Sandier Pastures

One morning when we were late for work because of traffic due to some very bad accident on our way to work, M decided to drop me a few meters away from my building so that he doesn’t have to take another U-turn and be more late for his work. All I have to do was cross a huge parking lot and except for the sand that tend to get to my feet, it was no big deal.

While walking, I heard a panting sound from behind me. I thought it was some jogger or something but when I looked back, it was a big black dog with tongue stuck out and ready to attack. He (I was assuming the dog to be a male as it was very aggressive) circled around me and barked. There was no one else in the parking lot so even if I begged for help, motorists won’t be coming to rescue me because all of them must be catching up with the traffic flow.

I reached for my bag and thought of things to protect me. I have none. I swayed my bag at the dog to shoo him but instead, he opened his drooling mouth and tried to bite my bag!! An Indian delivery boy in bicycle came and I stopped him. I asked him to please don’t go and used his bicycle as my shield. The Indian hesitated as he seemed to be more afraid than I am.

He left.

The dog was still very near me. A mini bus came and opened its doors for me. Inside it were a group of Pakistanis trying to help. They told me to get inside and took me to my building. The dog was still following but I was quick enough to come inside and into the elevator.

Thanks to the strangers who extended random kindness to me I arrived safely in my office desk, heart racing but unbitten.

The office boy didn’t get my point.

After a very unfortunate incident that had an ala once beaten twice shy impact on me, I decided to tell him I had to part ways with the milk tea he serves twice everyday, no matter how extra-special it is.

I told him, “No tea after Ramadan. No tea for me anymore.”

So on the first day after Ramadan when we returned from our three-day work-free weekend, he did not serve me tea. Great that he understood. He speaks very little English and I had to use several body parts to convey my message most of the time.

However, the very next day, while he was shuttling to and fro delivering the milk tea to my colleagues, I shot a look at him - and thought he’d know. But alas, action don’t speak louder than words. In less than 2 seconds, he was back smiling widely with the tea cup in his hands.

“Extra creamy, especially for you, madame.”