Serendipity - 14

The mothers checked in already into their first class seats, letting their grownup kids handle their own responsibilities. Maryam and Lojain were waiting by gate A10 as the rest of the crowd arrived. Hayfa proudly introduced her beloved brothers to the rest of her friends. Fares being himself, did not refrain from throwing flirt-ish comments to both Maryam and Lojain. It didn't bother Nouf, who was standing beside Fares and smiling stupidly waiting for Lojain's approval of them as a couple.

Butti was also standing beside Fares with full view of Nouf. Her ear to ear smile managed to creep into him and strangle his heart. He knew Nouf's innocence, playfulness and charm. She was not Fares material. Fares will just break her down, thought Butti. This thought was enough to silence Butti. He was not much of a talker anyway, but this time he wasn't just quiet, he was thinking and thinking and thinking.

Fares walked away as he got engaged in what seems like an intimate phone call. No one seemed to notice as the girls were so engrossed in their "How cold could Turkey be" conversation. Nouf's phone lit up as her mother called again for a last farewell before takeoff. She answered the phone and walked towards the plane tunnel that lead to her Business class seat. Her voice brought Butti back to Earth.
"you girls talk a lot," said Butti all of a sudden. "If you want to travel get on the plane now." He gave the girls one of his genuine smiles before heading into the plane and leaving them behind.


"You're kidding!!!!" exclaimed Hayfa as Lojain spilled the Fares-Nouf story. "That's why she's blushing hahaha".
"This means were going to ditch her a lot" winked Maryam. "Lucky girl, a good chance for a romance with his sister's approval too!!"

________________________________________________

Nouf

"Bye mama", its probably the 70th time that i said this. Here she goes again with more advice about taking care and handling responsibility and praying for me to arrive safely and and and ...

"mama, the pilot just announced that he can hear our conversation and if I dont switch off my phone now he cant promise you to get me there safely"
This was enough to make her end the phone call with a smile, i hope. I love how much she cares but she should learn to let go of me a bit. I wonder how she'll handle my marriage and moving out to my hubby's place.

I seated myself as soon as i ended the phone call. There's still a bit more time till take-off but i didn't want mom to be all miserable and emotional. I can't handle that now. I'll cry if i hear her crying. And i can't cry infront of Fares nor Butti. Butti will love that, a chance to start picking on me again. I look around waiting for the others to walk in. I spotted Butti earlier talking to his mom in the front class cabin. They looked so adorable. I could guess that he has a close friendship with his mom. He was laughing and probably teasing her. I know how he could be. I smiled at the memories of the leadership program. It just occurred to me that he'll be travelling along too. Fares's existence made me forget about Butti. Well, he deserves to be forgotten for his stupid comment.

The place is filling up quickly. I'm sitting in the last row of the business class. I wish i had the window seats. Looking out of the window is very entertaining especially to someone that never sleeps on flights. Its okay Nouf, just four hours and a half.

I spotted the girls walk in and were asked to take their seats at once because of their late arrival. To my disappointment, Maryam, Hayfa and Lojain occupied the front row seats.

I bbm-ed Lojain instantly.
*Nouf: aiiiii why am i alone at the back :( ?
*Lojain: 3an el drama
*Lojain: You're nt that far.
*Lojain: and Hayfa says she wont exchange seats ;) ;) enjoy my love

I saw Butti and Fares come walking towards me. They'll sit beside me. oh God please let Butti sit beside me not Fares. I'll say something stupid and ... and i just need time to get to know him to be comfortable talking to him. The fairies in my head where kneeling down helping me pray. They know i could make a fool out of myself.

"Look who's here" Butti smiled at me as he came to take his seat beside me and Fares the seat next to him.  I was relieved that Butti was there. At least now i could talk a little bit. It would be too awkward if i was left with Fares alone.

*Nouf: leave my love life alone!
*Nouf: and Butti is sitting next to me not Fares >,<
*Lojain: no scheming i swear
*Lojain: Life is planning
*Lojain: its jst that they upgraded ur seat late, jst in time with Butti n Fares

I switched off my blackberry and placed it in my bag before fastening my seatbelt.

"So you're with Hayfa in Uni?" Fares was leaning forward asking me as soon as we were in the air. I have to admit i got excited that he even cares to ask. Butti was looking through the magazine to see the choices of movies he had for today, i think.
"No, I know her through Maryam and Lojain. Actually i first met her at your brother's wedding."
Fares smirks and i smile back at the same memory. "You were rude that day!!" I said with some courage that I'm not really sure where it came from.
He laughed, "I had to be, i was concerned seeing you fall like that". God! will he stop this, I'm probably red again.
"Yea right" i aimed to sound as if i didn't care whatsoever, but my unplanned smile ruined it for me.

Act normal.

"You know its kinda weird that you appear everywhere" Fares was looking at me intently while thinking and scratching his head.
"Its her profession," Butti butted in. He seems to be annoyed. I've always seen him in a cooler and calmer moods than this. Maybe he has some kinda flight phobia. "She even appeared on this flight."
I couldn't help but feel like a burden. Fares seemed to notice my discomfort and changed the subject to talk about how much he enjoys travelling on Emirates rather than any other airline.

But Butti was becoming annoying. He would shift forward while looking through the Magazine making me and Fares lean back to see each other, then suddenly lean back again, then move side to side. He made my conversation with Fares unbearable.

"UFF can you sit still? You're so annoying i swear!" i exasperated. I couldn't handle it anymore. "Do you have some kinda plane phobia?"
I could see the surprised but this-is-going-to-be-funny expression on Fares' face.
Butti was grinning, he looked at Fares and said "Now, thats the real complainer, prejudice, annoying Nouf, don't let her fool you" he looked back at me and winked.
Stupid Butti. I rolled my eyes at him and turned around, put my headphones on to start watching a movie. I can't talk to Fares properly if he's going to be sitting in the middle. Be careful what you wish for.

Water for elephants; thats a great one to watch. I peeked at Butti and Fares to find the latter fast asleep. How could he sleep in few seconds. Men! Butti, however, was picking a movie to watch.



Do you ever get a feeling that someone is watching you? A burning feeling that someone is staring. You could sense it and feel it before seeing that someone actually is. I had that feeling half way through the movie just to find that Butti was staring at me. When my eyes caught his, he smiled.

"What?"
He placed his finger over his mouth in a hush gesture. "You're shouting"
I took off my headphone and paused my film sadly. It was getting more emotional and intense. "Why are you staring?" i was whispering this time with my head meeting half way to his head thats leaning towards me. To my surprise, he poked my cheeks.
"You're crying, thats why." I quickly wiped off my tears with a sheepish smile. i was crying. Its not my fault. I always get emotional with such types of movies. Those love stories and fairytales drag me along. I always picture myself as the lead actress falling in deep love with the main character.

"You know its just a movie"
"I know" i let out a deep sigh, "But you can't not get emotional, did you ever watch this?"
"Hopeless romantic added to the list! yes i did, long time ago. She'll.."
"Shhhh i'll watch it, if you dont mind stop staring"
I put my headphones back on. But who says i could watch something in peace with Butti sitting beside me. He pokes me a few minutes later.
"What do you want to eat?"
"food" i give him a fake smile and continued my movie again.

Few minutes pass just before his other intrusion. This time he was asking about what perfume to buy for his mom.
"Call Hayfa's seat and ask her, find anyone else to bother, or sleep!" I was serious.
"I can't i'll buy this for Hayfa"
I paused the movie and took off my headsets. With half eye i said, "It was for your mom few seconds ago. Whats wrong with you?"
"i'm bored" he had a childish smile on.
"Watch this movie again and feeeel it" my yoga gestures made him laugh.
"Do you reallllly believe in this?"
"in what?"
"Love"
I paused for a second to think. I never actually thought about this.
"I don't know. I know that there is something called love but i think its more about being respected by the other person, interested in what they say, bear their existence for long hours and their absence is unbearable. But certainly not this kind of fairy tales" I pointed at the screen. "Part of me is a hopeless romantic, while the other is soooo realistic."
"Yeah i see, very realistic" he rolls his eyes, "So you ever fell in love?" ..... "I'm sorry if i'm intruding" he added when few seconds of silence passed.
"Laa bs anywhere else in the world it would be an appropriate question with this conversation, bs you know how it is here" - i absolutely have no idea what i was saying. But his question threw me off balance.
"We're in the air, no rules here"
"No, i never did" i said eventually. "I'm the Cinderella kind of person. I want to get married skipping all the relationship drama and hoping its the right person i picked from the first encounter."
"Its called arranged marriage. And guys are not as good as they make you believe."
"Its called whatever i want to call it. Stop ruining things." I rolled my eyes at him and crossed my arms. "You're so annoying you realize that?" I was suddenly furious and remembered the turban comment. I glared at him and then decided thats its better to continue my movie.

Just as i placed the headphones again, he said: "I was once drowning in this kind of love..."