A big and HUGE thank you to Mohammed Al Qassimi for helping me translate the conversation in arabic!
I suggest everyone gives him a follow on twitter and reads his blog; @M_Qassimi
Thank you again, M7md! :)
--
It's been three days, three days of living on junk food and room service. I haven't left the room, not once. All I've done is eat, vomit, cry, eat, vomit, cry, sleep and start again. I knew it wasn't healthy, but I just didn't know what to do. Thinking about it made tears fall down, again. I laid down, trying to calm myself down then dozed off into deep sleep.
I was wearing my "I Love London" green jumper. It was my favorite, and I'd spent my best and worst days in it, not that there many good days.. I was wearing it with grey sweatpants, and my White&Green Air Jordan sneakers.
It was Friday, the first day of summer, the last summer while knowing i'd be going back to school. I was done with 11th grade.
I made my way to Starbucks with the driver, one more year until I began to drive. I ordered my cold mango smoothie (I don't think that's an actual drink in Starbucks so please don't ask :p) and grabbed a seat to sit down for a bit. I was thinking about the song I wanted to play on my iPod, but realized I forgot it at the counter. When I went back there was a guy holding it, trying to figure out who owned it.
Me: E7m..
Stranger: Yes?
Me: That's mine. *Taking my iPod from his hands.
Then I made my way back to my table without another word, and he was just silent. When I began blasting my music, I looked around to find him on the couch behind me.. Alone, wearing one of the saddest face expressions I've ever seen. I hated myself for it, but I always felt the need to help everyone. It was a good thing, but sometimes it just got out of hand. Yet I got up with my drink, pausing my iPod and sat in front of him.
Dalal: E7m again *Smirking
Stranger: Yes?
Pause.
I was thinking of what to say.
Stranger: Did you lose your seat?
HOLD UP, ANOTHER PAUSE.
Why am I helping this guy that sounds like a total jerk?
I cursed myself then began moving up, but he held me down and asked it in a kinder tone.
Stranger: Can I help you with anything?
Dalal: Well it's quite the opposite.. I'm Dalal. Umm.. I saw you here alone, and you looked really sad so I thought I'd come and ask you what's wrong and if I could help.
He huffed. Then his eyes darted towards the door, and I felt his muscles stiffen, he had a worried expression in his eyes when he saw who just walked in.
I turned around to find a man in his late 50's. He looked furious.. I couldn't really understand what was happening, but I could see that the stranger was scared of him, so he must've done something wrong I thought.
The old man began making his way to our table. The stranger looked towards me and asked me to play along and that he'll explain later. I didn't know what to do, before I could ask what he meant, or think about it. The old man was at our table.
Old man: Talal, how dare you walk out like that while speaking to your mother?
I was surprised to see that the stranger talked fluent English. He turned towards me, and noticed his words. So he quickly began speaking in Arabic, thinking I wouldn't understand because I didn't look Arab.
I suggest everyone gives him a follow on twitter and reads his blog; @M_Qassimi
Thank you again, M7md! :)
--
It's been three days, three days of living on junk food and room service. I haven't left the room, not once. All I've done is eat, vomit, cry, eat, vomit, cry, sleep and start again. I knew it wasn't healthy, but I just didn't know what to do. Thinking about it made tears fall down, again. I laid down, trying to calm myself down then dozed off into deep sleep.
I was wearing my "I Love London" green jumper. It was my favorite, and I'd spent my best and worst days in it, not that there many good days.. I was wearing it with grey sweatpants, and my White&Green Air Jordan sneakers.
It was Friday, the first day of summer, the last summer while knowing i'd be going back to school. I was done with 11th grade.
I made my way to Starbucks with the driver, one more year until I began to drive. I ordered my cold mango smoothie (I don't think that's an actual drink in Starbucks so please don't ask :p) and grabbed a seat to sit down for a bit. I was thinking about the song I wanted to play on my iPod, but realized I forgot it at the counter. When I went back there was a guy holding it, trying to figure out who owned it.
Me: E7m..
Stranger: Yes?
Me: That's mine. *Taking my iPod from his hands.
Then I made my way back to my table without another word, and he was just silent. When I began blasting my music, I looked around to find him on the couch behind me.. Alone, wearing one of the saddest face expressions I've ever seen. I hated myself for it, but I always felt the need to help everyone. It was a good thing, but sometimes it just got out of hand. Yet I got up with my drink, pausing my iPod and sat in front of him.
Dalal: E7m again *Smirking
Stranger: Yes?
Pause.
I was thinking of what to say.
Stranger: Did you lose your seat?
HOLD UP, ANOTHER PAUSE.
Why am I helping this guy that sounds like a total jerk?
I cursed myself then began moving up, but he held me down and asked it in a kinder tone.
Stranger: Can I help you with anything?
Dalal: Well it's quite the opposite.. I'm Dalal. Umm.. I saw you here alone, and you looked really sad so I thought I'd come and ask you what's wrong and if I could help.
He huffed. Then his eyes darted towards the door, and I felt his muscles stiffen, he had a worried expression in his eyes when he saw who just walked in.
I turned around to find a man in his late 50's. He looked furious.. I couldn't really understand what was happening, but I could see that the stranger was scared of him, so he must've done something wrong I thought.
The old man began making his way to our table. The stranger looked towards me and asked me to play along and that he'll explain later. I didn't know what to do, before I could ask what he meant, or think about it. The old man was at our table.
Old man: Talal, how dare you walk out like that while speaking to your mother?
I was surprised to see that the stranger talked fluent English. He turned towards me, and noticed his words. So he quickly began speaking in Arabic, thinking I wouldn't understand because I didn't look Arab.
Old man: Hathi umik, lazim it5aleeha foog rasik.. W enta mu mra7ab fe hatha el bait etha ma e3tithart leha w 7abait'ha 3ala ras'ha.
Talal: Tihtam feeha haa? Minchithee tizawajt'a mara thanya?
The old man seemed humiliated by Talal's words. But more than humiliation, I saw two emotions glowing from his eyes. Shame, shame of his sons words, he HAD made the wrong choice. Anger, anger of his sons disrespect.
I don't know why, but I had to jump in and save him.
Dalal: 3ami itha mat'mani3, wa8ti ma7dood w ana w Talal lazim itabi3 ijtima3na.
He looked at me with embarrassment, seeing that I talk arabic and he had said all that.
He nodded and made his way out of the cafe. I kneeled down to grab my stuff from the table, preparing to leave. But Talal called me.
Talal: Thankyou so much for that. I know you had to make that up on spot umm.. Dalal.
Dalal: Your welcome, you seemed like you needed a way out of that.
He smiled at me, a whole-hearted smile, it was warm and loving. But I tried brushing the shivers off, and began to walk away then looked back.
Dalal: Umm, Talal right?
He nodded, still smiling.
Dalal: If you need to get away from the house again, I can give you a lift to a studio, there's a bed there, I use it when I need to get away, I don't mind you staying there.
He lifted his head, looking at me thankfully. Then picked up his keys, and give me an attractive side smile complimenting his pearly teeth.
Talal: Should I follow your car there?
--
I woke up sweating. At first I thought it was probably just dried up tears off of my bed, but I was sweating and my face was red. I went and took a shower, and then made my way out of the hotel for the first time in days.
I walked outside, I had my car keys but I felt like taking a walk. There was a park not far from the hotel, so I went there and sat on the bench.
Of course, nothing came to my mind except for Talal. That dream had brought back memories, that was how Talal and I met. I began to think about how I saved Talal. At first, he was the miserable one. Yes, I was getting weekly beatings, but when I made him smile, I felt like my life was worthy. It's funny how it became the opposite and he always got stuck fixing my life.
I was caught off-guard when my phone began to ring, it wasn't Talal. But I was surprised, because he was the only one with my new number.
I took a glance at the number, but didn't recognize it, which didn't quite surprise me because I have bad memory.
I picked up, kind of nervous as to who was calling me.
Dalal: Aloo -In a confused but held together tone.
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