Libre Magazine

It had been quite a tiring journey for her but thinking of her target made her forget all the distress going on for hours. When she was about to get on the plane, butterflies were fluttering their wings in her stomach; she felt like a little kid on her first day at school. She kept imagining how he would meet her, whether he was excited just like her, whether he was impatient too…Yet she did not know the answers to any of those questions. That was the first time she had ever been abroad and she was told Ontario was really cold at that time of the year.

Finally she collected her bags and managed to get out of the airport. He was supposed to meet her at the gate outside. Her eyes started to go through every figure which even remotely looked like him. It seemed he had not arrived yet, so her impatience kept increasing with every minute spent while waiting. It had been an hour and he was nowhere around. She dialed his cell number with reluctant fingers and she heard that routine female voice giving the bad news that his number was not in use. But how come?! She had called him last week to give the flight details; she had heard his sweet but manly voice just a week ago.

She felt helpless for a moment and was unable to think of what to do due to extreme panic. Then she sat on a bench and searched for something in her handbag. She took out her agenda and went through the pages but her upset face showed that she had forgotten to note down his address. Her cheeks had gone red, heartbeat accelerated and she started to sweat due to the adverse situation she was in. It must be a nightmare, she thought, she would scream and wake up soon in a dark room; but no, she was totally awake and aware of the situation.

She had almost lost all her hopes when a brilliant idea came to her mind. She took her cell out and began to scan all the names in the list and there it was…His flat mate’s number was sparkling just in front of her like a unique stone. She felt as if she found some water in the desert. With a thrill unmatched, she dialed the number and it started to ring. Those few seconds were like centuries to her. Then a strange voice replied:
-Hello.
-Hi, I am Fahad’s friend. I am at the airport right now. I called him but couldn’t reach him.
-Well, he is not at home.
-Ok, and his number does not work, do you know any other number where I can contact him?
- Well, no I don’t know his new number.
- You mean he changed his number?!
- Yes. By the way who are you exactly?
- Hmmm I m his girlfriend, his fiancée actually. May be he told you about me.
-Hmmm. He did not mention you. Where are you from?
-Italy.
- Ahan.
- Ok, but when will he be back home? Any idea?
- He won’t be.
- What do you mean?
- He went back to Pakistan for his marriage!
- What marriage?
- His fiancée was a Pakistani just like himself. And I guess this is a joke what you are doing right now….

She ended the call without saying anything further as she was unable to hear or speak. She was trembling. This was the only sign showing that she was alive; all other senses of hers were all gone. People kept looking at a stranger sitting on the bench hugging a medium-sized bag. Some even asked her what had happened but she did not hear them, did not see them even.

When the night fell, she hardly managed to go to the reservation desk dragging her luggage behind, looked at the official with frozen eyes and said “A ticket to Pakistan please!”