But I Shall Tell

Chapter 13 - Arrival.

2015

Not an ocean.

He concentrated on her, observed each feature of her. She was in a mix of black and red mini skirt. Her belt had a logo of a snake with its tongue stretched like a needle. He high heels made her taller than a normal girl. No nail polish where the heels showed her toes. Her top gave some space for her stomach to breathe some fresh air. She looked like a doll. Her red lips and her colored cheeks were astonishing.

She did not have any life.

"Stop staring at her," Ashley said. She was standing just outside a washroom. "Thanks for waiting, thought I wouldn't see you again." Her face had some fresh make up.

"Well, you didn't talk to me one whole entire flight. How dumb can one be?" Maan said, he moved away from the glass showcase, where a dress was being displayed on a zero size figure doll.

"I'm not dumb. I just couldn't digest the coincidence." Ashley said, and took out her phone from her pocket. She was wearing a new dress - blue shoes, brown shorts and a white blue t-shirt - and smiling.

"I surely agree on the digestion, you took a lot of time in there," Maan said, pointing his index finger to the washroom door.

"Blah blah," and she blushed. "Time for some selfies." Ashley said. She walked towards him and stood her back facing the lifeless doll.

"I wonder, what a life in her would be like. Caged in a glass seems so wrong," said Maan.

Ashley wasn't paying any attention to him, she was busing in her 1000+ photos. With different poses and weird lips. "Freedom, it costs a lot you know. God, you are so boring." She said.

"No thanks. Ashley," Maan said, when she called him to join her for her famous photo shoot.

"Afraid that you might get famous, ..like me?" Ashley laughed with another selfie.

Landing in Toronto was a chill, who would say summer would be so awesome. Canada might be known for its brutal and harsh winter but the summer is welcoming. Glamorous necklaces, mischievous faces, puppies in hands and kids on feet were brightly shown on the TV screen in a corner. A tourism add was it?"Famous writers have psycho fans, Miss. Independent woman," Maan said. The clicks made his head hurt, unfortunately there was no stopping to it."You sure you are not a stalker?" Ashley locked her phone screen and kept the phone in her pocket.

The detective was back in her. Or was it mental issue?

Tired of the accusations, Maan took his backpack and unzipped the back chain. He put his hand and came up with a small diary like thing. "Here," he said. He turned few pages and handed it to her. He looked annoyed and bored now. His rectangular glasses made his look cute.

For a brief moment of time Ashley looked at the stamp on the page, she too turned pages here and there to find no other stamps on. Finally she handed the passport to Maan. "I'm sorry, it's just you talk in details about a person whom you've never met before." She said. Her lips shrank and her eyes glowed. The new make up made her more cute.

You couldn't be angry for a long time at a girl like her.

"What did I pin point this time?" Maan said, and kept the passport back to it's previous position. He put on the backpack and then both his hands in his pant pockets. "Ah! A psycho fan, BTS, I see." He felt that she wasn't satisfied with this answer.

"My bestie is a writer. A really good one," with a half smile " and she is not any psycho fan,, well, she might be a bit." The atmosphere was back and she was laughing, her head to one side of her shoulder. He hair falling sideways.The arrow signs and the words written on those were helpful as there were many turns from where they stood and it looked like a very big maze game. The Airport had an open WiFi and the speed of the internet was recommendable.

"Josea Rain, hope I do not have to meet her ever. You might get me arrested for who knows what reason." Maan said, and put his hands up. "Let's go."

Without any other word, they both started walking. Many shops passed and not a single talk. Finally Ashley took out her phone and posted a few, ..many of her pics on Facebook. With a dozens of blink blink sound she received many messages.

The checking was done, new stamps marked blank pages of their passports on their arrival. A study permit and a work permit paper was handed to Maan, none for Ashley. This was the end of all the security checks. No more removing hand luggage and displaying it's contents, mostly the electronics one. No more coming out of your boots, jackets and metal belts and key chains. No more opening and closing of the locks on the bags. Definitely no more tension of walking with a water bottle.

The view outside was similar to a stadium entrance, people were gathered but not in a queue, with signs held up high. Airport taxis were parked a few meters behind them. Plants in bigger pots were on each side of the exit. All excited and happy faces to see.

Ashley had shared her phone number and her Facebook account with Maan. Since he did not yet have a new Canadian number, the friend request on Facebook was the only means of contact.

"There," Ashley said, and pointed to her parents. She hugged Maan and said her goodbyes and ran towards the crowd.

After a few minutes of hugging and talks, 3 hands waved Maan and they disappeared inside a car.

A group of boys and girls were talking at a distance, where a man held a sign stating "Lambton College" was looking at the exit.

The journey so far was good. Time for a new start. Maan walked towards the small group.