Al-Melegy
Things have happened to me over the past month or so, but I think I feel now
that they happened on the same day, after they exploded conflicts within me making me so worried that
when I finally woke up I felt I had woken up from the sleep of the Inhabitants of the Cave. Because of that I am going to tell them as if they all happened on the same day.
I woke up to the sound of the alarm clock at 6:30 AM.
Of course I didn't get enough time because I went to bed late after a failed attempt to entertain myself at the cafe at night.
I switched the alarm clock off and told myself, "I can't get up."
But the door bell did not give me the chance to go back to sleep.
The milk woman brought the two nice bags that she brings day in, day out.
I took the milk from her, and paid her.
This woman comes every day from Qalyubiyah, in this cold, and arrives here at 6.00 AM.
How can she?
I got dressed, went down and walked to the tram.
I got on amidst terrible crowds and after two or three stations felt that I could not breathe and that I am going to suffocate, I can't stand it.
I saw a man next to me, over sixty, breathing heavily for lack of air and carrying in his hand a plastic bag from which tools and a trowel poked.
He looked like a painter or a builder, but at this age?
How can he?
Having suffered the microbus after the tram, I got to work swearing and cursing.
My salary is good, but how can I get married and support a family with such prices and costs and this shitty situation
I am sure I won't be able to.
A little while later, Uncle Saleh walked in with his morning smile and a coffee cup in his hand
His salary is less than half of mine, and he works hard and almost kills himself day and night to educate his children well.
How can he?
And so what, then? This country's situation is really bad.
How can one own a business and make his dreams come true in a corrupt environment such as the one in our God-guarded country?
Who can.. the Maharaja (business owner) interrupted my thoughts asking about the work situation
30 years ago he was like me, just an engineer
Now he has one of the largest consulting offices and his success continues in the same environment.
How can he?
I cannot stand the routine of the commute.
I will go home by bus today instead of the tram, what's an extra 15 minutes?
Again, crowds on the streets, may God give me patience.
Crowds inside and outside, smog, suffocation, farts.. I can't bear it.
I overheard a conversation between the conductor and one of the passengers who were entertaining themselves.
The conductor was saying that he has been sitting on this same chair, on this same line for 18 years. What really got to me was that he said it with a smile.
How could he?