Boarding friendship
I was all set for the second flight of my life. After waving goodbye to my friends, I showed my ticket and passport to the official at the entrance and stepped into the airport, the cool air messing up my well-combed hair. Even though I had the ticket on my phone, I also brought a hard copy—just in case my fully charged phone decided to shut down. I was leaving for Dubai on a visitor visa, hoping to find a job in the next three months. As I entered, I looked around the airport and felt oddly lonely amidst the crowd. I had all my documents in place yet I had a feeling like I was sneaking into the airport, afraid of getting caught. The last time I flew, my friend Asif had been with me, guiding me through the process up until the departure section. This time I was on my own, looking for someone whose actions I could mirror until I boarded the plane. That’s when I noticed her—the curly-haired girl wearing violet pants, a violet top, and a violet cap. She walked with the confidenc...