They stepped onto a speedboat
identical to the one she had first arrived in on the island. However, this
time, her mood was anything but gloomy. In fact, she could hardly contain her
excitement. They all settled into the back seats, which offered a better view
of the breathtaking scenery.
As they approached the resort,
Zishan pointed it out to them. Initially, it appeared like any other island,
but as they drew closer, Haifa began to discern its distinctive features. The
beach seemed even more pristine and beautiful, devoid of the natural debris
that often washed ashore on her home island. The palm trees here were well
maintained, with no browning or overhanging branches, in stark contrast to the
wilder ones back on her island.
If she were passing by without anyone’s
guidance, she might not have at first discerned the differences. However, once
he pointed them out, she could see that the resorts, while resembling any other
island, had the appearance of an airbrushed version of a typical island.
The resort had two jetties extending
from it. One was adorned with elaborately designed huts, while the other was
plain. Zishan explained that the one without huts was meant for seaplanes to
dock.
As they disembarked onto the jetty
with huts, Haifa was impressed by the craftsmanship. The wooden floors and
windows exuded a sense of quality, and the interior was tastefully decorated.
Tables made of wicker and teal-colored sofa sets with matching cushions,
patterned in white, created an inviting and stylish atmosphere.
They followed Zishan as he led the
way, his steps confident as if he'd walked this path countless times before. He
wore a white cotton shirt and dark pants. The only extra baggage he had was
Haifa's laptop bag. He had kindly offered to carry it for her, and though she
didn't particularly want him to, she agreed without hesitation. She didn't want
to make a fuss, especially in front of Saira.
The resort was absolutely stunning,
and both Haifa and Saira tried to contain their awe, wanting to appear
sophisticated. Yet, they still nudged each other when they came across
something truly spectacular. And, honestly, everything was spectacular. As they
passed through the waiting area, they marveled at the glamorous centerpieces,
ornate vases, and carved murals that adorned the walls.
When they stepped into the dining
hall, Haifa nearly did a double-take. Like Saira, she had only heard about the
luxuries of a resort and had never had the opportunity to visit one before.
What they were experiencing now surpassed everything they'd ever heard.
The dining hall was a vast open-air
circular space, with a long buffet table stretching from one end to the other.
It was neatly sectioned off, with separate areas for bread, desserts, meats,
and fruits, all beautifully arranged and displayed. Every detail was
meticulously designed and aesthetically pleasing.
Zishan turned to them, saying,
"Why don't you go ahead and help yourselves? I'll give Khalid a
call." As he took out his phone and turned away, seemingly unaware of the
astonishment on his companions' faces, Saira couldn't contain her amazement.
She grabbed Haifa's elbow and whispered in awe, "Are we allowed to just
take anything?"
Haifa shared her sense of wonder and
replied, "I suppose so."
As it was still early on a Friday
for the vacationers, the dining hall had only a handful of people. Haifa and
Saira decided to begin at the bread table, piling small portions of almost
everything onto their plates. They settled at a corner table with four seats.
Saira sipped the orange juice and
her eyes lit up. "Oh my god, this is the best orange juice I've ever
had!" she exclaimed.
Haifa chuckled and shook her head.
She took a bite of her meal, savoring the wonderful flavors that enveloped her
taste buds. "I could eat like this every day," she said, her eyes
scanning the remaining options on her plate as she considered what to try next.
By the time they were halfway
through their meal, Zishan returned with his own plate. He settled down next to
Haifa and asked, "Having fun?"
Saira nodded enthusiastically.
"How is this food so good?"
Zishan replied casually, "They
source the best ingredients for resorts. They have to maintain their reputation
for being the best."
They were nearly finished with their
meal when the manager finally arrived. After a warm handshake with Zishan,
Zishan introduced everyone to him. Khalid was a bear of a man with neatly
combed hair, a thin beard, and a wide smile. When he arrived, Zishan graciously
gave him his seat, allowing Khalid to sit next to Haifa. She appreciated the
gesture as it would make conversing with him much easier.
"Zishan had already told me
about the competition, and I, for one, would love to have our resort featured
in a video that will be seen worldwide," Khalid stated, turning his
attention to Haifa.
She smiled gratefully and responded,
"That's incredibly generous of you. I can't thank you enough for giving me
this opportunity."
Khalid returned the sentiment
warmly, saying, "Of course, any friend of Zishan is a friend of
mine."
Haifa spent the next twenty minutes
explaining her concept and showcasing the videos she had taken so far.
"I'd like to start with the
scenic shots and then capture some golden hour scenes of the beach and the
resort itself. We could include some architectural shots as well. I'm also
interested in getting action shots if possible, like events, live music, or
water sports. I checked your website before coming here, and I saw that you
offer numerous water sports and dive points that I can utilize," Haifa stopped
when three pairs of blank eyes stared back at her, "Am I going too
fast?"
Khalid chuckled and replied, "I
think you lost us at 'golden hour'."
"Oh, sorry, I got carried away.
'Golden hour' refers to the time just before sunrise or a few minutes after
sunset when everything has a richer color and the light is softer. It gives the
videos a magical quality," Haifa explained.
Khalid nodded in understanding.
"You can take any shot as long as it doesn't interfere with our guests
here. If you need a shot with the guests, we'll need to obtain prior consent.
Yes, we have live music events every other night, and we offer water sports
almost every day. Just let me know when, and I can arrange a ride for
you."
Haifa bit her lip nervously. "I
don't want to ask for too much of your resources. I can manage to get all the
shots done in one or two days."
Khalid leaned in, looking straight
at her. "We run a high-class luxury resort. I believe I can spare a few
boat rides for a friend." He winked at her, and Haifa's heart swelled with
happiness. "Thank you so much."
"I'm curious, though,"
Khalid continued, "How are you planning to take the aerial or underwater shots?
I don't think you can use your phone for those, can you?" He looked back
at her concept on the laptop.
Haifa rubbed her fingers, her brows
furrowing. "I'm still searching for a way to get those shots. The best
option would be to find someone with a drone. Taking good shots from a seaplane
isn't feasible, and it's financially out of my reach."
Khalid shook his head. "Even if
you find a drone, you'll need a permit to fly over the country. Drones are
tricky to operate for video shooting; only a professional can capture good
footage with them." He scratched his beard and turned to Zishan.
"Have you checked with Rasdhoo Dive Club?"
Zishan tilted his head, asking,
"For underwater shots?"
“No, not just underwater, they've
expanded their services. I've heard they offer drone shots and underwater
videography now, but it will come at a cost." He said.
Haifa's heart skipped a beat at his
words. "Really? I haven't heard of them. How expensive are we talking
about?" she inquired.
"I believe they start at $100
per guest. I'm not sure about the rates for customized services, but it's worth
checking with them," Khalid replied.
"$100 is roughly 1500 in our
currency, right?" Haifa sought confirmation from Zishan.
Zishan nodded. "Yes, that's
about right."
She did a quick mental calculation.
"I think I can afford that. I'll call them today," Haifa said with a
sense of relief. She quickly Googled Rasdhoo Dive Club and found the page
Khalid had mentioned. To her delight, they offered both drone and dive video
sessions. Her first salary was due in a week, and she had a little money saved
from her tutoring days. She could likely afford one or two shots, and that
would be sufficient.
***
"That's it, I'm saving all my
pay from now on until I can come here for a real vacay," Saira declared as
she lounged on a poolside chair.
Haifa chuckled as she continued her
photo shoots. Zishan and Khalid had gone off, leaving her free to capture everything
she could. She was glad she had come armed with her phone mount and tripod. She
had been highly productive in the past two hours.
They had also scheduled a day for
her to capture water sports and live event shots. Khalid had even given her
permission to film one of their wedding ceremonies. She had planned to shoot
before the actual ceremony, and there were cultural dancers performing for
these events. Haifa briefly considered using a cultural dance in her video but
dismissed the idea due to the associated costs.
"Why haven't you?" Haifa
asked as she adjusted her tripod.
Saira sighed, "You know, we're
not the type to spend money on extravagant things. We're genetically programmed
to go through life spending money on important things only."
Haifa nodded and said, "I know,
right?"
Saira suddenly sat up, her eyes wide
with dramatic pleading. "Please say you'll bring me for your next two
shoots also."
Haifa laughed, "Yeah, it won't
be the same without you. You're now part of my team."
Saira gave a saucy smile, "You
mean me and Zishan," she teased.
Haifa rolled her eyes. Saira flopped
back onto her seat, saying, "Oh, who wouldn't mind having a man like him?
Easy on the eyes and so resourceful," as she crossed her hands behind her
head. "I'm telling you, if a man did all this for me, I wouldn't mind
having him around."
Haifa insisted, "It's not like
that. He's a good friend."
Saira responded with an unconvinced,
"Uh huh."
Haifa saw Zishan approaching from a
distance and quickly shushed Saira. She had no intention of him overhearing any
of the teasing from Saira.
“Hey, all done?” he asked coming to
stand next to Haifa.
Haifa nodded, replying as she packed
her bag, "Yeah, I got what I need for now."
"Great, we have a boat waiting.
It's almost noon, so we should get back," he said.
All the way back, Haifa's mind was
buzzing with excitement. She couldn't believe that, for the first time since
starting her project, she actually had a shot at winning. When she had started,
she had determination but even she felt how far-fetched winning was. But now,
it seemed possible. She knew she had Zishan to thank for making it all happen.
Once they reached home, Saira headed
inside, but Haifa lingered. "I just wanted to thank you for everything.
You've been a tremendous help," she said.
Zishan shrugged and replied with a
warm smile, "It was nothing, really. I'm just here to support you. You're
the one doing all the hard work."
Haifa pressed on, feeling grateful,
"It means everything to me. I honestly don't know how to repay you."
Zishan reassured her, "You
don't need to repay me for anything. I wanted to help, remember. I'll text you
the details for our trip to the nearby islands."
"Ok," Haifa replied.
"Bye," Zishan said softly,
his eyes searching hers as if he didn't want to leave just yet.
Once again, he waited until she had
closed the door behind her before leaving. Haifa couldn't help but feel a tug
in her heart, a sense of being special whenever she was around him. He made her
feel a range of emotions she wasn't supposed to feel. Shaking her head, she
reminded herself that she wasn't going to change who she was just because she
felt attracted to a man. Regardless of how sweet and nice he was, her
principles wouldn't waver. She was committed to Aseel, and she had no intention
of changing that.
As she ascended the stairs to her
room, she found herself wondering just how committed Aseel was to her.
Did you love the chapter, please let me know your thoughts
in the comments.
Have a wonderful day!
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