Episode 8: Touring Egypt
1449 Words
For over five minutes, Ella stood right in front of her dressing mirror wondering if the blue flare skirt that stopped at her knees, the white chiffon-blouse and shoes; are matching outfit for the outing.
At exactly three o’clock, Ahmose showed up at her door.
“You’re right on time!” Ella remarked as she joined him outside.
He grinned. “It wouldn’t be an honorable thing to keep a lady waiting,” he said and gave her a crooked arm. “Are you ready?”
Ella locked her door and slipped the keys in her skirt’s pocket, then turned to face him. “Yes I am,” she answered, taking his arm.
As they strolled out of the compound, she asked him, “So, where are you taking me today?”
“We’re going to Zamalek.”
“We are going to Zamalek?” she repeated with excitement. “You know, Chione said her family stays at Zamalek. We can stop by and say hello to them, right?”
Ahmose slightly scratched his head. “What part of Zamalek, I mean the address?” he asked and noticed her countenance change.
“Ac-actually, I didn't remember to ask her that,” she confessed.
“We may visit them some other time, but today, I’ll be showing you the Gezira Island.”
“I love the sound of that,” she said, diffusing an air of exploration.
Ahmose led her to a black car and its driver in front of the hospital. He opened the passenger door and gave her a hand in, before he turned round and the driver opened the other door for him, and he joined her.
Next, the driver took his place behind the steering. Ella heard Ahmose instruct him in Arabic, to take them to Zamalek. Bowing slightly, the driver, a man probably in his late thirties, started the car and within half an hour, they were out of the busy streets of Abdeen Square.
Not able to control her excited self, Ella turned to Ahmose. “How is this Gezira Island?”
He smiled. “Gezira Island is an affluent district in the Nile River, central Cairo, just western to downtown. Once called ‘jardin des plantes’ meaning ‘garden of plants’ the island is connected with the river banks through bridges. The Gezira Island is home to the Cairo Opera House, Gezira Sporting Club, Gezira palace and and lots more. It even has a water garden.”
Ella gasped, “A water garden?”
He replied with a nod. “Built by British Captain Stanley Flower, the water garden known as the ‘Grotto garden’ has a rare collection of African fish,” he further explained.
“Wow, I can’t wait to see this island!” she exclaimed.
Ahmose grinned and looked out, to the road; they were now racing the highways of Cairo. When he brought back his gaze to her, he broke the silence that had followed. “So, when we get to Zamalek, do we head straight away with the tour or take a brief stop at a restaurant?”
“I think a brief stop at a restaurant will be cool.”
“Your wish is my command,” he riposted, and they soared in laughter.
Ella never got bored all through the journey as she fed her eyes with everything, anything they drove past. No wonder it surprised her they got to Zamlek sooner than expected.
Stopping in front of a restaurant boldly written ‘Feetera’ they alighted from their ride and picked in unison a seat by the window. Shortly after they were seated, a waitress approached their table, and they began placing each his order from the menu.
For starters, Ahmose chose ‘goulash’, a phyllo dough pastry stuffed with minced meat. Ella chose the same starter but stuffed with cheese. For their main course, Ella was confused at which to pick after Ahmose had settled for sayadiya; rice with onion, cooked in tomato paste to be served with fried fish.
“E-mmm,” Ella murmured, tracing with index finger down the menu. “Ahmose, I think I’ll need a little help here.”
“-Okay,” he said and leaned forward. “How about Kushari?” he suggested.
“Kushari?” she asked.
“Yes, you’ll like it. It’s a mixture of rice, macaroni and lentils topped with a spiced tomato sauce, garlic vinegar, garnished with chickpeas and crispy fried onions.”
“Mmm, that sounds yummy! Okay, I want that!” she ordered off.
Then for desserts, they choose in unison; short bread topped with roasted almonds. At last, Ahmose added off a bottle of wine.
“So, after here we’ll go see the Gezira Island?” Ella broke the silence that had followed.
“Sure. You’ll like the view, trust me.” Ahmose replied, and began to enlighten her more about Zamlek and Cairo. The more he explained, the more Ella found herself falling inlove with the city.
Minutes later, the waitress approached with their starters, and set them on the table.
“Thank you,” Ella muttered with a warm smile. At first bite, she was instantly drawn in by the tantalizing taste. “Mmmn!” she chewed and then swallowed, “it tastes very good.”
Ahmose glanced at her and grinned. “Bon appetite,” he murmured.
The rest went uninterrupted until the arrival of the main meal and desserts. And again, a moment of silence followed. Ella didn't want to miss each flavor, each bite, and Ahmose too wasn't ready to divert her from digesting each and every savoring taste of her meal.
Minutes later, she raised her glass of wine to wash down the heart-filled meal, when she noticed a waitress casting flirting glances at Ahmose. Ella smiled to herself. Ahmose caught her smiling.
“What’s funny?” he asked.
She shook her head, still smiling. “Oh, it's nothing!”
“Then why are you still smiling?” he pestered.
She cleared her throat slightly while her eyes shone with humor. “Tell me, Mr. Ahmose, are you married?”
He shook his head, “No.”
“Engaged?”
“-No!”
“Are you then in a relationship?”
A crest formed on his forehead, “Can you at least tell me what’s going on?” he beseeched.
With a low chuckle, she leaned forward and whispered, “I think you’ve got a crush.”
“Ah, I see!” Ahmose heaved a sigh of relief; at least it wasn't anything serious.
“So, aren’t you going to–” Ella drawled.
“-To?” he repeated after her, slanting his eyes as he tried to decipher the words she hung on the air.
“-Talk to her!” she spurred.
Ahmose chuckled, then shook his head. “No, I won't,” he said firmly and wiped his mouth with a napkin. “You seem to be very busy helping me out that you don’t notice that every male in this room, I mean even those Europeans sitting over there-” he tossed his chin towards his right; “-are casting flirty glances at you too.”
Even though Ella was aware of the 100% truth in his words, she decided to scan the room quickly, and her admirers didn't waste time to wink or exhibit one flirting act or the other at her. She brought back her gaze to Ahmose, humor now shone in his eyes.
“Can I help you with one?” he teased.
“No,” she blushed. “L-let’s forget about it.”
“What now, are you married?” he continued wryly.
“No, I’m not.”
“Engaged?”
“-No!” she blurted, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.
“-Then you must be in a relationship,” Ahmose gigged and immediately realized he had hit earlier a delicate spot.
Ella looked out of the window; her expression gloomy. Ahmose saw her blink back tears, but waited until she had brought back her gaze to the room before he placed a hand over hers on the table.
“I’m sorry,” he apologized.
A faint smile played on her lips. “It’s okay,” she dismissed.
The rest of the meal again went uninterrupted with Ahmose stealing quick glances at her in every now and then. She was still somber but he relaxed seeing she still ate her dessert with enthusiasm.
Ahmose cleared the bills and led them back to their ride parked in front of the restaurant. Just as he had promised, he took her to Gezira Island.
From inside the car now parked on ‘Qasr El Nil’ bridge, Ella gasped at the dazzling sight of the Island. “It’s beautiful, so beautiful!” she praised.
Ahmose glanced at her, “Do you care for a walk?”
“Of course! I wouldn't miss it for the world,” she replied and waited almost impatiently for him to alight, then turn around.
Ahmose opened the door for her, “Shall we?” he offered a crooked arm.
Smiling, Ella accepted the invite by looping her hand on the arm, and then she stepped out of the car.
“Which will you want to see first today; the Opera house, Gezira palace, plant nurseries or water garden?”
“Anyone!” her heart leaped with joy, “Please start with anyone!” she added, and he did with the Cairo Opera house.
- Writer
