The sun was beating down on the deck of the cruise ship as Zeynab and Angira stood next to each other, both lost in their thoughts. They stared out at the endless expanse of blue water, the setting sun splashing it with its change-a-minute hues. Perhaps they caught a glimpse of each other amidst the unfamiliarity of the fellow passengers aboard the cruise liner, but acknowledging each other's presence was a different matter. With the waves crashing against the ship, the hum had subsided, and most passengers had retired to the upper deck to unwind with a few drinks. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew Angira's drink over, spilling it all over Zeynab's dress. Zeynab's impulsive annoyance was evident as she tried to salvage what she could of her ruined outfit, while Angira fumbled for napkins to help clean up the mess. Zeynab's annoyance turned to amusement as Angira's attempts to clean up the spill only made the situation worse. Zeynab couldn't help but laugh amidst Angira’s profuse apologies, her cheeks turning red with embarrassment. "I'm so sorry, I don't know how that happened," Angira said, trying to mop up the drink with a handful of napkins. "It's okay," Zeynab replied, trying not to laugh. "I've always wanted to wear a piña colada dress." Angira chuckled. "Well, you wear it well." As they worked together to clean up the mess, they struck up a conversation, soon discovering certain commonalities. As the conversation progressed, Angira was quick to divulge how she was escaping from a job that was sapping her energy and Zeynab pitched in to explain how her career never took off. "I always thought I wanted to be a doctor," Zeynab said, shaking her head. "But the sight of blood makes me queasy." Angira laughed. "Well, at least you found out before you got too deep into it. I always thought I could have a great career in advertising, but I guess, forever is a very underrated emotion.” Zeynab quipped, “talking about forever, I thought I wanted to be married forever, but turns out forever only lasted twenty years." Angira nodded sympathetically. "Well, relationships, can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em." Suppressing a snark, Zeynab said, "Speak for yourself. I could definitely live without my ex." Zeynab looked down at her now-stained dress and sighed. "I guess, accidents happen.” Suddenly, changing the course of the conversation, Zeynab said, “Looks like I'll just have to rock the wet look tonight." Angira chuckled. "Well, you're certainly pulling it off so far." "Thanks for the compliment, but I don't think wet dresses are going to be the next big thing." Zeynab was having the most fun this evening. Angira grinned. "Hey, you never know. We could start a trend." "I don't think I'm ready to become a fashion icon just yet." The mirth in Zeynab’s eyes was evident. Angira leaned in conspiratorially. "Well, you don't have much of a choice now, do you? You're stuck with me for the rest of this cruise. Who knows what other fashion trends we'll come up with." Zeynab grinned. "Oh boy, I can hardly wait. Maybe we'll start a revolution." Angira raised her glass. "To fashion revolutions and accidental spillages.” Zeynab and Angira clinked their glasses together, each enjoying the cool, refreshing taste of their cocktails. The sun was setting over the ocean, casting a warm glow over the deck of the cruise ship. "To fashion revolutions and accidental spillages," Zeynab said, grinning mischievously. Angira laughed. "I'll drink to that." As the night wore on, Zeynab and Angira found themselves talking about everything from their favourite books to their hopes and dreams. It was rare for either of them to find someone who understood them so completely, and they both felt grateful for the chance encounter. By the time they headed back to their cabins, they knew that they had made a connection that would last far beyond the end of the cruise. They exchanged contact information, promising to stay in touch. As Zeynab lay awake in her bed, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was missing something important. She had decided to take a cruise on a whim, hoping that some time away from her troubles would help her find clarity and peace. But so far, the trip had been unremarkable, apart from her exceptionally entertaining evening with Angira. She had spent her days lounging on the deck, reading books, and trying to strike up conversations with other passengers. But she felt disconnected from the people around her, and nothing seemed to be helping her find the answers she was seeking. As she lay there in the darkness, she suddenly heard a voice whisper in her ear. "You are not alone," the voice said. Zeynab sat up in bed, startled, and looked around the room. But there was no one there. She lay back down, unsure of what to make of the experience. But as she drifted off to sleep, she felt a sense of peace wash over her. Maybe, just maybe, she thought, there was something to this whole "secret message from the universe" thing after all. The next day, they docked in a small coastal town and headed to the market to explore. The air was thick with the scent of spices and the sound of live music, and the market was a riot of colour, with vendors calling out their wares and tourists haggling for souvenirs. As they browsed the stalls, they came across a small booth with a sign that read "Psychic Readings". Zeynab was sceptical, but Angira was intrigued. "Come on, let's give it a try!" Angira said, tugging on Zeynab's arm. Zeynab rolled her eyes. "I don't know about this. It's probably just a scam." But Angira was already heading towards the booth, and Zeynab reluctantly followed. The psychic, a woman with long flowing hair and a crystal necklace, greeted them warmly. "Welcome, my darlings. Would you like a reading?" Zeynab hesitated, but Angira was already sitting down and shuffling the deck of tarot cards the psychic had handed her. Zeynab sighed and sat down next to her. As the psychic read their cards, Zeynab couldn't help but feel wary. But Angira seemed to be taking it seriously, nodding along and asking questions. Zeynab glanced around the market, taking in the sights and sounds. The psychic was a skilled reader, and she wove together a story about their pasts and futures that left Angira feeling elated and Zeynab feeling sceptical.  “I see some warm relationships coming your way, possibly a romance,” the psychic revealed to Angira. “Oh, and nothing for me?” Zenab quipped. “I find your cynicism quite amusing. I guess you'll make people chuckle a lot!” The psychic was quick to snub her. But as they walked away from the booth, Zeynab couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over her. She had been so caught up in her own cynicism that she had forgotten to appreciate the beauty of the moment. Looking around, she was filled with gratitude that she was possibly in the best of places at the most opportune of times. The women continued to explore the market, laughing and joking, enjoying each other's company without any expectations or pressure. It was a rare moment of pure joy, and Zeynab knew that it was something she would treasure for years to come. She glanced at the radiant face of the woman by her side, whose animated conversations amused her much. "I don't know about you, but I feel pretty good about my future," Angira said, taking in the sounds and sights around. Zeynab smiled back. "I'll stick to making people laugh, I guess." As they walked away from the booth, Zeynab couldn't help but feel grateful for the experience, even if she didn't fully believe in it. The market had given her a sense of joy and connection to the world around her, and for that she was grateful. As Zeynab and Angira continued to wander through the market, they suddenly heard a commotion. A group of tourists were gathered around a stall, shouting and waving their arms. Curious, Zeynab and Angira made their way over to see what was happening. They saw a small, scrappy-looking puppy running loose, knocking over goods and causing chaos. The stall owner, a grumpy-looking man with a thick accent, was shouting at the tourists in frustration. "You people need to control your animals! This puppy has destroyed half my merchandise!" As the puppy ran past them, Angira reached out to try and grab it. But the pup darted away, knocking over a basket of fruit in the process. Zeynab looked at Angira with a smile. "Looks like we've got a challenge on our hands." Angira nodded, determination in her eyes. "Let's catch that puppy!" The two of them sprang into action, chasing after it through the crowded market. They dodged past stalls and tourists, determined to catch the little troublemaker. Zeynab, clueless as to why she was following Angira, huffed, "I feel like we're in a cartoon or something, chasing a puppy through a market." Angira chuckled, "Yeah, except instead of a giant hammer, we've got our wits and agility." After several minutes of chasing, Angira finally managed to grab it by the scruff of its neck. The puppy whined and struggled, but Angira held on tight. Zeynab grinned at her friend. "Nice work, dog whisperer. Now what do we do with it?" As Angira held onto the scrappy puppy, she scanned the bustling market for any sign of its owner. But the crowds were too thick, and the owner was nowhere to be seen. Zeynab looked at Angira with a mix of amusement and concern. "Looks like we're stuck with a new furry friend. What are we going to do with it?" Angira hesitated, unsure of what to do. She had never owned a puppy before, and the thought of taking care of one on a whim was daunting. But as she looked down at the little pup's wide, pleading eyes, Angira felt a sense of warmth spread through her. She couldn't just abandon it here in the market. "I don't know," Angira said with a sigh. "I guess we'll have to take care of it until we can find its owner." Zeynab grinned. "Looks like we've got a new companion for the day. What are you going to name it?" Angira thought for a moment before smiling. "How about Lucky? After all, he's lucky we found him." With Lucky in tow, the two women continued to explore the market, now with an added challenge of caring for the scrappy little pup. As they walked, Lucky bounced around between them, wagging his tail and sniffing at every new smell. And while Angira still felt a bit overwhelmed by the sudden responsibility of caring for a puppy, she couldn't help but feel a sense of joy and adventure in this unexpected turn of events. “You know, it’s quite unfortunate that we can’t take this one back to the cruise.” Zeynab stated the obvious. “We can’t? Why?” And as if the truth dawned on her she sighed and looked around, “guess, we do need to find its owner in that case.” As if on cue, a lanky tourist and a little girl leaped in front of them claiming the puppy to be theirs. “Thank you for keeping the puppy safe for us,” the man said, flicking the stray blonde hair away from his forehead with his fingers.  By this time, Lucky had already leapt onto the little girl’s arms who was busy petting and kissing her almost-lost companion. Angira couldn't keep her eyes off the man, imagining that perhaps that could be the possible romance the psychic would’ve mentioned. Zeynab was quick to catch the cue and dragged her away from the moment.  “We’re glad you found what belonged to you,” Zeyanb smiled at the duo, as they took off. On their way back to the cruise ship, Zeynab turned to Angira with a smile. "You know, maybe that psychic was right. Maybe there is a great journey ahead of us, which is not going to end with this cruise. Though Lucky sure was not to be the company we had in mind" Angira winked, “Maybe the blonde was!” Feeling a sense of optimism and excitement for whatever the future held they returned to the topmost deck of the cruise. Sometimes the unlikeliest of incidents can bring such hope in our lives. They found themselves downing drinks together that evening. Zeynab leaned in with a mischievous glint in her eye, "You know Angira, I think you're more zen than a yoga instructor on a mountaintop." The comfort was settling in, and Zeynab could sense it was mutual. Angira chuckled, "Well, I do try to find my inner peace amidst the chaos." Zeynab rolled her eyes dramatically, "Ugh, inner peace sounds like a lot of work. Can't I just outsource that?" Angira laughed, "I wish it were that easy. But hey, you're not even 50 yet, you still have time to find your own inner peace." Zeynab gasped in mock horror, "Are you implying that I'm ancient? You better watch your mouth before I whack you." Angira grinned, "You mean with your crocheting cane?" Zeynab swats Angira's arm, "Hey, I'll have you know crocheting is very hip these days." Angira raised an eyebrow, "Is it? I must have missed that trend report." Zeynab laughed, "You millennials are so out of touch. But you know what's always in fashion? Adventures with your bestie." Angira clinked her glass against Zeynab's, "I couldn't agree more. Here's to the best times and to winging it… together." As the sun sank below the horizon, the women on the deck of the ship sat in comfortable silence, enjoying each other's company and the simple pleasures of the moment. Zeynab, lost in her own thoughts, gazed up at the stars and felt a sense of peace wash over her. For so long, she had been chasing after the dreams that others had imposed upon her - the expectations of her family, the pressure to succeed in her career, the desire to fit in with her peers. But here, in this moment, none of that seemed important. As she sipped her drink and felt the cool breeze on her skin, Zeynab knew that she was ready to make a change. She was ready to let go of the things that were holding her back and embrace the things that truly mattered - love, connection, and a sense of purpose. Closing her eyes, she whispered a prayer to the universe, asking for guidance and strength on her journey. And with every beat of her heart, she felt a renewed sense of determination and hope. Angira continued to chat and laugh, but Zeynab felt like she was in her own little world - a world of possibility and opportunity. And as she opened her eyes and looked out at the endless expanse of the sea, she knew that anything was possible if she was brave enough to take the first step. A step towards winging it….alone, perhaps.   Penmancy gets a small share of every purchase you make through these links, and every little helps us continue bringing you the reads you love!