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Chapter Seven
The Trip Begins
(Maahirah Furqaan)
We step out of the airport. A gust of cold air greets me. I put on my jacket and grip my suitcase - tighter. The weather is pretty chilly and I sniff the air as I take in my surrounding.
Everything around me is illuminated with bright neon colours. The road is busy with heavy traffic. The buildings taller just like the famous skyscrapers in New York. Beautiful and twinkling stars covered the night sky. Yep, we're in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
"Subhan'Allah, this is wow." Fadiya exclaims.
"Agreed," I smile.
Mr.Brackson assembles us in a bus. I and Fadiya take the only available sit in the middle - behind Grace and Ellie. Behind us, you can guess who's sitting, Aayan and Chace. Complaining to Fadiya about our seat, I take my place. Fadiya just shuts me up saying that you like to sit on the floor, go ahead! Ariana and Christina at the right side while Alizey and Mariam are somewhere in the front.
I put my head on Fadiya's shoulder and close my eyes. Sighing, I sit up straight. Okay, I'm feeling so uneasy right now.
"We're in Brazil," Ellie squeals.
Fadiya grins."Yes, we're!!"
"Any plans?!" Grace asks.
Fadiya shrugs."Haven't thought of anything, yet!"
Mr.Brackson clears his throat."Attention!!! We'll reach the resort in twenty minutes or maybe less. There you'll be given the key to your rooms which you'll share with the same gender. Got it? Two students per room. No discussion regarding this trip will take place today but, however, there will be a meeting tomorrow where we'll discuss the curfew and what are you suppose to do and what not. Now, I'll be calling out you names for attendance."
He went on and I listen till my name and then I tune him out. I grab the handle and close my eyes. I'm having this weird kind of feeling in the pit of my stomach. Everything inside my gut is churning. I let out a cough.
"Maahirah?" Fads shakes me.
"Yeah," I open my eyes.
"Are you okay?!" She asks.
I nod.
"You look a bit pale,"
"I'm fine, Fads."
Tearing her gaze away from my face, she starts talking to Ellie and Grace. I chug down the bottle of water to erase the uneasy feeling.
"Seriously, Maahirah are you fine?!" Ariana speaks up.
"God, I'm great," I say before closing my eyes."Just tired."
After that, I try my best to make the voice around me inaudible but voices can't be made inaudible when they are full of life, happiness and excitement. After few seconds, I let two certain voices seep in because they are too loud to be ignored.
"Dude, this place is amazing,"
"I know, right?"
"Look at that,"
"Just wow,"
"Whoa, how about......"
"How about you cut me some slack and shut up," I cut off Aayan and turn to face him (and Chace).
"Hey, I wasn't the only one who was excited - Chace was too," He says offended.
"Well, I've no grudge against him but with you....I've so yes, I find your voice intimating and annoying and, um, irritating,"
"Excuse me? Millions of or maybe zillion of people die on my voice. Literally,"
"Well,"I scoff."Earth to you, Aslam! I don't and you're just over-exaggerateit. Out of hundred percent - only forty eight percent are your fans and out of which forty six percent are girls and the rest two percent are boys which are kind of obliged to listen to your music because their sisters or girlfriends or maybe wives happen to be your fans!" The nausea is yet again kicking in but I continue my bicker.
"Ha. Very funny!" Aayan says sarcastically.
"It is. Isn't it Chace?!"
Chace looks startled and surprised."No,"He plugs in his headphones to his iPod."I'm not in your stupid argument."
"Dude," Aayan pulls his iPod."I thought we were friends."
"Awh, Aayan lost his only buddy on this planet."I taunt.
"Maahirah!" Fadiya calls out.
I turn to face my best friend to find all of my friends watching our argument while shaking their head in disagreement.
"Stop it," Fadiya restrains herself from smiling.
"Well, you should listen to your friend," Aayan smirks. I can tell from his tone.
"Nobody asked you to butt in, lonely guy." I spin around to face him.
Rude, I know but I'm not feeling too good right now.
"For a record 'Chace' isn't my only friend."
"So?" I raise my eyebrow.
"So, before you speak.....think,"
I put on a thinking face – just to annoy him."I'm pretty sure the quotation goes like this ; Leap before you think!"
"The hell I care,"
I roll my eyes and grab the handle. We've reached our destination. The diver brings the bus to a halt, and before getting down, I say to Aayan:" Make sure you're room is not around the same hallway in which I and Fadiya will stay!"
"Whatever keys I get, I'll stay in that room!" He puts his hand up as if to defend himself.
"I'm just telling you," I smile with all the innocence I can muster.
*************************
We assemble together in the reception. Mr.Brackson orders us to stand in pairs and so we do. He hands us keys to our rooms.
"What is our room number?!" Fadiya asks me.
I hold the key in front of her face. "376!"
"Wow,"
The resort is so awesomely built. A golden chandelier is attached to the ceiling and it is huge. In the middle there are sofas so people can wait. The entire decor of the resort is yellowish-golden. Even though it is night time but the staff here is extremely friendly.
"Guess who is our neighbor at the left side?" Fads asks.
"I've no idea," I shrug.
"Ariana and Christina,"
"Sweet,"
"And right across our room ....are Ellie and Grace and right next to Ariana and Christina's room is Alizey and Mariam's!"
"Wow, this is so cool," I try making my voice cheery. I didn't know it worked or not until Fads nods and then squeals.
"Mr.Brackson has given us the green light which means we can check our rooms!!"
With tight lips, I nod.
We get into the elevator along with few more students. Somebody presses 'Floor #17' and the lift moves up. Once again, queasiness kicks in and I grab Fadiya's hand - she looks at me, startled and I give her lopsided grin.
As soon as the elevator stops, I push my away out of the people and lean against the wall - panting.
"Okay, you seem to be acting quite weird!" Fadiya says as she takes my hand and leads me away. She passes people the look which is supposed to mean I've-no-idea-what's-wrong.
She fumbles with the key and clicks it open. Once again, I push her away and search, frantically for washroom. Behind me, I hear Fadiya muttering," Amazing. Wow. Unbelievable."
I find a door at the left side of the room, I quickly rush towards it. Opening the door, I get in and puke my guts out in the toilet.
"Maahirah?!"
"I'm fine, Fads!"
"Do you want me to get some pills and food?!"
"Yes," I call back before vomiting out the left-over food in tummy.
After I'm done wiping my entire stomach out, I unpin my hijab and wash my face several times. I remove my jacket and hang it on the hanger. Washing my face one last time, I exit the washroom to find Fadiya with a tray of food and pills.
Smiling gratefully at her, I take the tray from her. "Thanks,"
"Are you feeling, you know, better?!"
I nod. "You should freshen up while I feed on this!"
When she leaves for washroom, I gobble up the food and my pills. I'm feeling better. Alhamdolillah, too better but tired.
Even though it is late at night around eleven. I've no idea what is the time difference. between Minnesota and Brazil but knowing that mom won't sleep till she knows I'm safe and have reached and I'm at hotel - I decide to call her.
"Maahirah?" She picks up at the second ring.
Wow, that was fast.
"Yes, it is me. Assalmu Alykum!"
"Have you reached?!"
"Alhamdolillah, I've!"
"Alhamdolillah and are you.......okay?!"
I swallow. Well, I just puked my gut out. "I'm perfect,"
"Your voice is hoarse!"
I let out a laugh."I'm fine. Just tired. Trust me, Mom!"
"I do. Anyways, Neez is missing you so much and your dad too,"
"Awh, I'm missing them too,"
You didn't even think about them, Maahirah!
Shut up, inner brain.
"Mom, I'll talk to you tomorrow. I promise!" I just cut off whatever Mom was saying.
I hear her sigh. "Okay, love! Stay safe and sleep tight!"
"You too, Mom! Love you and Dad and Vaneeza!"
Mom chuckles." Love you, too. Allah Hafiz,"
"Allah Hafiz!" I press the end button on my mobile.
*************************
I wake up to Fadiya's scream. Yep, she literally screams on my face with,"Maahirah, get your lazy self up before I pour cold, icy water on ya,"
"I'm up," I throw the covers.
"Here's your outfit for today. Put it on and meet me at room number 67 for meeting and from there we'll go for breakfast where we'll also decide what we want to do in here,"
"Whoa. Okay! Which room and floor?!"
Fadiya groans. "Room number 67 and floor number 4,"
"Clear,"
The meeting is in thirty minutes so I take a quick shower with warm water. I put on an orange shirt with black fleece jacket and long jeans skirt. This style is totally against mine but I don't really want to ruin my friendship with Fadiya though I'll say she knows I'm not a colourful person when it comes to clothes.
I look myself in the mirror after coming out of the washroom. Hmm, impressive. The outfit looks cute. I smile as I wrap my orange hijab.
Grabbing my cell-phone and a purse, I step out of the hotel room. Locking the door, I rush towards the elevator. Ten minutes are left for the meeting to start.
Just as I enter the elevator and I'm about to press the number four, somebody shouts, "Hold it up,"
So, I do. When the person enters, I make a dash for exiting but the doors close up. I scream internally.
"Hello, Maahirah!"
" Hi, Aayan! What are you doing here??" I give him a tight smile while pressing the number 4.
"My room is in this floor," He replies in a duh tone.
"Unbelievable,"
"We meet again," Instead, he says.
I scoff." No biggie,"
"You know, any girl will kill to be in your position," He smirks as he leans in.
I back away. Adrenaline pumping in. My heart racing. I can smell cigar- he smokes. "Tell me something I don't know," I say mustering up confidence.
He laughs. "Aye, you're nervous!"
Yes, I'm and It isn't a good sign."Very funny,"
Don't let your guard down.
"Furqaan, you're going jelly right now,"
One more floor to go. Ding! "Aslam, don't be so self-centered and aggressive." I push him and rush out of the elevator.
Yaay!!! No more him for a while.
**************************
"You can leave your rooms whenever you want but you're supposed to check in at nine or before!" Mr.Brackson says. "You've to check out at the reception whenever you leave but I you intend to spend the day at the resort then sure, go ahead. But, once you check out you've to check in,"
"Yes, Sir!" We say in a chorus.
"However, today you can't leave the campus because it is raining,"
What? Immediately, my hand snaps towards the window that begins from the floor and ends at the ceiling - yes, it is raining and black clouds surrounded the sky. I shudder.
Mr.Brackson ends the meeting-the lame meeting. Fadiya hooks her arms with mine."Bummer, this stinks! No fun! Stuck up in our room for the day,"
Her voice sounds gloomy so to cheer her up, I say."Why don't we plan out the things we want to see in Brazil?"
"Hmm, good idea. Lets go,"
After breakfast at the resort's dining room, we sit on the couch in our room; a paper in front of us and pencils in our (Me and Fadiya) hands. I pull out my laptop and search up on the Google places to see in Rio De Janeiro. I get a list and I ask Fadiya to copy it down.
While she's writing it down, I once again let my gaze fall on the glass doors which lead to the balcony. The weather is still cold and it is raining. According to the weather outcast, it might continue till late at night.
"Done!!" Fadiya exclaims.
"Okay, what we've got,"
"Okay, we've got...Jardim Botanico, Tijuca National Park, Copacabana and Ipanema and many others but these are 'must'. They are so beautiful,"
I laugh at her enthusiasm.
Her gaze falls at the window and she sighs."Man, how I despise this weather right now."
"Aw, Fads."
"I mean, we can't enjoy it, right?"
"Yes, we can. Together," I smile.
She smiles back. "Maybe,"
There is a knock at the door and Fadiya looks at me – I shrug. She gets up, gracefully and opens the door and Alizey, Mariam, Dua, Ellie and Grace enter.
"Hey," I put my laptop on the table.
"Hi," Ellie grins as she hands Fadiya a closed envelope.
"What is it?" Fadiya asks.
"Just open it," She squels.
Fadiya tears it open. "A party?" She exclaims.
"A what?" I jump up.
Fadiya reads further."A party at the teen lounge now,"
"WHAT?" I snatch from her the envelope.
"Lets go," Fadiya begs.
"Yeah, come on guys lets go," Alizey says.
"No, we can't. I mean, there will be alcohol and what else not,"
"There wont be alcohol, I assure you," Grace smiles.
"No," I fold my arms on my chest
Fadiya gives me her best pouty face.
"Urgh, lets go and if there is anything inappropriate going on we'll leave – immediately," I sigh.
"Yes!" They scream.
Here, we come! But if Aayan is there I'm gonna do what?
Run!
You know what, you suck inner brain!
What? Just put on mask and be a tough girl. Snap at him when he crosses the line or wants to argue.
Hmm, you're so right, inner brain.
Lets do this!!
***************************************
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