A T-Shirt and a Gentleman

Friday, September 02, 2011

November in Riyadh for me is the most convenient and beautiful weather.  I was in search for a sport shirt that is little bit in style, little bit fit and just my waist in length.

I went to a certain sport store at Sitteen Street (Sixteenth Street) and looked around for the kind of shirt that would be of my taste. The search was tough because at that time, it was near prayer time Salat’ul Maghrib (The Maghrib prayer (Arabic: صلاة المغرب‎ ṣalāt al-maġrib, "evening prayer"), prayed just after sunset, is the fourth of five formal daily prayers (salat) performed by practicing Muslims.

The formal daily prayers of Islam comprise different numbers of units, called rak'at. The Maghrib prayer has three obligatory (fard) rak'at. The first two fard rak'at are prayed aloud, and the third is prayed silently. In Sunni Islam, two further sunnah rak'at following the fard rak'at are highly recommended.

Then I found a red short sleeve sports t-shirt (small in size to make it for me in style) with white color on its sleeves and sides.  Written in that shirt “Fly Emirate” I thought I love what is written, because it’s so Middle East.  At the back side of the shirt, a name Persie is witten, and he must be Robin Van Persie, a football player (Arsenal) from the Netherlands, the more that I wanted to purchase that shirt.

So I gave it to the salesman to take it to the cashier for payment.  While I was reaching for my pant’s pocket behind, my wallet wasn't there, still not alarmed,  I checked all my pockets and my wallet was not found either. I did not have no single Saudi Riyal in my pockets and I got so worried because of shame that caused me in front of some shoppers, sales clerk and the cashier. Yet the people around me were looking at me but the kind of looked that they gave me was a look of as if all of them would like to assist me, a gentleman braved to come near me and smiled (I smiled back with curiosity) then he proceeded to the cashier and spoke in a smooth toned voice, (by that time I sort of gave a distance from the cashier's area and pretended that I was still searching for some more shirts to purchase and it took me three minutes for that and I went near the cashier's station again.  

Then the cashier requested the salesman to put the t-shirt inside the case and gave it to me.  I said no way that I will take this shirt! I have no money to pay for it, I can’t accept it I told the salesman.  The salesman just smiled at me and uttered, “Sadik, qalas, hada hag inta” I believed that those words that were said to me meant like; “friend, it was paid, and that is for you.  I was awed! The shirt may not be that expensive, but to have it as a gift, or being paid on my behalf by a person whom I really didn't know, was truly awesome! I was happy as if felt I'm  a 7-year old boy, jumping for joy!!!

Then few minutes, the customers/shoppers were called on to leave the store because it's prayer time, as I thanked the salesman and the cashier, and when I was about to thank the man who paid for the shirt, he was nowhere to be found. Perhaps he had left the store and I was not aware of it. I felt bad that I was not able to thank him for this t-shirt that I adored.  Then the store was closed for the Maghrib Prayer.

Outside the store, suddenly I remembered that I did not have a single halala (a Saudi coin). What about my transportation money? How can I  go back to my accommodation? The place where I live was around 30 minutes away ride from the store. And in that area, during that moment since it was prayer time, the streets were almost deserted because everyone at that time was inside the mosque and I could not find a single soul having the same nationality as mine. Again I was desperate for money. 

I thought that I would go back to the store and will explain to the manager that I shall return the T-shirt and like sort of, get the amount for it even lesser so that I could have money for my taxi (that time the fare was SAR 15/-).  By the way, I could not risk to ride a taxi and pay the taxi driver later when I reached my accommodation. I had my mobile phone with me, but did not have a load so that I can call some friends for help! Again, I’m feeling devastated. I said to myself, Oh my God, please help me (uttering many, many times God is great with convictions)!!!!

The store was still closed and I was getting impatient, nervous and hungry for waiting.  I got so curious with the shirt and thought what's inside that plastic bag (as if I did not know that it was a sports t-shirt).  I gently took off the staple wires and slowly put my right hand inside the case.  I did not want the shirt out  from the plastic bag, but instead, tried to feel the t-shirt because I knew it would feel smooth because it was jersey.  As I lay the palm of my right hand to the cloth of the shirt, and moved my hand further down and deeper, I felt something else, not a cloth but a like a paper that was thin and but smooth too but not as smooth as jersey.  It was rectangular in shape I thought. In my wishful thinking, it was money! So still gently but nervous, I took that rectangular shape paper out of the case, only to find out in my amazement, a hundred Riyal bill !  OH MY GOD!!!  So I thought there maybe more, again I excitedly put my right hand inside the plastic bag to check further, but only saw the invoice of the t-shirt, and behind the invoice paper, a word written “Allahuakbar” (God is great). I got emotional as if I was about to shed tears, but I controlled.  I thought that it was the gentleman who paid that t-shirt (and wrote that word behind the invoice). The gentleman knew that I was out of cash therefore gave me a hundred Riyal bill, which was more than what I need for a taxi fare!!!

I did not wait for the shop to open anymore, and luckily, taxi passed by I hired it, then I went back to my accommodation with my heart full of joy!  Some people said, that I have to be very careful in the Middle East not to deal with strangers, but that night when I needed help so much, people stared at me and gave me the look of pity and assistance, and one gentleman, not only paid for the t-shirt, even gave me a hundred riyal, crunchy bill.  My negative impression for the Middle Eastern people that I had many years back was totally gone, and I would like to tell the global community that Arab people are good people.

While typing this blog, I already prepared the t-shirt to be photographed. I did not have any idea on what situation the t-shirt would have as per my photo entry reference to this contest.  When I have completed my blog. I checked my t-shirt that I hanged in the armchair, was not there any more. I saw the t-shirt itself  covered my puppy (Lady Tyrell). I took the opportunity to take a photo of my puppy with my t-shirt covering her and gave an idea that this photo will also be submitted as part of my entry for this contest.

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