For a change I decided to take coffee talk to a new level. I spent this coffee talk session in a balady coffee shop in the heart of Mohandiseen.
“So who do you think the second man will be? I heard the old man is sick again, Mohamed said to his group.
Looking at Ahmed, he continued, “Oh I don’t think the son will come to power, not officially anyway.
With a smirk he continued, “What old man? He has powers inflicted on him by the Pharoahs – he will stay forever.
“Mohamed you better watch out, you know the phones might be bugged, right?
Laughing Mohamed answers, “I did not say anything; he is the best man we’ve ever had.
“Two coffees and one tea, the man calls out as he puts down a huge tray full of dried up sugar, water and tea.
Another crowd of men walked in, “Etneen ahwa mehaweg, a man called as he sat down and signalled for his party to sit down.
“Ya Hussein what’s wrong? You look sick.
Putting his hands up in a praying motion in the air, “Al hamdoulelah ana rady, anything that god brings is good.
“Yes but you have to live a little ya Hussein, said Mahmoud patting his friend on the leg.
“I lived too much ya Mahmoud, I did it all.
Laughing, he continued, “Living is not just women, drinking and drugs my friend, there is a lot you’re missing, get a pet, go to the gym, travel, how do you spend your time?
“Ana rady, Hussein said with a weak smile, “I go to work, I come back sit with the mechanic across the street, have lunch and go home to my cat, then I sleep.
“Every day?
They wave at a man who walks through the door.
“Assalam Alaykom, come ya 3am Radwan see what your friend Hussein is saying, and here’s your coffee.
Laughing, he says: “What is he saying? Did he tell you about the mechanic? Or the cat he prays for?
“What? What cat he prays for? Mahmoud asked in shock.
Smiling, “You mean peachy? I feel she is my daughter, I pray that god give her health and keep her well.
The three men break into laughter and as the shisha man puts down three apple flavored shishas, Mahmoud says, looking at the shisha man, “Shoft ya Hani he prays for his cat.
“We malo ya Basha. [So what?]
A couple walk in and sit next to me on the other side, and I pause in awe.
A rather odd woman, I thought to myself.
Bright red lipstick, a loose veil revealing badly highlighted hair, and a ringing laugh that confirms that, in another country, she would have had a professional career at an escort agency.
“Ya Samoura what will you drink?
A ringing laugh echoes and echoes before she replies: “Honey ya honey.
“Do you miss me?
Laughing much louder now, she says: “Heeeheee 3alatool ya Habibi.
He whispered something in her ear, and the laughs grew louder.
I decided this coffee talk session is over now and I ordered the bill.
