Serendipity 22

Thoughts?

Butti called Fares informing him that he will be bringing the girls to the boat ride on the Bosphurus and the mothers notified their daughters and left.

The notification that Fares got was short and simple. The ringtone of his blackberry is what got him to wake up.  He was planning on skipping the family and avoiding any outings with them today, and for the rest of the week for that matter. But now he's obliged to drop off the girls. He couldn't help but feel that this trip was planned as a rehabilitation to get him on the "right" track. What is the right track, he thought. Who defines it really? or defined it. Some people that have spent over a century now in their grave? Do we just follow what others say blindly? fix and adjust your traditions to the time you're in, stop fixing me...
Backward people, he continued thinking as he wore his army green sweater and picked up his sunglasses, they ask us to study abroad, wear their clothes, drive their cars and follow their footsteps but then get mad if we actually do.

I need coffee, he added as the throbbing headache started splashing like a wave across all the areas of his head. He knocked on the girls apartment on his way down. Haifa opened the door.
"We're ready" she greeted her brother with a big smile.
"I'll hail a cab" he replied as he continued his way down the flight of stairs and out to the cafe filled road. He stood there breathing in the clean air that struck him as he opened the door. Coffee, he reminded himself.

Haifa rushed the girls to leave. They'll tidy up the post-shopping mess that they created when they're back.
"Where's fares?" Asked Lojain as they stood just outside the door.
"He's getting us a taxi" and with Haifa's reply the girls waited for Fares' arrival.

fifteen minutes passed and Fares was still not back. Lojain being herself huffed and puffed.
"Where is your brother?? you know we don't need him to get to anywhere; we're all grown up ladies. call him or i swear i'll leave now"
"He doesn't answer" Haifa was fidgeting with her phone, she was embarrassed. "He's probably nearby"
The girls walked for a short distance and looked around to find Fares in one of the cafes sipping on his coffee and cake deeply engaged in a phone conversation. Nouf couldn't help but notice that they were both wearing the same color. She felt a rush of childish joy but kept it to herself, there was too much tension in the air.

"Fares." Haifa interrupted his conversation awkwardly, "emm.. we were waiting for you.."
"oh.." he ended his phone conversation and then looked back at the girls with a breath taking smile and said, "i forgot about you"
The effect of that smile just shredded away all the frustration that Maryam and Nouf felt. His smile and good looks did not only have an affect on the two girls, but all the females in the cafe, and elsewhere to be fair. They were all stealing a peak, trying to get a glance and admiring the beautiful creation.

However the effects of his powers seemed to malfunction when it comes to Lojain.
"huuh" was her immediate response to his words. The kind of sarcastic semi-laugh. The one that involves a smile and release air from your nose. "You forgot? You forgot you're responsible of a group of girls that you asked to wait for you 20 minutes ago?"
"Yes" that beautiful smile is still plastered on Fares' face, which was  now aimed at one of the pretty waitresses, "the bill please"
"uuuugh" Lojain was out of patience. She's always in charge, she always had things her way and this time it wasn't. But who says that Lojain will let Fares have it his way. "I'm leaving. I'll use the metro and whoever wants to join follow me. Bye." she announced before leaving.

"Lojain waiiit", Nouf looked at the other girls for any clue.
"Sit beautiful, she'll come back." said Fares very calmly.
"She's stubborn, she wont. I know her." Nouf was worried but clueless of what to do. Should she follow Lojain? What does she know about the metro and where they're going.. "I'll follow her"
"We're all leaving" he said as the waitress placed the bill on the table.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nouf 

Lojain was a few meters ahead of us cutting her way through the crowded Istiklal street towards the nearest metro, or tram, whatever they call it, station. I don't know how she managed to do so. I'm walking with three others, one of them being a well built, strong man, and i'm still frightened of thieves and what not.
I was able to spot that Fares was getting mad. He said something about how Lojain's behavior is not ladylike, fighting with a man, and that she shouldn't run away like a child to Haifa. She was just creating problems. I was praying that she would stop at some point so that we could catch up.

My prayers were accepted and we caught up with Lojain who was at the tokens machine with a random european guy teaching her how to use it.
"Oh you came" she said as i stood beside her.
"What's up with this stubbornness?" i hissed at her.
"Get out your Lira's to buy tokens.." she announced regardless of what i said and the tension in the air, "we'll need three tokens to get us from this station, Taksim, to Eminonu station that is directly on the port"

As we started to get our tokens, Lojain came up to me and whispered, "regardless of how much i dislike him, its cute how you two are dressed in the same color.. nice move" she winked at me and i hit her on the shoulder as i laugh, telling her that its just a matter of coincidence. I'm glad someone else noticed. It makes me feel less of a fool.

We didn't wait long for the next metro to arrive and as soon as its doors opened we rushed inside alongside what seemed like a billion people. Haifa and Maryam were lucky to find a seat. Lojain sat on Maryam's lap as its a fifteen minute ride. We'll stop at four different stations before getting off. I stood steps away from the seats beside Fares. I was staring outside the glass windows at the scenery we passed across.

"You see that tower, Galata tower," Fares started talking to me pointing at a tall but old tower on our right side, "the view from the top is one of the best you could see. There's a restaurant on the top and a night club too."
"its their Burj khalifa i guess" i wanted to continue the conversation but i didn't know what to say. I'm still uncomfortable around him to talk freely.
"is she always like that" he continued gesturing towards Lojain. "doing whatever she likes?"
"yeah," i answered and shifted my eyes to look around. He was looking at me as i speak and it wasn't helping me in structuring sentences. "she doesn't get a no for an answer, people usually do as she says willingly. She knows what she's doing."
"ahaa" was what he replied with and stared back at the scenery. I wanted to say more and defend my friend but it sounded as if the conversation was over. I followed where his eyes were resting, outside the vast windows of the metro on the beautiful scenery of Istanbul and stared. Oh, beautiful Istanbul.

The fifteen minutes ride was finally over. At every station stop more people will ride and a very few will get off. This made it impossible to find seats for Fares and I. As the number of people getting on the metro increased, the more crammed we were. At the last station before we get off, it got too crowded that i was nearly embraced by Fares. It was as if he was protecting me from being too close to the men around. The irony! i was practically TOO close to him; a man. Why isn't Haifa here with her brother is the only thing i'm thinking about.
We got off the metro onto the Eminonu port area. Fares asked us to keep an eye on our bags and stay close. It is a lively, buzzed and crowded area. He called Butti to know the exact cruise we were going on.
"We'll walk this way" announced Fares.
"no, we'll go across the platform and to the right i want to take pictures of those people selling stuff" announced Lojain with her stubbornness. Here we go again, i thought to myself.
"Lojain!" called Fares. I swear I could hear threatening tone in his voice. It scared us all but not Lojain. "This way"
Lojain rolled her eyes and walked where she planned to regardless of what just happened. Consequently, Fares asked us to follow him as he walked the other way. Maryam, Haifa and I exchanged looks, all of us confused not knowing where to go. Should we split? I couldn't help but think of calling Butti. He'll know how to solve this, he always does the right thing. As i opened my mouth to suggest the idea, i remembered that i was mad at him and decided to shut my mouth again. I walked faster to catch up with Fares and smiled at him. I felt victorious as if i won against Butti. I don't know why, but i just did.