Darcy's, my favourite cafe in Muscat and a memorable incident

We all have a place that we love to head towards time and again. A place where we can just sit  and have a chat with friends over a cup of tea, coffee or enjoy a quick meal. Or if you will, sit out in the sun , basking in the warmth of the venue, but even more, the sheer pleasure of being in a place where each member of the staff is keenly attuned to your requirements and greets you like a long lost friend the minute they catch sight of you.

I've got exactly one such place and its probably where I spend the most amount of time, outside my own home. This charming little cafe is called 'Darcys' and its located at Madinat Qaboos MQ) in Muscat.

      Darcy's, MQ, Muscat

While I'm fairly engrossed in my book, magazine or newspaper if I'm alone here, or chatting animatedly with friends or family in other situations, I  do take a look around and nod at a familiar face every now and then. Most of the customers are regulars just like me and over a period one gets to know them somewhat too.

But then there are the other faces that seem somewhat out of place and that is exactly the reason why they stay in the mind. Every other time that I'm there, I see a 35' ish local man, who has a slight limp- and if one looks at him closely, doesn't seem to be entirely normal. Now I don't know why that is so, but one generally avoids making eye contact with him, for fear of...? I really don't have the answer here, but am just sharing my  thoughts. And believe me, I'm not the only one there who does this, its probably the majority of others present too.As for the staff, I've noticed that they sat him in a quiet corner where hes served a cup of tea and a small bite and after a short respite, he's off and on his way..

But last weekend saw a departure from the norm. My husband and myself were sitting outside and having our scones and tea and this man walked out.It was evident that he'd finished and was leaving. But here's the real surprise. Just as he reached the small gate which serves as the exit and entry point, he stopped, looked directly at us and waved goodbye. I too waved back instinctively.

I really don't know what it was about that simple gesture, but it touched me a great deal. For all the times, I'd thought of him as 'not exactly normal" he'd been seeing and focusing on me as a person who he'd learnt to recognise. Then one day, he actually reacted and how!

I find myself thinking of him every now and then. And have made up my mind that I will have a real conversation with him when I see him next.

Just one more reason to head back to Darcy's ...

(N B -This post was originally written for my column My Take in Muscat Daily.)

Magical, mysterious and always wonderful -The Golden Hour

Watching them walk by

I absolutely adore a certain time of the day.

 Most people call it it sunset, but I'm choosing to call it 'The Golden Hour.' 

The time itself is magical and I can and have, spent endless hours  (on different days) watching the magic unfold.

In this particular post, I'm sharing a couple of photographs, I clicked at the Qurum Beach, Muscat. This is a place I frequented for my evening walk, for over two decades and each of those walks had something unique, something magical about it.   And you are right, I love to go down Nostalgia Lane too- take it from me, it can be a truly rewarding and enriching journey. 

The Twlight Zone

  

Of course, if one's not at the beach, it can be equally magical- albeit in a different way altogether. I'm fairly certain that there are many of you out there who feel the same way as I do.

 Would love to hear your point of view as well so please do share.....

Of Loss, and of hope - Different wells within your heart

A moment in time- Frozen forever

The poet Shamsuddin Mohammed (Hafiz)  once famously said, 

"There are different wells within your heart.

Some fill with each good rain,

Others are far too deep for that."

These are lines that hold so much of meaning-they talk of hope and they talk of loss as well. That  particular kind of loss that is buried deep inside a person's psyche and will remain there, perhaps till that person's last day.

Those same lines assumed even greater significance one day not so long ago when I was in one of the seaside towns of Oman. I came upon this man just sitting there lost in his own thoughts.There was something about his body language that was heartbreaking.

Just something about him and his surroundings.

On an otherwise, bright, beautiful and clear day, he just sat there .

Unmoving.

What was going on in his mind? That of course, is a million dollar question and one that nobody will ever really know. Right upto the time he chooses to share it with someone who actually cares enough to enquire.

So there it is, that particular moment in time, frozen forever.

Every now and then I think and wonder.

"Hope he's doing better today."