The Horizon of Riyadh
One day, Abdullah returned home with a smile that masked a lingering hesitation. Rowan greeted him as she always did, and he led her to the lounge to share the news.
"My Smarah, I have a surprise. I don't know if you'll like it, but I must tell you."
"Speak, my Baidah. Tell me, don't keep me in suspense!"
"A recruitment office called today. I've been offered a job in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The salary is excellent. What do you think?"
Rowan's smile was as wide as the sky. "Congratulations, my Baidah! A thousand congratulations! This is the kind of news that opens the soul."
"So, you think we should trust in God and embark on this new adventure?"
"Of course! If the salary is good and the housing is provided, why not? It's a chance to build our future. And we are with you, always. I cannot live without you."
Her words washed away his doubts, but she ended the conversation with the wisdom of a faithful partner: "But I want you to pray Istikhara (the prayer of seeking guidance), so that God may grant us success in whatever is truly best."
The Fire of Longing
Abdullah was deeply moved. He found immense peace in his wife's devotion—the way she connected every detail of their lives to the Divine. He loved coming home to find that she had taught their "cubs" a new surah from the Quran in his absence, and he cherished the prayers she showered upon him every time he left or returned.
Abdullah traveled to Riyadh first, and soon, his heart began to burn with a longing he had never known. He called her every day, indifferent to phone bills or the passing hours. Her voice was his oxygen; he realized then that he hadn't truly known the depths of his infatuation until he was forced to breathe the air of a city without her. He missed the pride he felt in her presence and the sheer "sweetness" of her company.
Home is Wherever You Are
Six months passed—months spent navigating paperwork, visas, and furnishing a new nest. Finally, Rowan and the boys arrived.
Usually, expatriates suffer from the cold sting of "Ghurba" (the loneliness of exile), missing their kin and their homeland. But for Abdullah and Rowan, the transition was seamless. Why would they feel like strangers when they were each other's mother, father, and entire world? In their embrace, the concept of "exile" ceased to exist.
Only the children felt a slight twinge of homesickness, missing their cousins and playmates. But Abdullah and Rowan filled that void with weekly adventures to malls and parks, ensuring their world remained full of laughter.
The Arrival of a Friend
Once Abdullah had settled his family, he turned his attention to helping those he cared about.
And this is where I enter the story. That wonderful friend helped me find a lucrative job offer near him in Riyadh. He prepared everything for my arrival, even hosting me in his home for several days when I first landed.