THE FAMILIAR STRANGER

Part 3

           

He looked up. And I just in time averted my eyes towards the air hostess offering fresh hand towels. I took a towel and tried to look like nothing happened. He didn't take a towel and asked the hostess to bring one later. She smiled at him like she won the lottery. I cringed inwardly. No. I'm not jealous. I assured myself. It's just a genuine thought of how shameless the world has become. Definitely nothing else. I need sleep. I felt tipsy without a drop of alcohol in my system. I need to pull myself together.

I told Tanveer that I'll be going to sleep, so if they ask for my meal, he could tell them I won't be eating. He asked if I had a headache, I answered in the negative and prepared to sleep. Being desi at heart, I took off my shoes and pulled my legs up right on the seat and closed my eyes. I didn't care if a pair of eyes were watching my movements and probably making a good joke out of it in his mind. Good thing there wasn't anyone on the third seat next to Tanveer.

I probably had slept in for a good 40 minutes. I woke up with a blanket around me. And Tanveer was asleep with his head on my shoulders. I wanted to shout HARAAM. But I didn't know better.
I couldn't move either, because he was heavily asleep on my shoulders. After thinking high and low about what I should do I decided to just go with it. But Alhamdulillah, he probably sensed I was awake. He woke up looking groggy with heavy, drooping eyelids. He didn't know he had been sleeping on me. After a good lot of stretching he looked at me and smirked, "Good Morning!"
Ugh. I rolled my eyes as far as I could.
"What?
"You have a heavy head. My shoulder is cramped."
There goes his laugh making me feel lighter than on the moon.
"Sorry? Wait... wh... was I sleeping on you?"
Another eye roll did for the affirmative.
"Shit!" He said in between chuckles. "I'm sorry... I don't know what's funny about this but I'm sorry, I can't stop laughing! I'm sorry... was I... was I"... *chuckles* ..."that heavy?"
"Care to give your jaws a break."
"Okay Ma'am"... he was still laughing... the nerve of him...
After a while of silence he began, "I'm sincerely sorry, I didn't know when I might have..."
I interrupted him saying, "It's okay, I understand"
The passenger announcements commenced about how close we were to the Airport and the seat belts and this and that...
The flight prepared to land and the drop of cabin pressure added to my fear... just when it is about to touch down and the whole aircraft starts jarring... that's when I freak out.
I stayed put and tight but just when the flight started jarring I had my eyes closed tight and grabbed Tanveer's hand, subconsciously, lying near me, in a grip of steel.
Only when the flight came to a slow halt, I opened my eyes and sighed.
And then I looked at a horrified Tanveer gawking at me.
"Reem, are you alright?"
I didn't know which made me jump extra, his intent look or his calling my name.
I quickly let go, and shook it all off.
"Yeah, Alhamdulillah I'm good, sorry about... that... grip... I just get a bit afraid at the touch down... sorry"
"Hmm... no its absolutely fine... hell, you scared me... I hope you're okay... relax... want some water?"
He gave his bottle of water. I drank from it. It was ice cold. I gave it back to him.
"Thank you... actually I kind of freak out when the plane gets jarring with all the cabin pressure around... you know... is your hand okay...?"
"I hope so". He pouted with a sad face looking down at his wrist.
"Good morning", I said looking out of the window.
"Yes, indeed a good morning"
The sky was a purple, red and light orange cocktail.
And the familiar sight of the airport made me feel happy. I sighed, "Home"
I was probably too loud, Tanveer too repeated, "Home"
I moved back from the window and was met with his face just inches away from me. Too much haraam for one day.
I cleared my throat and tried to act like nothing happened. He moved away too. But he looked away. So I couldn't see what he was upto.
After about 10 more minutes of waiting we finally got to take our baggage and move out of the aircraft. As usual, Tanveer helped me with the luggage. He reasoned saying he was indebted to me a whole lot, it would help his conscience to be able to be of some help.
Well, okay. I love being pampered anyway.
We had to go through immigration in a long queue. Waiting in line is my biggest enemy. And being so close to home and the cozy comfort of my bed, and yet having to stand in line was just... well too much.
Tanveer struck up a conversation. But I soon ran out of it. Because standing for so long was against me. He understood my problem. He suggested that I sit on his trolley. But I didn't. Meanwhile I called up mom to tell her about my landing. She said Dad will be at the airport to pick me up. Yayy.
Soon enough it was my turn and thankfully it was over. I waited for Tanveer's check-in to be over and then went on with him for our luggage. He didn't have luggage. More like my luggage.
After another 15 minutes at luggage collection we finally started walking towards the exit...
Tanveer then asked me to stop.
"Hey? Wait."
"Yes?"
"Can I get your phone?"
"Oh yes, I'm sorry I forgot"
I handed it to him. He quickly typed in a number and made a short call full of *Assalamu Alaikum* *is the car here?* *yes* *ok* *ok* *thanks* *yes* *ok* ...
He handed the phone back.
"Jazak Allahu Khair once again, for everything... literally everything"
"Wa Antum fa Jazak Allahu Khair... that's okay... I just did what anyone would've"
"That's where you're wrong, that world doesn't exist anymore. What you did was exceptional. No one does it anymore."
"Uuh... just forget it okay. We're all good"
He nodded and kept staring at me for a long time.
"What?"
"This is by far the most beautiful journey I ever had. I'll never forget this."
I smiled. "Me too."
He gave me his business card telling me to contact him if I ever needed anything.
We walked in silence. Both of us thinking of the impending parting.
Tanveer asked, "You're going alone?"
"No, my Dad will be here."
"MashaaAllah that's great. Care to introduce me to him?"
"Uuh... "
"What... am I that bad?"
"Oh... no..no... just... I'm warned repeatedly by my parents to not talk to strangers on these trips. Introducing you will be a little awkward"
"Uh oh, don't worry, he won't doubt me."
I was skeptic but nodded nonetheless.
I called Dad up. He said he was right outside. And he verily was there.
I ran upto him and hugged him. Saw him after so long.
He was about to collect my luggage and return when I asked Dad to wait.
Tanveer walked up and I said, "Dad, this is Tanveer. I met him at the Dubai airport. He was a passenger in the seat next to me too. He helped me with my luggage and we started talking."
My Dad smiled at him. Tanveer began, "Assalaamu Alaikum, pleasure to meet you. I'm sorry but actually I really troubled your daughter a lot on the way. I stay here in Qatar with my parents and siblings here and it's my brother's engagement. So I asked her to help me choose some gifts for him and the bride while we were in Dubai. In the process we came to know each other. I'm sorry really. I know your daughter means a lot to you. But it's not her fault. Please do not be harsh on her."
Seeing Tanveer plead on my behalf was like a whole new world. Something I have never experienced before. I didn't know what to feel. I stared at him in awe.
Dad replied, "WaAlaikumUssalaam, I don't know what to say. This is quite a lot of information at one go. I just hope you both had a good flight. But now that you say you troubled my daughter so much, maybe I could be mad at you and ask you to a dinner at our place sometime."
I didn't know it would get this far. What was happening. Why is Dad not killing Tanveer already?