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Finding a gruff old man with a heart of gold
Courtesy exists no more and chivalry is dead, or so I hear from most people. It is agreed upon as one of the universally accepted facts of life, that there are really no free smiles.
- By Mehmudah Rehman, Special to Gulf News
- Published: 23:40 July 4, 2008
Courtesy exists no more and chivalry is dead, or so I hear from most people. It is agreed upon as one of the universally accepted facts of life, that there are really no free smiles. However, I find it nearly impossible to agree with that statement, for I perceive examples of remarkable generosity and politeness in people around me.
On his return from a visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a friend of mine had a peculiar story to tell. Abdul (as we will call him) is the kind of person who can hardly register a morning until a shot of caffeine runs through his veins, and when he woke that morning in the unfamiliar locales of KSA, the grogginess was unbearable and off he went to buy some coffee.
To his relief, at the end of the street, he found a tacky little grocery store. An old man with a handle-bar moustache sat almost regally at the counter. My friend asked for some sachets of instant coffee, and to his surprise, the elderly man replied curtly, "Sorry, not available!" Abdul was taken aback, and looked around the shop. Sure enough, tucked in one of the shelves behind the old man was the elusive coffee. He thought the aged chap had perhaps forgotten that his store did, indeed, stock the item, and pointed politely to the shelf, so as to remind him. At this, the man got up, and glared at my dazed friend.
The excellent moustache bristled a wee bit, and in a daunting tone he repeated, "Not available!" Now Abdul was annoyed; for being denied the coffee, and then, being spoken to in a harsh tone. He retorted somewhat angrily, "Fine! If you won't give me the coffee, I'll go elsewhere!" To this the old man appeared indifferent, and in a huff my friend walked out of the dingy little store. Fortunately, Abdul found another store close by. This time the coffee sitting on one of the shelves was, to be sure, given to him, and relieved, he walked back to his hotel. Two cups of coffee later, my friend found himself energised and invigorated. He couldn't get the old man and his brusque behaviour out of his mind, and being the outspoken character that he is, he decided to teach the man a lesson.
Sachets of coffee
Abdul walked into the store with the very air of a wronged man, and disdainfully, he held up two sachets of coffee for the old man to set his eyes on. "See? I got the coffee alright!" The old man showed no sign of being angry or irritated with my forthright friend and without saying a word, looked at him almost sympathetically. Stung by the man's lack of concern my tactless friend persisted with, "Well, why wouldn't you let me have it?" The old man stood up on his feet and gave Abdul a deep, knowing look. Then, with calm and poise he explained how the store next to his was almost out of business, and did not have a single customer that day. If this kept up, the store might be closed down. So the old man had thwarted my friend with the hope that his competitor would survive. There was something exceptional about him, other than his perfectly groomed moustache. The gruff old man had a heart of gold.
Cringing with embarrassment, Abdul shook hands with the gracious gentleman and apologised for his thoughtless behaviour. The kindly old man twirled his moustache, smiled genially at my hot-headed friend and said discreetly, "Please, just keep this between the two of us." My friend walked away from that shabby store, glowing inwardly, somehow feeling the world had become a better place.
Mehmudah Rehman is an independent writer based in Dubai.
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