Aqil's footsteps echoed through the corridor as he approached Elara's apartment. On the other hand Elara was anxiously awaiting Aqil's arrival inside, opened the door swiftly upon hearing the familiar doorbell.
Aqil greeted with a nod, stepping into the apartment.
"You've got it?" Elara, tension evident in his expression, closed the door behind Aqil.
Aqil nodded and retrieved a small, inconspicuous envelope from inside his jacket. Handing it to Elara, he spoke with confidence, "The passport for Ava. I've ensured it's top-notch."
Elara took it eagerly. Inside the envelope was the fabricated passport for Ava. He scrutinized it with a discerning eye. The passport bore Ava's photo, but the name and details were cleverly fabricated, a testament to Aqil's skill in forgery. The colors, the holograms—everything appeared authentic.
Elara gestured Aqil to sit on the couch.
"Good job, Aqil." Both men got settled on couch, "This will be immensely helpful later."
"I made sure to make it as convincing as possible. No one will question its authenticity." Aqil replied.
Elara's eyes narrowed as he examined the passport. "I appreciate it, your work. You always do the best."
"Glad you like it. It wasn't an easy task, but I made sure it's foolproof. She shouldn't face any issues at the borders. Now, using it isn't complicated, but there are a few things you need to keep in mind." Aqil replied.
Elara said, looking at Aqil for guidance. "Let's discuss the plan. How do we go about using this?"
"So, First of all Ava needs to keep a low profile, blend in," Aqil advised, setting the foundation. "Land borders are riskier, but not impossible. However, the safest bet might be air travel."
"Air travel?" Elara asked.
"Yes," Aqil confirmed. "A flight will expedite the process. She won't face intense scrutiny compared to land checkpoints. Plus, it's faster."
Elara envisioned Ava's journey unfolding in the shadows of night. "Which airline?" he probed.
"Choose any reputable international airline," Aqil suggested.
Elara nodded thoughtfully, mentally mapping out the steps. "And at the airport?" he inquired.
Aqil continued the briefing. "Confidence is key. She should act like any regular traveler. Keep a low profile, answer questions confidently, and avoid drawing attention. Now, when booking the flight, make sure it's a nonstop one. Layovers increase the risk of complications. We want her journey to be as smooth as possible."
"And the destination? Any specific suggestions?" Elara asked.
"Choose a country that isn't stringent with entry checks, but not too lax either," Aqil advised. "We want a balance. I'd recommend a place later where she can easily blend in without raising suspicions."
Elara considered the options, "Got it. A country with a moderate stance on security."
"Exactly," Aqil affirmed. "Once she arrives, it's crucial to stay vigilant. Customs might be lenient, but she shouldn't let her guard down."
"What about documentation? Anything specific she needs to be aware of?" Elara asked.
Aqil explained, "The fake passport is our primary tool no other document will be needed, but she should have a cover story ready in case of any questions. Something believable yet inconspicuous."
Elara pondered, "A cover story... Like a traveler exploring a new city, perhaps?"
"Yeah, sure." Aqil replied.
"And what if there are unexpected checks or inquiries during the journey?" Elara asked.
"Tell your sister to be prepared. She needs to rehearse her responses, stay calm, and never betray any nervousness. A little bit of nervousness will cause more problems in these case." Aqil responded.
"How will we know she's safe on the other side?" Elara pondered.
Aqil provided a solution. "I'll arrange for a discreet contact. Someone she can reach out to once she's landed. It'll confirm her safe arrival."
"Thanks for all the information. I'll work on it." Elara thanked Aqil.
Aqil's gaze intensified as he posed the question, "Is this for Ava's escape from Ibrahim?"
Elara met Aqil's scrutinizing look, "Yes, I can't simply turn a blind eye when my sister is trapped in a coerced marriage. She deserves a chance at freedom."
Aqil leaned forward, "It's a risky move, Elara. If Ibrahim finds out—"
"He won't," Elara interrupted, "I've planned this carefully. Ava deserves a chance at freedom, away from the life Ibrahim has forced upon her."
Their conversation interrupted momentarily because Elara's phone buzzed with Farah's incoming call.
"Farah," Elara answered.
"Hey, why aren't you here yet?" Farah's voice carried a teasing tone, "We've got shopping plans, remember?"
"I'm on my way, just ten more minutes." Elara replied. He literally forgot about their plans.
"You better hurry. I'm counting on you to carry my bags." Farah laughed.
"I'll be there before you know it." As hung up, Aqil questioned, "Girlfriend, huh?"
Elara grinned. "Yes, just started dating. She is waiting for me. You know - Women and their shopping."
Aqil smirked, "You can't keep her waiting, especially for shopping. We can talk later."
Elara nodded, "Sure, We'll talk soon, Aqil."
.....
In the bustling makeup section of the mall, Farah stood before the dazzling array of lipstick shades, her eyes wide with excitement. She was ready to choose a perfect shade for one.
Beside her, Elara stood, burdened with shopping bags. He seemed kind of lost in a sea of hues. He looked around the dazzling makeup world as if he'd just stepped onto an alien planet.
Holding two lipstick shades, Farah turned to Elara, "Ruby Red or Coral Crush? What do you think?"
Elara, still recovering from the shopping spree's aftermath with bags in hand, stared at the lipstick options with a blank expression. "They both look nice. Any color will suit you, Farah."
Farah let out a sigh, hoping for more decisive input. "Elara, they're different colors. Which one looks better?"
Elara furrowed his brow, genuinely perplexed. "Aren't they both red?"
"One is red, and the other is coral. They're not the same." Farah clarified.
Elara stared at the shades again, trying to discern the difference. "Oh, so it's red and... red?"
Farah tried not to laugh at his confusion. "Elara, you're hopeless at this. Just pick one!"
Elara randomly pointed at one shade. "This one. Passion red, maybe?"
Farah groaned, "It's Coral Crush. Let's try another. How about this one?" She pointed at another shade.
Elara, squinting at the shades, ventured a guess. "This one is... uh, wine red?"
Farah raised an eyebrow, correcting him. "No, it's Plum Paradise. Seriously, Elara, do you see any basic red here?"
"Okay, they all look like some shade of red to me. Can't we just buy them all?" Elara sighed.
Farah shot him a look of disbelief. "Elara, we're not buying the entire store. I need one color. Just one."
Feeling the headache approach, Elara gazed at the myriad of lipstick shades. "How about we ask the store assistant? They might know."
Elara went towards the store manager to seek help. And Farah stood by the lipstick stand and chuckled at Elara's confusion.
"Excuse me," Elara began hesitantly, "my girlfriend is looking for a lipstick, and I can't figure out the colors. Do you have, like, a guide or something?"
The store manager,
was experienced to dealing with a variety of customers, smiled warmly. "Of course! Lipstick shades can be confusing, but let me simplify it for you. We categorize them based on undertones – warm, cool, and neutral."
Elara nodded, hoping this would clear up the confusion. "Okay, so what does that mean?"
The store manager continued, "Warm undertones typically have hints of yellow, peach, or gold. Cool undertones lean towards blue, pink, or purple. Neutral undertones are a mix and can pull off both warm and cool tones."
Elara scratched his head. He was really trying to process the information. "So, we need a lipstick with undertones? How do I know her undertones?"
The store manager chuckled, "It's about the skin. Does she look better in gold or silver jewelry?"
Elara frowned, "Amm. I never noticed. Does it matter?"
The manager explained, "It does. People with warm undertones usually look better in gold, while cool undertones complement silver. If she looks good in both, she might have neutral undertones."
Elara blinked, "Gold or silver... I'll check that later. But what about colors? Can't we just pick a shade and be done with it?"
"Well, it depends on her style and the occasion. Reds and corals are classic, while pinks and berries are great for a fresh look. Bold colors like plums and browns make a statement." The manager said.
Elara's eyes widened, "So many choices!" He nodded and thanked the lady.
Farah, who had been watching the entire interaction, couldn't hold back her laughter. "Did you solve the mystery of lipstick colors, Sherlock Elara?"
Elara sighed dramatically. "No, Farah. I talked to the color guru, and now my brain has officially stopped working."
Farah burst into laughter, shaking her head. "Just pick a random color, Elara. It's not that serious."
Elara sighed in relief. "Finally, some sensible advice. Random color it is then." He shrugged and playfully grabbed a lipstick at random.
Farah chuckled, "Perfect. Let's hope your random choice works wonders."