4th June 2009
1.55pm
Naseer was the first Bahraini to speak with me.
On the street, with half dozen eggs in his hand and a sweet smile on his face (that reminded me of my little cousin Aaron).
As I stepped out of an optical store, a bit dejected at my seventh failed attempt at finding the right glasses for me, this man asks me, “Why so sad?”
Just like that. With traffic cruising down the street and heat whipping the pavement.
It took me a moment to snap out of my daze and realize that he was talking to me. I smiled at him apologetically (for the lacking smile?) and told him about my dilemma.
He simply shrugged and said, “Dont’ be sad.”
I was charmed. A complete stranger, halting me in the middle of the street and telling me matter-of-factly to not be sad and in the same moment inviting me for the lunch he would be soon cooking for his friends.
He couldn’t understand my name and yet asked me if I found his dress strange (he was garbed traditionally) and if I liked it.
He could very well be dallying with a strange girl who looked exactly like how a strange girl to his country would look- a bit lost, a bit dazzled and carrying that ubiquitous mark of the average tourist- a dangling camera.
Naseer could very well be a psycopath (as some nice people I know would be prompt to point out).
But in the middle of a hot Bahraini morning, with no particular aim or route in mind and only my mental jukebox and a camera for company- Naseer seemed like a friendly chap.
I really should have clicked a pic with him. I really hope his lunch turned out “Mashallah”.
2.10 pm
