'It is all right darling, enjoy life, you could do better though'.
Was I wrong in saying so?
Remember, no malice on my part, but naturally I have got no filter, and shall say that which no one else shall.
Backdrop:
I was having dinner with an old mate at a Pakistani restaurant, in Devon Ave., Chicago (this is mini Southall for those of you in London), and seated not far away was a young couple, a Somali lady, as I later learnt, with a young caddaan man. She glanced at our direction a couple of times, with that being the clue she indeed was Somali. I popped over to their table, with a smile, introduced myself, said the regular pleasantries, and returned to my mates. Of course, my bloody accent become a topical conversation, as usually happens in the US.
She was a class act, vivacious, stylish, with excellent mannerisms etc., whereas, in my mind's eye, he was well below par. I did not say it aloud then, but was enraged thinking, she could do so much be^tter.
Long story short, we finished before them, so I settled their bill, sort of my xaq al Eid to her.
She came over, thanked me, gave me a hug (I am not a hugger), and said she was a bit frightened when she first saw me thinking I would be nasty to her for being out with an ajnabi.
I said jokingly 'It is all right darling, enjoy life, you could do better though'.
I shared the encounter with my cousin, needless to say, she was livid.
Was I wrong in saying so?
Remember, no malice on my part, but naturally I have got no filter, and shall say that which no one else shall.
Ladies, please, if you must, do upgrade.
Postscript:
This I consider quite an improvement, for in my younger days, if we saw a Somali lady out with an ajnabi, or even showing interest, at best, we would have a strong word in her good ear, or at worse, beat the hell out of her. We did not even have to know her. This flows from the notion, rightly or not, that our ladies could be a bit naive, and could be taken advantage of. Or so we think.
Was I wrong in saying so?
Remember, no malice on my part, but naturally I have got no filter, and shall say that which no one else shall.
Backdrop:
I was having dinner with an old mate at a Pakistani restaurant, in Devon Ave., Chicago (this is mini Southall for those of you in London), and seated not far away was a young couple, a Somali lady, as I later learnt, with a young caddaan man. She glanced at our direction a couple of times, with that being the clue she indeed was Somali. I popped over to their table, with a smile, introduced myself, said the regular pleasantries, and returned to my mates. Of course, my bloody accent become a topical conversation, as usually happens in the US.
She was a class act, vivacious, stylish, with excellent mannerisms etc., whereas, in my mind's eye, he was well below par. I did not say it aloud then, but was enraged thinking, she could do so much be^tter.
Long story short, we finished before them, so I settled their bill, sort of my xaq al Eid to her.
She came over, thanked me, gave me a hug (I am not a hugger), and said she was a bit frightened when she first saw me thinking I would be nasty to her for being out with an ajnabi.
I said jokingly 'It is all right darling, enjoy life, you could do better though'.
I shared the encounter with my cousin, needless to say, she was livid.
Was I wrong in saying so?
Remember, no malice on my part, but naturally I have got no filter, and shall say that which no one else shall.
Ladies, please, if you must, do upgrade.
Postscript:
This I consider quite an improvement, for in my younger days, if we saw a Somali lady out with an ajnabi, or even showing interest, at best, we would have a strong word in her good ear, or at worse, beat the hell out of her. We did not even have to know her. This flows from the notion, rightly or not, that our ladies could be a bit naive, and could be taken advantage of. Or so we think.
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