Aren’t you sometimes subjected to pet peeves that simply don’t go away? Lately, the repetitive nature of such annoying incidents has compelled me to list them and share some of them with my readers, thinking that they too may have confronted such unpleasant incidents at certain points in their lives.
I’ve barely seated myself on the aircraft seat of our national carrier, with my carry-on safely stowed in the overhead compartment. Just when I was about to snap on my seat belt, the stewardess approaches me and asks me to relocate to another seat. Before answering her, I double-check my boarding card stub to make sure I haven’t landed on the wrong seat.
“Why”, I ask her. “I specifically asked for this aisle seat, the recline mechanism seems to be working and I am perfectly comfortable here. Why do you want me to move?”
“Sir, there’s a lady who has been assigned the window seat next to you and would rather not have any males seated next to her. There are no more aisle seats available, but there is a window seat in the back. Now would you mind?”
In the past, I had been accommodating. But enough was enough. “Yes Miss, I would mind. If the lady is fearful to be seated next to a strange male on this short Jeddah-to-Riyadh sector, please assure her that at the first signs of any impropriety from me, the captain can dump me overboard. Even if we are flying at an altitude of 11,000 meters. But I simply don’t do window seats, and neither do I care to chat up the passenger next to me!”
By now several other passengers were giving me the stare that could only be translated into something along the lines that I had broken some holy covenant. But I remained adamant in the face of the hissing and sneering stare of the airhostess, and the immovable figure of a totally covered figure a few feet behind her.
“Why don’t you seek some other passenger,” I volunteer, before our hostess finally and grudgingly moves on with her escort, while the tenants of the small cabin offer me some very hostile stares. Or how about the many times when I pull into a parking slot in front of a business establishment only to return and find my vehicle blocked by another illegally parked right behind me, making my way out impossible. I wait patiently for a minute before I slam hard on the horn hoping that the errant vehicle owner shows up quickly.
My time is important to me, and this I feel is an infringement. Standing in the hot sun and looking around for any sign of the offender, sometimes it is up to five minutes before a man comes scurrying up to the door of the offending vehicle with an apologetic and sheepish smile on his face, and a grating “Ma’alesh” whisper. Were it not for the self-restraint taught early in childhood, I would have slugged many an offender for such irritation. Then there are times when I’m standing at a checkout counter with a few purchases waiting for my turn, when a furtive figure whisks around me and plunks his items right in front of the cashier. “Excuse me”, I say tapping his shoulder. “Didn’t you see me standing in the queue, or do I look like a store-bought statue for decorative purposes?”
Without even a hint of apology, he retorts. “I only have this roll of bread and my drink, while your cart has several more items.” With my ire rising, I retort back, “Oh, so that gives you the right to bypass me on the queue? Now get back to your position on the line and wait your turn or else,” in a firm enough tone that carries to the cashier, who pushes back the offender’s intended purchases. Had that individual asked me, I would have let him get ahead of me, but assuming for granted that he had the right needed to be straightened out then and there.
And finally folks, on the sensitive subject of hygiene. Public toilets are meant to be flushed after use. And by the perpetrator of such wastes, and not by the ill-paid and half-interested Bengali or Nepali attendant busy mopping the invariably wet floors. Do not subject those that follow you to chance upon your waste matter. Our religion places great emphasis on cleanliness, in both its physical and spiritual aspects. Islam requires the Muslim to clean his body, his clothes, his house, and the whole community, and he is rewarded by God for doing so. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Removing any harm from the road is charity (that will be rewarded by Allah).” (Al-Bukhari)
