desire

13-Fate loves a good Laugh.

CHAPTER ALERT- Buckle up, you are about to read a whole novel in disguise 😂🤝

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What is it they said about birds of the same feather flying together? Okay a quick question, what happens when the birds hate each other's guts? What if one bird is having a bad day and doesn't want to fly with the other? Do they go solo or just coexist but with tension?

Will your answer change when you discover that said "birds" are humans and their "feather" is, in fact, a plane ride they are stuck on together?

Okay fine, I was going to be trapped on the same plane with Khalid for over six hours. Can you imagine that? Cause I can't. Heck, it's easier imagining myself skydiving without a parachute. And because fate loves a good laugh, I arrived at the airport late, providing such a great opportunity for him to question my competence even more.

After snoozing my alarm not once, not twice but three consecutive times in a row, it was only a miracle that I managed to make it to the airport fifteen minutes before boarding time after a lightning-fast farewell to my family. A definite Miracle indeed, one that involved the security guards scaring people into making way for us in the traffic.

I lounged in the car while my luggage and passport were sorted and when it was safe to step out, I was whisked away to the jetway by my imposing escorts. The rich aroma of the coffee, the gentle hum of announcement boards, and the murmur of conversations set the mood for where I was as I passed by endless lines in the waiting area.  It was, shall I say embarrassing, to have men twice my size shadowing me everywhere but Dada wouldn't have it any other way. If he had his way, they would be on the plane, in the loo, and probably even in my dream, leaving me with all the privacy of a kangaroo's newborn in its pocket.

When I made it to the plane, I plastered on a strained smile as I was introduced to the crew members, secretly wishing the flight would vanish into thin air and arrive at our destination already. Don't get me wrong, I am a travel enthusiast at heart, but only if teleportation were an option. Not until technology catches up to my desire, I will be stuck tolerating flights. I often make travel plans having in mind how exciting the experience will be, only to remember on departure day, of course, that I have an intense dislike for being airborne.

It wasn't until I was escorted to my suite by a flight attendant that it downed on me that I haven't laid my eyes on my travel partner, Khalid. He had sent my flight details to my email the night before, including the number of my lodging room in the hotel we will be residing in, a thoughtful touch I must say, that made preparation easier for me, I hate having to browse through websites for suitable residents. So it seemed unlikely that he had forgotten about the trip altogether.

Quicker than it came, I shoved that thought to the back of my mind and allowed myself to indulge in the comfort of my plush cabin seat after politely declining the flight attendant's offer to show me around the controls. I mean, I have watched the safety demo so many times I could recite the script in my sleep.

When the plane reached cruising altitude, with my privacy door closed, I shrugged off my seatbelt and relaxed enough to give in to the temptation of a mid-flight nap, hoping that no turbulence would dare interrupt my sleep.

Now I can honestly say I am not exactly the lightest of sleepers. In fact, you could summon the likes of Typhoon Hurricane or Beyonce to perform beside my pillow and I had still sleep through it. This exceptional love for sleep would explain the amount of hatred I have for
the mysterious hand that landed on my shoulder, trying to tap me back into consciousness. I shrugged it off with all the grace of a cranky bear but sadly the hand didn't get the memo. With a low frustrated hiss, I tore my eyes open, ready to unleash my inner sleep-deprived zombie.