Yazan

A good friend and a fellow blogger, lost both his parents in a tragic car accident last week.

I called Yazan yesterday.

I punched his numbers and gazed at the phone for a moment before pressing the SEND button.

I was divided between loathing myself for finding out too late and being in situations involving death of loved ones; they never go well.

Whether in person or through the phone, grief and pain find a way to transcend down and tap me on the shoulder, reminding me that I am too close to the "real world" than I choose to believe.

I pressed "SEND" and started chocking with my words before Yazan picked up the call.

He was strong, intact and all the man his parents ever wanted him to be. He had a plan, he knew what he was doing and what he wants to do next.

May their souls rest in peace.

We are all here for you my friend.

Urban Gladiators

Stories like this one is like a breath of fresh air in this mixture of airborne sand and cement dust that's clogging our sights as well as our souls these days.

The rush to meet day's end is making plenty of people forget other's who are less fortunate in the sandlands; petrol pump attendees, laborers, delivery men, messengers, security guards, waiters, cab drivers .. and the list goes on.

Scorching prices in rent and daily consumables is making living in the city very difficult to the well paid white collar worker. I don't even want to imagine how is it like for those on the Dhs 500/month payroll bracket.

All what I ask you to do every time you interact with any of those urban gladiators is to pause for a split second, and think of yourself in his or her shoes.

Do it for a week and let me know ...


Note: Special thanks goes to the Gulfnews reporter, Wafa Issa for the story.