Here is a tale of man’s contentment with the simple joys of life; the flip side to sad, old age.
By Rajeev Nair
Ali Hussein comes from a village in Sitra. He has an unfailing routine. Yet, unlike those who are stuck in the dreariness of “that-same-every-day,” Ali enjoys its harmony. Every day, for him, is a happy day of no surprises. That, you might think, is the blessing of old age. But no, life hasn’t been exactly a serene bed of the expecteds.
Only recently, Ali woke up one morning to a stroke that has affected his right facial muscles. He says he cannot feel the touch, and tears come pouring out of his eyes, often uncontrollably. He must live with those tears now for which he keeps a cotton pad by his left eye. He also wears dark goggles, and chews on gum more like an exercise.
Ali’s day starts at 4 am. He prays, goes to the mosque and after breakfast at 6 am is ready for another of his day out. He sets off from home in his pick-up van at 7 am. For four hours, he is on the roads, plying passengers — which is also an extra source of income for the man, who earns a pension having worked earlier with the Agriculture ministry. He has seven children — some of them work, two girls are married and the others attend school.
Ali is 51 of which some 15 years had been with the agriculture ministry, working mostly on date palms. For the last five years, he has been driving the pick-up and a taxi (which he takes out mostly on Fridays). He likes the pick-up better more so because of the spacious convenience it offers.
He says he could have rested at home “but that would make me sick.” He wants to meet people, see his land; and his only dislike are “snooty” people from some of the neighbouring countries.
His routine is pretty straight-laced: By 1.30 he is home for lunch; he then sleeps for two hours, has coffee and is out on a stroll until prayer time. After dinner, he is back for another stroll with friends until 9.30 and it is time to retire.
To sleep and wake up to another day, which would be the same as yesterday and the day before…
All he can do is to be thankful for his small blessings. So he lifts his hands to his lips, and in that vintage gesture of gratitude to Almighty, he throws it heavenward…
From man to God, the best mortals can: A thankful salute.
