The weather is getting better again to the point of being chilly at night, or perhaps it’s the fasting all day then suddenly eating that makes it feel that way. Ramadan this year has seen a third addition to the two-way mainstream of people; those addicted to TV series.
This year there is a show for everyone, even the critics have few bad words to say. The number of shows can keep one’s hand on the remote control right up to sohour time.
Right after iftar while some are at taraweeh prayers, and others are having a shisha and a coffee somewhere, between iftar and sohour, there is an even larger portion of people glued to their TV sets, some even refuse to accept iftar invitations for that very reason.
I opted to combine the two together; I decided to watch one of the Ramadan series at what I decided was my favourite Ramadan spot this year.
“Mona, shhh, I’m trying to listen, said Ahmed close by.
Pointing at the screen, he asked with excitement, “Do you think he will end up with that German woman?
“You ask me to shhhh and you are talking? she relied.
Three shishas were placed before the group, which was now starting to sound more like a stadium, then suddenly the loudspeakers burn out.
“Shofti, do you see? It’s all your fault, it’s your evil eye, I can’t even watch my favorite program. That is why I hate taking you out with my friends, ya Mona.
Finishing off a shisha puff, and looking his way, Mona said, “You must be joking, right? What have I got to do with the speakers going funny? Anyway, it’s a stupid show, maybe Mamma Nona reminds you of your mummy, she said, breaking off with a laugh.
“Oh really? We have to watch a very provocative rape series to live up to your expectations Madam. So how does that reflect on your family?
I walked around to avoid witnessing something about to turn ugly.
Returning to my seat, the sound was back, but much lower this time, as more people had started pouring in.
“Rasha, something really provoked me today when I took a taxi to work.
Asking why with her hands in front of her mouth, Rasha said: “Why did you take a taxi?
“You always focus on all the wrong things, Mai said with irritation. “The taxi guy was playing extracts from the Quran on tape, had rosary beads dangling from the mirror, and had a huge copy of the Quran on the dashboard, but he was smoking.
Rasha made a duck face and then asked, “What’s wrong with that?
“It’s Ramadan! If he will act all religious, why is he smoking?
Laughing, she responded, “My friend, did you not hear the fatwa that Sheikh came up with last year that it was OK to smoke and fast, if you could not stop, so maybe he was fasting, how can you judge him?
Getting up nervously, Mai said, “Rasha, you drive me nuts with your irritating comments.
It dawned on me that there was still tension and irritation in the air since iftar, which had not worn off yet. Not to mention the “tatneeh (perhaps laid-back, drowsy) feeling in the place that really cannot be translated into one word.
On average, there was at least one person or two showing signs of tatneeh or tatneeh wearing off around each table; spellbound, spaced-out, gorged, brain-heavy and silent.
A couple more rounds of coffee and some hours later, the mood started to loosen up and everyone seemed happier, except of course for the waiters who now had double the load of clients to handle.
A broken Arabic accent caught my attention.
“Sherif, so this very different to Ramadan in the UK I must imagine? asked Nora.
“Oh yeah, over there it is more spiritual, we fast and pray, and go about with our daily routine, sometimes I would try to go to a sufi zikr or something, it helps.
Placing his coffee back on the table, he said, “Mind you some people don’t even feel Ramadan, it does get irritating to be surrounded by people who don’t understand or to have iftar alone, it’s lonely sometimes.
Laughing he continued, “But I love it here, Ramadan here is something else, with the TV series, sohour at El Hussein, the cultural programs they have on in Islamic Cairo, it’s just something else.
“I love it all.
