My Beautiful Bahrain by Robin Barratt

Author:Robin Barratt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: bahrain, poem, story
ISBN: 9781908752987
Publisher: Andrews UK Limited 2012
Published: 2012-02-08T00:00:00+00:00

“Sorry my friend,” Hashim said. “You’ll have to do this alone.”

The guard eyed Ali’s hairy lower calf but since he couldn’t see his knees, he let Ali pass. In the waiting area, at least twenty men sat holding red tickets. Ali approached the reception desk.

“What is your case number?” the clerk asked.

“3459830-32”

The clerk typed in his number and squinted at the screen. Over the top of his glasses, he peered at Ali before pressing the print button. The clerk leaned back in his chair with his hands behind his head. The printer carriage slid right, then left, right, then left, line-by-line across three pages.

“Your turn,” the clerk said tearing off the defamatory document and gave him a knowing look. He handed Ali a red ticket.

“Good luck. The Judge is in a bad mood today.”

Each offence was listed with its fine for a grand total of 165BD. One hundred and sixty-five dinar, thought Ali. How can that be? It was nearly a half-month’s salary. He shuffled over to an empty seat. Forty minutes later Ali’s number appeared on the board and Ali approached the Judge.

“Asalam a laykum ,” he greeted him.

“Alaykum a salam,” replied the Judge as he held out his hand for the list. Ali handed it to him. The Judge read the paper and raised his eyebrows.

“Do you know what disturbs me the most about your offences?”

“No sir” answered Ali.

“This last one.” His smoke stained finger poked the bottom of the page. “Reckless and fast driving through the Pearl roundabout. After seven other tickets? How many tickets will you get before you learn to drive safely?”

“But you honour,” started Ali. “There is a reason - for that last one.”

“I’d be interested to hear this reason.” The Judge’s eyebrows remained raised. “I cannot think of a good excuse for putting so many people’s lives at risk. Here show me,” he said as pulling a paper from the file. He held up a photo, taken at fast speed from an outdoor traffic camera. The Corolla and its license plate were clearly visible. Ali peered closer. In front of his car was the pink Hummer.

“Your Sheikh, you see, I was driving calmly when this Saudi in a Mercedes pushed me off the road.”

“A Saudi, I see.” The judge’s mouth turned into a disappointed frown. “A Saudi visitor in this country pushed you off the road. Why would he do that?”

“There was this woman.”

“A woman? All of this speed for a WOMAN?”

“Yes your honour, I’m sorry but she was not an ordinary woman. It was this woman here,” Ali pointed to the picture and caught the sparkle of her bracelet. Her hand hung out of the window. The photo was blurry but Ali could tell she was waving.

“Ordinary? All women are ordinary,” started the Judge.“You are not supposed to take notice of women. You are supposed to be thinking about Allah and your driving.”

“Yes Excellency, I know. But look, look here. Here’s proof. She’s waving at me. She is the kind of woman put on earth to tempt us, to make sure we are saying our prayers.

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