My eyes searched for a familiar face in the crowd.
I pulled my bag while I squeezed myself in between hundreds of people who were greeting their loved ones.
Strands of my hair kept falling and blocked my view. I looked over my shoulder
and found a man that was following me. I walked a bit faster but he somehow was able to catch up with me. I dropped everything in my hands and I
ran. I ran like there was no tomorrow. I was just seconds away from the door.
The second I stepped out of the building, a firm hand grabbed my arm and I knew
that something bad was going to happen.
"Noura wake up you're going
to be late," Irina, our housekeeper said.
"But I don't want to go back," I moaned.
“I don’t have anything good to go back to”
"You're going to be late for your flight if you
don't get up!" She said with her thick Russian accent. Oh how I’d kill to
be Russian. I feel that Russians are the most care-free people on this Earth.
Maybe not friendly, but care-free and that is what I want to be. Care-free.
"Irina I have a bad feeling about going back
home," I got out of bed and into the bathroom. I took a shower and wore my
purple training suit. I got my LV tote bag and threw my passport in and my
booking information. I ran
to the living room while I put my sneakers on. I zipped up my bag and pulled it
next to the door.
"Irina, I want you to make sure that all the
lights are off and the switches too," I said. The bellboy was already at
the door collecting my luggage to take them downstairs. "and please make sure that I
haven't forgotten to throw out the milk that is in the fridge, I really don't
my apartment to stink"
"Don't worry Ms. Noura," she reassured
me. "Everything's going to be alright, just don't miss your flight, we
wouldn’t want to give your mother any reason to get worried" I'm not even sure if my mum knows that I'm coming back home.
"Goodbye Irina and take care of the boys while
I'm gone," I said, giving her a warm hug. I wore my shades and waited for
the unbelievably slow elevator to come. I tapped my leg and hummed an old Arabic
classic. Sulaiman Al Mulla was one of my favorite singers and Fdwetin Lek was my
favorite song. I got into the elevator and went to the lobby. I made sure that
all my expenses were paid and got into the car.
Irina is our housekeeper. Our as in Zaid,
Khalid and my housekeeper. Zaid and Khalid were technically my best friends. We
met each other on the first day of University and I guess we just clicked
together since that day. They were my cliques, actually they were more like
the brothers I never had. Irina comes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday to
make sure that our apartments were clean. To be honest, three of us were lazy.
We were too lazy to do anything and Irina loved us more than her other clients.
She says that we were more 'welcoming' than any other client and that we are
the children she yearned to have. When we asked her why she never got married,
she told us that it was a very long story that she doesn’t feel comfortable
sharing. However she promised us that she’d tell it to us when she’s ready.
It took us about 45 minutes to get to Heathrow
Airport due to the rush hour. The streets were usually busy in Christmas. I got
into the airport and checked in. I went to the VAT section and it took me at
least an hour to do all my VAT's. While I was waiting in the line, Zaid called
me and told me that he'll be coming back home next week. Both Zaid and Khalid
were coming next week because their cousin's getting married and they had to
go to his marriage. Zaid and Khalid were actually second cousins. They were enemies back in high school but they worked everything out when they knew that they'll be going to the same university.
I tapped my legs while I stood in front of an
awfully short woman. She wore jean leggings and top, which was totally
inappropriate. She was chewing gum and I more than disgusted. Did I forget to
mention that I hate people who chew gum? I think that it's really disrespectful
to chew that way in front of people. I rolled my eyes and took my phone out
from my back pocket. I looked through my Twitter feed and read all my friend's
tweets and how happy they were about going back home. I looked around to see if
I can spot any familiar faces but all I saw were Emirati, Saudi and a few
Qatari students. They were all going back home for the same reason, to reunite
with their family.
I looked back at the woman who was in front of me.
She was now accompanied with a man who had a well-built back and broad
shoulders. His hair was quite messy and short. He had two blue passports in his
hands which made me thank god that he was Kuwaiti. At least I know that I'd be
in an airplane with what I think is an attractive man. All I wanted to do now was to catch a quick glimpse of his face.
I tapped my foot while I waited for the line to
progress. It was my turn now and I got stuck with a man who doesn't stop asking
questions.
"I don't really know," I replied to his
seventh (or maybe eighth question, I stopped counting after he asked me if I
was married).
"Can't you see that she doesn't want to answer
your questions?" The man next to me said. It was the same man who was
standing in front of me. I could not get a clear view of his face. All I saw
this time was a scruffy beard and aviators. He turned around immediately, not
bothering to hear what I have to say to him. It was a simple thank you, but I
think he doesn’t want to hear one from me since he gave me his back. How rude.
I'm finally done with the VAT's and I already
passed security. I think this was the first time they haven't patted me down.
The usually stop me because the stupid detector thinks I'm carrying a gun or a
metal object. Who do they think I am? A psychotic serial killer whose on the run?
I went to the lounge and ordered a private room so
I could pray and rest for a bit. I left my handbag in the room and went to shop
in Duty Free. I went to the bookshop next to it and looked for a book to read
in the airplane. I had 6 hours to kill and decided that Nicholas Sparks was going to be my best friend in the upcoming hours. I picked two books and went and paid for them at the cashier.
I went upstairs and went to Wagamama.
I ordered my food and waited for it to come. I
looked around me and saw families sitting together. If only I had brothers and
sisters that loved me. If only my parents actually took care of me.
I saw the brat with the same guy. He was giving me
his back and she was sipping her soda. She started to chew on her gum after she
placed her soda back on the table. I rolled my eyes and the man came with my
order. I thanked him and started to eat.
When I was halfway done with my meal, the man
looked over his shoulder and stared at me. I looked away and tried to act like
I haven’t caught him staring at me. He was still wearing his hoodie and aviators. It's 9pm why the hell is he wearing his aviators?
I paid for the check as soon as I could and skipped
my way to the lounge. I didn’t want things to be any more awkward then they
already are.
As I was walking through the lounge, I spotted a
familiar face. My eyes sparkled and the butterflies in my stomach were
fluttering.
"صدفه ويا محلا الصدف" I thought.
Lots of love,
Reveur xxo
______________________
Important:
I am truly sorry for closing the blog for the last couple of months, I had to deal with some personal issues and , il7imdilla, everything's okay right now. Winter Schemes is no longer on the blog because I have to edit some bits of it. Once I'm done with editing it, I'll post it back on the blog! I am very thankful for those who coped with me for the last months.
Anyways, I hope you liked the first chapter of the new story! Tell me what are your thoughts!
Thank you very much! x