With summer nearing its end and Ramadan just around the corner, coffee talk is picking up summer flings, love stories, deaths and gossip.
“I will never drink again and I will start praying. See, your life can just end in an instant, said Reem in tears.
Patting her shoulder, May reassured her friend, “Fine, but stop crying.
“Stop crying, eh, don’t you see anyone can die in an instant? I don’t want to go while I am drunk, she said desperately wiping away her tears.
I looked up and saw a couple deep in conversation and I moved in closer to the action.
“Ya Hani, please this is difficult enough as it is. I don’t want to have to meet your family today.
“Dina, I need you to spend more time with them. They come to Egypt once a year and you hardly know them.
Moving her veil back slightly to push a stray strand in place, Dina said, “Ramadan is coming up and I want to start focusing on God and religion more. Your family live on parties and alcohol, bikinis and the beach.
“Mesh fahem, what do you mean, Dina? I don’t even drink you know, Hani responded.
Dina put her hand around her coffee mug, realized it had gone cold and pushed it back. “Yes, but they are your family. You have to decide how you will choose to live your life. I have chosen.
Cuddling in the corner a couple whispered softly until Hasnaa stood up and made a scene.
“What’s wrong darling? Hisham said trying to hold her hand as she pushed him away.
“So you are gay? she screamed.
“No, he said, shaking his head in disagreement. “Being gay is a lifestyle. I was just experimenting, he said looking away as if uninterested by the conversation.
“No, not gay. Sorry, habibi, I made a mistake. I meant you’re bi-sexual.
Laughing, Hisham got up and embraced her by force.
Hasnaa looked at him hard. Her stare was so strong it kept him silent. Then she burst into tears, grabbed her bag, and headed for the door. “I don’t love you. Actually, I hate you and I regret every minute I ever spent even thinking about you, she shrieked, slamming the door behind her.
As all eyes turned back to Hisham, she walked back in, threw a LE 50 note in his face, and said, “This is for the coffee. The door slammed shut again.
I ordered another coffee and looked around for something less dramatic.
“He has no personality, a complete mommy’s boy, a young woman was telling her father. “And since when do you even have a say in what I do with my life? He sipped his tea and looked up at her saying, “I am your father and I will give you my opinion, Not only that, but I will tell you that he is an engineer and he lives in America. What more do you want?
Her phone rings. She looks down and up again ignoring the ringing and pointing to the waiter for another coffee.
“Dad, I will not see him again. In fact, I think he is greasy, and I hate his shoes. I bet his mommy picked them out for him.
The phone rings again, and Rania says exasperatingly, “See? He’s calling again and again and I will not see him.
At that moment another conversation drew my attention.
“Who do you think would get more hurt if we stop talking to each other? I mean, do you think a man or a woman gets more hurt? Or do you think it has more to do with the reason for the pain?
Getting agitated, Adam quickly answered, “I think all it has to do with is who likes the other person more.
Making fists she quickly responds, “I think it has a lot to do with society and culture and nothing else. This society socializes men to have relationships and gain exposure while a woman is socialized to protect her honor and that of her family. She has more to loose when her partner leaves her for someone else.
My head was spinning fast and I decided to get the bill.
