Serendipity - 5

The discussions I have about my future are always the worse. They twirl me into what seems like a floor-less whirlpool of thoughts. I'd love to have a sneak peak into the future, find out what it holds for me, and just check if everything is worth what I'm doing.
I'm not entirely sure what I'll be doing after graduation. Its a semester away; too close yet too far away. My mom argues for finding a stable, minimum hours job that's suitable for a girl who doesn't need to work anyway, but my Dad seems to have a different view. All i hear from him is internships, leadership workshops and so on. A way to enrich my experience before diving into my career.

*Lojain: Sweety
*Lojain: today is the planned day B-)
*Lojain: Ready?

Him! Yes, Lojain I'm ready, him seems like a nice plan for my future. I quickly text her back discussing what should i wear. The discussion soon dives into a a group chat and storyboard designed by Lojain and Hamda starring me and Him. They find my newly found love life very interesting. I've always been the dramatic but emotionless member of the group. Never did anyone imbalance me before!

Truth be told, there's a 99.9% that i wont be seeing him tonight. But the universe might have another say in this. I'm excited though to see Maryam! its been ages since we gathered and I've got to get her a memorable birthday gift.
______________________

I stand before the little aquarium in the pet shop at Uptown. Maryam would love little gold fish to take care of, they'll remind her gold fish memory to remember her old friend. Seems like a good plan. I need to hurry up!

"Excuse me..... excuse me" - i call at the working Pakistani guy i think, no one wants to answer Nouf, now do they? ugh I need to leave to get dressed, "Rafeeeek, i want two gold fish. Put inside this glass and you know this rock, put nice rock rock all down and bait 9a'3eer. I'll go and come 3shra dageega, ok?"
He shakes his head and I leave. I fear this head shaking gesture. It looks like it means i understand what you asked me and I'll do it but a stupid problem always pops up after it.

I head back to the pet shop with my Toffee Nut Latte. Yummy.

"Finish this gold fish?"
He points at the beautifully designed fish bowl: "5ala9 sawee tarteeb 7ag fish". His phone rings and as he answers it, the words he spills turn my face into crimson red. Perfect Emirati accent. He's carrying an iPhone, wearing polo shirt and no Nouf, he doesn't look like a shop keeper whatsoever.
He shakes his head again laughing at me.
Embarrassed, i head to pay for the gift while he, Mr. Butti as i heard, takes away his now groomed dog.

At least he stayed quiet about it, i think to myself. Butti. The funniest name you could hear a foreigner pronounce.
________________________

"YOU MURDERER!!!!!!"

Hamda just burst our ear drums i think, "Slow down, Lojain! Drive on 60, you'll scare the Fishieeees"

"Hamda! Chill! they'll forget after 3 seconds. They don't even recognize you. And Nouf next time buy a normal gift, please for the sake of humanity!......  emm Look for a big black gate with letter K on it, should be here somewhere"

And there it is. One of the most beautiful houses I've ever seen. Its humungous.
The brown house is beautifully positioned in the front middle of the spacious land, I'm pretty sure there's more behind. The neat garden on the left side seems to be just the start of what lies behind the house. Candles are guiding the cars all the way up the ramp to the main door. Lojain parks behind a Mercedes on the ramp. Its directly in the way of every other car. Sigh, its Lojain.

We were guided into the house by the housekeeper. We pass the classic reception, the spacious lounge with Moroccan touch, another classic cozy room that seems like a TV room and out of the other side of the villa to the garden.

"I want a tour around! the little part we walked around is amazing..."
"hahaha Lojain stop before something breaks. Is that envy i sense?...... wow"

I couldn't help but express it out loud. All three of us come from well-off families but not to this extent. This is not well-off. This is over the top.

At the end of the land lies a decent sized, glass pool house. There's a dance floor right beside it and an extraordinary arrangement of white seating area and a juice bar. The garden surrounding it is rooted with colorful flowers of different kinds. Bushes are cut out artistically to separate the garden into interesting shapes. Its like a sophisticated, classical version of Alice in Wonderland. The blue-purplish lighting just adds to the magic.

The surprise went well, Maryam's face expression was priceless. Well, it should be with this place! The gathering was a bit awkward at first, this whole thing of girls sitting into groups and gossiping endlessly. I don't enjoy this in big parties.

"Go get lost around the house, find his room or something, you look too good to be wasted"
"Shut up Lojain," i roll my eyes at her "your fault for putting up all those expectations and scenarios in my head"
"you seriously thought you'll walk into a girls party and find her brother sitting here? hahaha so cute of you"
"you're allowed to dream, you know"

People were leaving and only a few of us left. That's when a party really starts. You actually party, talk and laugh instead of all the gangs thing at the start. I start dancing to every song that plays and forget about everything.

"The Fishieeeeessss" shouts Hamda pulling me off the dance floor. "Maryam is leaving and you left them in the car they're probably dead you know!!"

I head to the car with Haifa to escort Maryam out and give her the gift, which turned out to be still alive.

"Can't believe you got her gold fish. Its so Maryam" Haifa is laughing when Maryam leaves. "You need to remind her to feed them, she'll forget."
"If she kills them, she's a hopeless case. Get in the car, i'll move it out of the way"

I park the car in one of the shaded parking spaces nearest to the left side. We could walk on the path to the garden, i thought to myself.

As we get off the car, a black Range Rover stops behind us.

"Parking sayarty!" - That voice again. HIM.
"Fares, just park anywhere, you're not supposed to be here anyways! GO!"

I glance to find him looking at me with surprise. The little fairies in my head are having the time of their life. I can tell he's asking what is SHE doing here, at my place?

Haifa doesn't give him much chance to talk, and drags me with her back to the party.
"Mama will take care of him and make him leave. Brothers!"

My knight in crisp Kandoora is called Fares. Well, the name fits alright!