The air surrounding Pharai felt different. Foreign if he could say. The air passing through his nostrils felt damp yet dry, hot yet cold, although he could swear he knew it from somewhere.
Maybe it was the multiple fishing trips he took with his father or maybe it was the camp trips he took as a child. He could tell he was surrounded by nature just by the scent alone especially after being surrounded by concrete his entire life.
He could hear the trees rustling in the background, the soft hum of insects and animals. The birds chirping for once felt real instead of the alarm he woke up to every morning. Everything felt refreshing like he could breathe after being surrounded by a heavy fog for so long.
As he took a deep breathe he realized that his legs were surrounded by water. The current coming from the south going to the north, the warm water made his muscles relax as if he had been tense for too long. The silky mud under his feet that was enriched with minerals felt like he was standing on cotton.
Such a strange thought, he chuckled to himself. How could mud ever feel so comforting? So grounding?
He snuck his toes into the mud enjoying its warmth.
After some time he convinced himself to open his eyes. The light surrounding him was intense at first. His face scrunched up as the water reflected the light of the sun. The very sun that was beating against his bare upper body heating up his body that was barely used to the sun.
After allowing his eyes to adjust he finally took in his surroundings. It did not take his brain longer than a few seconds to recognize where he was. The Nile River. The place his body longed for ever since he had first laid sight of it at the age of ten. A smile spread across his face as he thought 'I'm home'.
He ran his fingers through the surface of the water enjoying the way it felt against his fingertips. Throughout his life he always felt content whenever he was in the water. It always felt familiar to him.
His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the distinctive sound of water being poured. He knew there was no water fall close by. The sound disrupted the peace that he felt in that moment. He looked up with a heavy sigh but immediately froze when his eyes laid sight on a woman.
The woman seemed to be in her own world. Her small figure shoulders deep in the water only revealing her collar bones and the back of her head. Her dark as night curly long hair almost looked like silk, as the water she poured on top of her head with a small golden bowl, ran through it. Her hair floated on the water almost like they were one.
Pharai's face flushed as he realized he had probably caught her bathing. Her honey coloured skin seemed to be covered in the finest golden powder he had ever seen. In fact it did not even look to be on her skin but in fact a part of it. The sun rays made her look like she was glowing.
Just as he opened his mouth to say something she instantly froze. Her movements completely stilling. Everything then completely went south. The cool breeze seemed to come to a halt. The warm water turned cold and the silk mud below his feet felt grainy, almost cutting into the skin of his feet making him painfully aware of the sudden shift in atmosphere.
The once chirping birds became mute, the buzz of insects died down and the rustling trees became silent. His heart thundered in his chest as the woman slowly turned to look back at him.
He wondered what would she say but he was more curious to see her face. There was no doubt she was beautiful. Her skin was the fairest he had ever seen and her hair even better.
It felt like an eternity before she looked over her shoulder. Her bright golden eyes piercing his already telling him to submit. To worship her as if she was a god. Yet before he could even gasp he was consumed by darkness.
"Mister Alya," The Emirates' flight attendant smiled down to the softly snoring man. She felt bad for waking him since she had seen he had been struggling to fall asleep throughout the whole flight. "Mister Alya," she said a bit louder which surely got his attention.
He shook his head as his eyes slowly peeled open revealing his bright green orbs that almost seemed fake. Most people he met often believed he wore contact lenses but he never found the use in altering his appearance.
He cleared his throat and looked up to the beautiful woman who had a kind smile. Her red lipstick put on to perfection and her teeth matching. "Sorry," his voice was a bit hoarse as he smiled up to the woman he noticed held a small tray with warm towels.
"I should be the one apologizing. I'm sorry for waking you but the plane is about to land in two hours and breakfast is about to be served. Would you like a warm towel?" she held out a perfectly wrapped towel she held with golden tongs.
"Yes please, thank you," he sighed in appreciation placing the towel on his face. The warmth slowly dissolved any tiredness left in his body.
He felt drained. For the past two weeks he had been having the same dream over and over again. Ever since he had made the decision to move from New York City to Egypt his dreams had been erratic. They never truly made sense but they felt so real.
He had been dreaming about the same woman. The woman at the Nile who managed to get the same reaction out of him every time. He never fully saw her face. Just her eyes but it was enough to always shock him awake.
He felt like he looked like shit to be honest. He had dark circles under his eyes, his light almond skin looked paler and less full of life. His usually stylish hair looked messy as if he had just gotten out of bed and he barely made effort in picking his outfits these days.
Yet to the flight attendants and everyone else in the plane he was the most handsome man anyone had ever seen. With his sharp jaw, tall strong body and his dark brown wavy hair that just touched the nape of his neck. His nose was perfect, his lips plump with a cupid's bow, his eyelashes long and his eyebrows thick yet flawlessly shaped.
He figured he was only placed in first class though because everyone felt sympathy for the tired man. Imagine his shock when the commercial flight ticket he had booked was switched for a seat in first class.
It surprised him though how everyone attended to him first than someone who actually paid to be there. No one complained though because unknown to him he looked like he belonged there.
"What would you like to eat for breakfast sir?" the woman handed him a fancy leather book menu.
"An omelette will be fine thank you with some coffee."
"Of course," she nodded and quickly disappeared to the front of the plane.
As soon as she was gone he rummaged through this backpack to retrieve his toilet bag and walked to the bathroom. After relieving himself and brushing his teeth he headed back to his seat. He noticed how people's eyes lingered on him. It was something he was used to though. People always stared no matter where he went.
He checked the time and was glad he was landing before the afternoon. It would give him enough time to explore the campus of the humanity facilities at the 'American University of Cairo' where he would now be working as a full time professor, including being the archaeologist and historian at the 'National Museum of Egyptian Civilization'.
He had been to Egypt multiple times throughout his childhood. The first time being at age ten after his parents took his obsession with ancient Egypt documentaries seriously.
He had always gravitated to their history. Their culture. He felt that it was due to his parents both having Egyptian parents who were born in America he always wanted to explore more of his heritage.
It was no secret he never felt like he fit in the 'Big Apple'. The fact his family communicated in Arabic always caught people's attention. He had to admit he did not appreciate the attention but it always worked in his favour when it came to the ladies.
In Egypt he felt like he belonged and from an early age he made the decision that one day he would permanently reside there as well. At the age of twenty-seven he was finally keeping his promise by moving.
"Here's your breakfast sir," another woman smiled as she placed his breakfast on a pull out table attached to the wall.
"Thank you." he closed in his eyes as the food flooded his body with warmth. The flavours danced around his taste buds making his hungry stomach extremely happy.
When the plane landed he felt the difference of New York and Egypt almost immediately. He welcomed it with open arms. He collected his bags and placed them on the luggage trolley. He made his way to the arrival terminals where he had been told his personal assistant would pick him up.
A small crowd had gathered, some collecting loved ones, friends or picking up clients. He searched the crowd for anyone holding a board with his name and quickly heard someone call for him.
"Duktur Jamieaa Ealya (Professor Alya)!" A young man waved as he watched someone he idolized look towards him and smile.
"Sabah el kheir (Good morning)," Pharai smiled as he shook the tall slender boys hand, with almond skin, brown eyes and buzz cut dark hair.
"Sabah el kheir. Ana Muhamad musaeiduk alshakhsiu min aljamieat alamarikiat bialqahirati (I am Muhammad, your personal assistant from the American University of Cairo)," Muhammad eagerly nodded.
"It's very nice to meet you Muhammad and please call me Pharai," he smiled as the young man quickly took his luggage trolley and led him to the parking.
"Of course sir- I mean Pharai. I've been very eager to meet you. I recently read your case study on religious ceremonies of ancient Egypt and it blew my mind how you were able to convey something that most people struggle to understand so simply," Muhammed nervously smiled to the taller man.
Ever since he had found out he would be Pharai Alya's assistant until further notice he was ecstatic. Studying his masters he knew of the great man who was now going to be his professor.
There was a buzz throughout the whole university since it had been announced, although he suspected the women were happier because of Professors Alya's very well-known good looks.
"You flatter me," Pharai chuckled at the young man, "I didn't know scholars would use it to study."
"Well then you'll be surprised. The university has been making us go through a crash course on everything you've written," he quickly explained.
"Well I hope I will be able to meet everyone's expectations," he nodded as he helped Muhammad load the bags in the white Toyota Land Cruiser.
Soon they were on the high way driving through the busy streets of Cairo.