Common Faith

I stood at the terrace that evening, tea cup in my palms, elbows resting on the railing.

On one side of the dusty Abu Dhabi sky, was the sun, slowly beginning to fade out behind new tall glass towers, while on the other, the full moon brightening up, soon to steal the show from the sun.

There were two seas! One of numerous sandy villas with dishes catching rays from the sky and the other was the calm shining line all around at the horizon.

On the broader part of the pavement that leads to the parking lot,Adam and Ayam were practicing football. The parking was full of silver and white cars, the only exception being a red with white topped Fabia. On one sharp honk by the Arabab from his big car, the tea boys at Fahd al Nuaman tea shop scrambled out with trays of sulaimani chai and falafel sandwiches.

The delivery boy from Hamza grocery cycled away with a carriage full of Oman chips,mint flavoured labaan and some popular Kerala snacks. He greeted a usual “namaskaram” to little Arhaant and his Baba walking on the sidewalk towards the ADNOC station to see the exciting car wash --- a part of their daily routine!

Mubhashir from Aldar tailor shop looked up occasionally as he embroidered the borders of an abaya with deep turquoise blue silk. I wondered if it reminded him of his wife back in Lahore...

I have a bird’s eye view to this common scene around Al Daffah building.

There is a small prayer room at the junction of the parking lot and the broader pavement, where an ugly substation stands, overlooking the bus stop. Bus number 54 to Al Marina just passed by.

Prayer mats of varied designs are arranged neatly to follow al Qibla. Mainas chirp noisily at the opposite newly painted terrace as the smoke from Zahrat al Emirates bakery spreads aroma of fresh zaatar manaqeesh to compete with that of sheesh tawook from Al Nasr shawarma house.

Suddenly the hustle bustle is broken by the ”Allah o Akbar” of the Maghrib Azaan. All the characters scattered around in this picture are attracted to the pray area. The Arabab that once honked to be served , now kneels beside the same tea boy that served him. They all bow down linked by one common thread. The picture is in order.

I realise the uniting power of faith.