Love That Fly Away

The Big house

“This house is incredible, Mom, it's so spacious.” My mouth falls open in awe. I wasn’t expecting the Ahmad family to be this wealthy. I’m startled. This place looks straight out of a TV show. Actually, it's a bungalow, and I love it. We’re here for the first time—Ahmad uncle and Dad are best friends, and they haven’t seen each other in ages. I’ve never met his family before, except for Sana, the bride-to-be. She’s such a sweetheart—round face, big brown eyes, and a bubbly smile. She’s a little short, but her curls suit her perfectly. She’s beautiful. We used to play together when we were eight, and I’m really excited to see her again.

As we crossed the wide garden, I saw him!! Tall. Handsome. He wasn’t overly muscular, but definitely enough to catch my attention. His curly hair was a little messy, and his square jaw and brown eyes made him look... striking. He was wearing a fitted white tee and trousers, holding a box full of nuts, bolts, and what looked like other garage stuff. His shirt was smudged with grease—probably from working on the car beside him. I blinked. Was he a mechanic? Or a driver? He looked too... perfect to be either. But who knows?

We made it to the door, where Aunty, Uncle, and Sana were waiting for us. After a warm round of greetings, I noticed something—Mom wasn’t with us. I turned to look back and there she was, walking with that mechanic—or driver—or whoever he was. They were chatting, and she seemed quite friendly with him.

"Hey, Mom... Where were you?" I asked, trying to hide my curiosity.

"Oh, I was talking with Ryan. Look how much he’s grown! I almost didn’t recognize him. Oh, and Ryan, this is my daughter, Rania. You two met when you were eight, but I doubt you remember that,” she said, flashing a full-tooth grin before leaving us alone.

So... I was left standing there with the ‘driver,’ except... Ryan? Ryan? I hadn't really thought about it, but our names—Ryan and Rania—sound oddly similar. And wait... He’s Sana’s brother? So, not the driver. He’s actually the owner of this house. I felt my face flush with embarrassment.

"Hey," he said, breaking the awkward silence.

"Hi," I replied, forcing a small grin.

"How was your journey?" he asked casually, his voice deep but soft.

"It was… a disaster. Ugh, trains are the worst, but it’s not like I could’ve taken a plane. I’m terrified of flying anyway," I thought, lost in my inner monologue. But what I actually said was, "It was fine," with a slightly bigger smile.

Just then, Sana grabbed my hand and pulled me away, eager for some girl talk. Ryan flashed a smile before leaving us to it.

"Oh my God, Rania, look at you! You’re so gorgeous!" Sana beamed at me, her face lighting up. "I can’t believe I’m seeing you after all this time!"

I laughed, shaking my head. "Look who’s talking—the diva herself, soon-to-be bride! I’m so happy for you, Sana. I’ve missed you like crazy."

And then, Ahana joined us.

"Yes, Miss Bride, we’ve missed you so much!" Ahana said with her usual bright grin.

"Oh, you guys..." Sana’s eyes welled up a little, her voice softening.

"Come on, no tears!" I teased, smirking. "Save those for the wedding!"

We all burst into laughter, the tension easing as quickly as it had come.

Later, Auntie showed us to our rooms. Ahana and I would be sharing Sana’s room, while Mom and Dad got a room on the ground floor. After the long journey and the excitement of catching up, we were beyond exhausted. Auntie told us to take a nap before the evening function, and we gladly agreed.