How Love Happens - Chapter 5

 

Haifa sat at the cushioned chair in the speedboat and watched the waves foaming alongside the boat through her sunglasses gloomily. They had started their trip from Male' before noon, gathering their last pieces of luggage and leaving the place she called home. They arrived at Velana International Airport faster than she anticipated.

As Haifa made her way along the Sinamale' Bridge amidst the busy Sunday traffic, with schoolchildren and office workers rushing by, she couldn't shake the sense of grief enveloping her. Her world was falling apart, and she couldn't believe her mother would do this to her.

Since the sudden news had emerged during the visit from relatives, they hadn't spoken much. Haifa felt a slight relief that she had learned about it before walking into the house and discovering it as a complete surprise.

Haifa looked at her mother with despair, realizing how cunningly she had managed to hide such significant information. It made her wonder just how much her mother was keeping from her. Haifa knew that this was not going to be an easy chapter in her life.

The domestic airport was hectic, with a much larger number of people arriving to depart. Aish and most of her friends came to see them off. Haifa anxiously looked around for Aseel. She had told him the time and even reminded him the previous night. She called his number but with no answer. With a heavy heart, she finally gave up.

The boarding process went smoothly, and before she knew it, they were on the flight. The compact size of the plane bothered her, but perhaps it was more about the destination that troubled her. She tried not to dwell on the next year and how she would suffer without seeing her love and her friends.

Once they disembarked from the flight, she followed her mother to the speed boat. Haifa chose a seat at the back corner so she could observe as the people boarded. As the boat filled up, she noticed that many of them were greeting her mother or waving. Apparently, everyone on the boat had the same destination as them. She recognized some of the people, while others were strangers. She kept to herself, not in the mood to be social.

Her mother, on the other hand, was completely immersed in an animated conversation with the person next to her and the one in front. Every bump and jolt of the boat added to Haifa's already broken spirit. She gazed at the brilliant, clear blue sky and the vast expanse of ocean in front of her. The faint silhouettes of green islands were scattered on the horizon like a painter's canvas.

As the boat headed towards an island and drew nearer, Haifa felt a sense of familiarity. The abundant palm trees, the white sandy beach, and the wooden jetty stretching from the shore into the water all became more distinct. Vavathi seemed to beckon her, its beauty shining as if reaching out to welcome her.

When the boat finally came to a stop, Haifa took her time getting off, exiting last. She noticed a gathering of relatives from both families waiting to greet them, their faces lit up with smiles. Haifa realized that she hardly recognized most of these people. Elders, uncles, and aunts had the lines of time etched onto their faces, and the younger ones had grown like weeds, beyond recognition.

The reception was a whirlwind of handshakes and hugs. Haifa tried her best to smile and convey happiness at seeing them, but deep inside, she felt a strong aversion toward everyone, even her mother for making her come here. Jalaal efficiently loaded their luggage into a taxi, a significant improvement from the wheelbarrow they had used to carry their bags the last time she had been here.

In fact, even the jetty was a big improvement. The last time, after their 12-hour ride, the boat came about 50 feet from the island, and a dinghy came to take the passengers. From there, she had to wade through the water to reach the beach, leaving her shoes wet and sandy. The entire walk home, she had to shake the sand from her slippers.

Family members escorted them to their home. The taxi apparently was too small to accommodate everyone, so once the luggage was sent off, they started walking. The evening sun cast a soft light, and Haifa kept her conversation to a minimum. Her mother reassured her family that she was tired from the journey. Haifa checked her phone repeatedly, hoping to find a call or text from Aseel.

After a short walk, they approached their home, but her mood remained miserable. The front area of the house held branching trees and a walkway with stones. A set of joali with bright-colored weaving stood on both sides of the entrance. The traditional chair was a cross between a deck chair and a hammock, with a metal frame and thin weaved ropes as a seat. A few of them hung from the trees as well.

The ocean behind the house let in a cool breeze, and the waves created rhythmic sounds. The island, with its calming sounds and the absence of the usual bustling traffic she was so used to, seemed muted to her.

Her relatives held onto her mother from outside the house, settling into the joli. Their conversation deepened with updates, and Haifa stood forgotten for a while.

“Haifa, come tell your Aunt Naseema about your grades,” her mother suddenly turned to her.

Everyone's eyes turned to her as she stood there tongue-tied. Haifa’s face grew red, her eyes shifting among the faces. She hated it when her mother did that, wanting her to showcase herself to her relatives or friends, singling her out.

When she did not respond for a few moments, a voice came from beside her. “She must be tired from the trip. Come, I will take you inside,” a soft voice said.

Haifa turned to find her cousin, Saira, standing next to her. Haifa remembered her as a chubby seven-year-old the last time she saw her. She was now as tall as Haifa and much more slender. She had the same amber skin and black eyes, but those eyes were larger, and her long lashes were mesmerizing. Her full lips stretched into a smile as she linked her hand with Haifa’s, leading her through the wooden front door.

Haifa murmured her thanks, not feeling like talking. The house was well-built, with an open space for a living room and two rooms at the side.

“Mamma and Bappa moved from the main bedroom to below, so Aunt and Jalaalbe can stay there,” Saira said as she led Haifa up the short flight of stairs to three more rooms. “Previously, only Nail stayed in the bottom room.”

Saira stopped in front of the corner room. “This was mine, I moved to the next one,” she said as she opened the door. “I thought you would like the privacy.”

Haifa walked into the spacious room with a twin-sized bed and a decorative wardrobe. A matching dressing table stood next to it, with her chair and table already placed by the windows. The wooden-framed windows were large, and olive-green blackout curtains hung, offering privacy and darkness.

Her belongings in various sizes of labeled boxes piled against the wall, her luggage bags right next to them. Haifa’s heart tightened, and her throat closed. She found it difficult to breathe. The realization crashed into her hard - her cherished life was gone so easily.

Haifa kept her bag and sunglasses on the table, taking out her phone for another check.

“This is the bathroom, we will be sharing,” Saira said, indicating the door. When Haifa nodded absently, Saira backed away a few steps. “OK then, have some rest.” She exited quickly.

Haifa removed her head covering numbly and didn't bother to shower or change clothes before dropping onto the well-made bed. She slumbered off almost immediately.

***
“Ifa, wake up,” Haifa opened her eyes, her mother bent over her. “We are going to your Kaafa house for dinner. The whole family wants to celebrate your return,” she said brightly.

Haifa sat on her bed as her mother started to unpack her bags, taking out towels and dresses. “They have missed you so much; they can't wait to meet you,” her mother's voice drew her from her grogginess.

“Here, take a shower and get ready,” Nasreena said as she thrust her toiletries into her hand.

When her mother left, Haifa quickly took her phone, eager to see if Aseel had called. Three missed calls. She quickly dialed his number.

“Hello?” Haifa said happily.

“Where have you been? I've been calling you,” Aseel said in a stern tone.

“I fell asleep; why didn't you come to the airport?” she asked. “I was waiting for you. I called you so many times.”

“Yeah, I was up late watching a match. I called you once I got up,” Aseel said defensively.

Haifa blinked, a mix of frustration and disappointment swirling within her. She had so many things she wanted to say, and so many issues she wanted to address, but she also didn't want to start a fight. Dealing with Aseel could be utterly draining at times, especially when they found themselves in these recurring situations. It felt like stepping into a familiar, endless loop.

She hesitated because she feared that if she began this conversation, it would spiral into a never-ending argument, and she was more afraid that it might seriously damage their relationship. Haifa knew that Aseel had a way of turning disagreements into something much bigger and more complicated than they needed to be.

"It's okay," she said swallowing her pride. "We have reached Vavathi. I was tired, so I took a nap," she explained.

"Okay, I'm going out now," Aseel replied.

Haifa's heart sank a little, but she tried to hide her disappointment. "Oh, okay," she continued. "I'm also going out to dinner at a family's home. Will you call later?"

"Sure," Aseel replied, his tone distracted. "Bye."

"Bye, I love you," Haifa said, but the response she received was cold and lifeless. She stared at the phone, wondering why he never said "I love you" back to her. He had told her he loved her before, but it seemed like he couldn't bring himself to say it after a call or at the end of a text. With a heavy heart, she placed her phone back on the bed and collected her towel, heading to the shower.

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