As Egypt hasn’t been exempt from the recent extreme weather fluctuations that have struck the globe, Egyptians are already flocking to the beach. I decided to follow suit and find a spot on the outskirts of Cairo to grab some respite from the heat wave, and possibly even some good conversation as people drop in for a coffee on their way out of town.
With my gear and coffee ready, I started fishing for my prey.
Many walked in and out, families and friends but mostly young groups of girls. Laughs and small talk filled the air.
“Do you think Ibrahim will be there?
“Yes. A latte please, her friend responded, turning to order her coffee.
“Mo, what should I get Yosra?
As more flocked in, nearly everyone ordered “to go and I was stuck in a void of coffee talk until a woman and two girls walked in.
“Ya Heba, bataly habal baáh. When will you grow up? I feel I have a stupid daughter.
Laughing, Mariam asked her Aunt, “Why, ya Tante, do you think Heba is stupid?’
“Why? She married a pile of dirt and left a good promotion to go to her friend just because the girl is sick, and now look at her face full of zits and things because instead of taking care of her skin, she chose to go to the desert.
About to take a sip of coffee then changing her mind and putting the mug down she continued, “I always said to her as soon as your daughter is born you will hate your husband and realize how ugly he is. Shaking her head, “Not to mention he’s mummy’s boy, stingy and bad in bed, how much worse can she get?
“Mama, stop it, I don’t know what to say to you anymore.
“Look at your cousin Mariam, she married a rich man who does not look like a monkey and you got her a job that is much better than yours.
Heba got up anxiously when her phone rang, rolling her eyes at her cousin.
A young couple walked in, a bold girl – with a red tank top revealing a red belly ring and red nail polish to match – sat down and started fiddling with her partner’s hand.After sipping her coffee, she asked: “Bibi, you think I will manage to get a tan in two days? Look how white my legs are, she said, lifting up her skirt.
“Bibi, you look good white or dark, I don’t care, I am just so happy at last we are travelling together, away from all the stress your mum causes with her phone calls and panic attacks.
Meanwhile another couple walked in on the extreme end of the clothing spectrum.
A woman in a black abaya and veil smiling softly walked in with a bearded husband who left an intense trail of “oud aroma behind.
“Zeinab mashaálla look at that child over there, he’s beautiful, 3obalna.
“Yes Mohannad inshaálla.
In silence and discretion they sat and drank their coffee, and before discreetly, they left.
Four girls had caught my attention by the counter.
“Girls, look at Yomna. Girl, you’ve come a long way, how much weight did you lose? It’s such a pity Karim is out of town.
Giggles. “She’s right! Now all you need to do is get rid of those glasses.
“Listen girls, it’s the first time I will be traveling without my family and I will wear a bikini, so I think I have gone as far as I can for now, Yomna shyly admitted.
“Girls, did you see the message Hani sent Marwa? Heba gasped looking at her friend who was already starting to cry.
“What? they asked in unison.
Smiling, Marwa said, “He is finally leaving that girl he was seeing, he asked me to get married but I said I needed to speak to my family to make sure he was not going to run off with someone else again.
Yomna went over and hugged her friend, “May God make you happy.
They giggled, picked up their coffees and left.
Looking around and realizing that the conversation would not get any better, I decided to call it a day.
