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Oka .SAari...
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[వాణీ చేసిన ఆరంభం.]
రాత్రి పది పదిన్నర ప్రాంతంలో, గాలికి కిటికీలు కీచుమని చప్పుడు చేస్తుండగా... తెల్లటి బట్టలు వేసుకున్న ఒక మనిషి అలా దూరంగా కనిపించాడు. చూస్తుంటే నావైపుకే వస్తున్నట్లుగా ఉన్నాడు. చేతులో ఏదో ఉంది, కాని చీకట్లో సరిగా తెలియట్లేదు. అప్పుడే దూరంగా ఉన్న మసీదులో నమాజ్ మొదలుపెట్టారు.
[అప్పుడేమైంది, మల్లి బాబాయ్?... ika Malli babai cheppina katha]
రాత్రి పది పదిన్నర ప్రాంతంలో, గాలికి కిటికీలు కీచుమని చప్పుడు చేస్తుండగా... తెల్లటి బట్టలు వేసుకున్న ఒక మనిషి అలా దూరంగా కనిపించాడు. చూస్తుంటే నావైపుకే వస్తున్నట్లుగా ఉన్నాడు. చేతులో ఏదో ఉంది, కాని చీకట్లో సరిగా తెలియట్లేదు. అప్పుడే దూరంగా ఉన్న మసీదులో నమాజ్ మొదలుపెట్టారు.
[అప్పుడేమైంది, మల్లి బాబాయ్?... ika Malli babai cheppina katha]
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[Part 1]
[Part 1]
... being in a foreign country, I am a bit apprehensive - why is he coming towards me? Even in the dark I can see he is wearing long white robes. Then it strikes me - may be he is a 'mutawwa', the religious police that Saudi Arabia is notorious for (here in Jeddah?!). The namaaz is still continuing in the distance - I can hear the sound reverberate between the tall buildings - and may be he is 'patrolling' the streets to make sure everyone is at prayer. Should I just turn casually and walk back into the hotel - no, that might make him even more suspicious. I am a foreigner, I am not compelled to pray (but will he care? These guys are not known to be reasonable). The wind is making the apprehension worse.
It's not worth the risk of being in the open, I decide. I turn back and start walking... may be the guy is just a passerby (am I being too paranoid?). I take 4 or 5 steps and... 'Hhhayyy', I hear him shout. Then he says something in Arabic. He is now walking fast towards me.
This is ridiculous. I look into the hotel lobby (the hotel guys should be able to tell him I am a guest in the hotel, that I am a foreigner). But the desk captain, who was pottering around at the reception just a minute ago, has disappeared. The lobby is completely empty - just bright lights and silence.
Then I turn back once again. Now there are three of them, standing 5 feet away from me - beards, sticks in hand. (Where did the others come from!?). Now, the lead guy is shouting angrily, and pointing fingers at me. What the hell is happening...
And then, Oh my God...
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...the one with the long beak like nose grabs me by the shoulders.
I am at a total loss, my mind stops working - I really can't believe this is happening. I can't even understand what they want. I know I have to stay calm, but it is not easy. So I try to speak with an even tone - in the closest language I can think of.
"Dekhiye, main India se aayahoon. Main Saudi nahin hoon. Mujhe Arabbi maaloom nahin", I say in what I hope is Urdu. I am gently trying to remove his hand from my shoulders.
No reaction.
I pull out my wallet and my driving license (my passport is upstairs in my room 1204) to show my Indian Id. I am saying "India, India" loudly.
No reaction.
I suddenly pull back and walk fast and straight into the hotel lobby. They come charging after me, more shouting - 'please let somebody be there!' I am thinking of my options. Should I tell them I will show my passport? What if they confiscate it?
(Who are these people anyway!)
As I walk in, I see the desk captain return. Then, he just stands there frozen like a deer caught in the headlights. I can see he does not want to be there. I have been here in the hotel for the past one week. So I know his name is Ali (I don't know his full name. He can speak slightly broken English. And I have heard him speak Urdu, so I know he is from Pakistan).
As I walk towards him I try to speak loudly "Ali, please help... please tell these people I am a guest in the hotel. I have no idea what they are trying to do."
Ali stands there frozen. He is trying to avoid looking at me. I can see he is scared of them (he himself is an immigrant here).
There are more hands on my shoulder now. "Ali, PLEASE" I say.
Ali keeps his gaze down but finally says something in Arabbi. The tone is very subdued, he is not demanding an answer... it's prayerful... almost apologetic.
The lead guy with the long beard jabs back at him in Arabbi loudly. He is shaking my shoulders.
"Ali, what did he say?... I don't care. Just tell them I am from India and I am a guest here and, and, and that I have done nothing wrong. Tell them.... TELL THEM".
Ali takes a deep breath and says something to them.
They are still gripping my shoulders hard.
The lead guy shouts something. Ali looks down and takes a deep breath... I am waiting, oh God, I am waiting.
"Ali?"
Ali looks up at me and says in his broken English, "They tell you come to spy".
"WHAT?"
I can still hear the plaintive tones of namaaz coming though from the streets outside.
But my mind is frozen for the moment.
And then...
It's not worth the risk of being in the open, I decide. I turn back and start walking... may be the guy is just a passerby (am I being too paranoid?). I take 4 or 5 steps and... 'Hhhayyy', I hear him shout. Then he says something in Arabic. He is now walking fast towards me.
This is ridiculous. I look into the hotel lobby (the hotel guys should be able to tell him I am a guest in the hotel, that I am a foreigner). But the desk captain, who was pottering around at the reception just a minute ago, has disappeared. The lobby is completely empty - just bright lights and silence.
Then I turn back once again. Now there are three of them, standing 5 feet away from me - beards, sticks in hand. (Where did the others come from!?). Now, the lead guy is shouting angrily, and pointing fingers at me. What the hell is happening...
And then, Oh my God...
---------------------
...the one with the long beak like nose grabs me by the shoulders.
I am at a total loss, my mind stops working - I really can't believe this is happening. I can't even understand what they want. I know I have to stay calm, but it is not easy. So I try to speak with an even tone - in the closest language I can think of.
"Dekhiye, main India se aayahoon. Main Saudi nahin hoon. Mujhe Arabbi maaloom nahin", I say in what I hope is Urdu. I am gently trying to remove his hand from my shoulders.
No reaction.
I pull out my wallet and my driving license (my passport is upstairs in my room 1204) to show my Indian Id. I am saying "India, India" loudly.
No reaction.
I suddenly pull back and walk fast and straight into the hotel lobby. They come charging after me, more shouting - 'please let somebody be there!' I am thinking of my options. Should I tell them I will show my passport? What if they confiscate it?
(Who are these people anyway!)
As I walk in, I see the desk captain return. Then, he just stands there frozen like a deer caught in the headlights. I can see he does not want to be there. I have been here in the hotel for the past one week. So I know his name is Ali (I don't know his full name. He can speak slightly broken English. And I have heard him speak Urdu, so I know he is from Pakistan).
As I walk towards him I try to speak loudly "Ali, please help... please tell these people I am a guest in the hotel. I have no idea what they are trying to do."
Ali stands there frozen. He is trying to avoid looking at me. I can see he is scared of them (he himself is an immigrant here).
There are more hands on my shoulder now. "Ali, PLEASE" I say.
Ali keeps his gaze down but finally says something in Arabbi. The tone is very subdued, he is not demanding an answer... it's prayerful... almost apologetic.
The lead guy with the long beard jabs back at him in Arabbi loudly. He is shaking my shoulders.
"Ali, what did he say?... I don't care. Just tell them I am from India and I am a guest here and, and, and that I have done nothing wrong. Tell them.... TELL THEM".
Ali takes a deep breath and says something to them.
They are still gripping my shoulders hard.
The lead guy shouts something. Ali looks down and takes a deep breath... I am waiting, oh God, I am waiting.
"Ali?"
Ali looks up at me and says in his broken English, "They tell you come to spy".
"WHAT?"
I can still hear the plaintive tones of namaaz coming though from the streets outside.
But my mind is frozen for the moment.
And then...
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oka kshanam nissabdam. evaroo matladaledu. bayata intasepoo veestunna gaalikooda aagipoyindi. veedhilo namaaz chivari praarthanalu aa nissabdam meeda alalugaa teli vastunnai. adigo, antalone adikoodaa aipoyindi. poorthigaa nissabdam. emi cheyyadam? Ali dinchina choopulu paikettadam ledu. emi cheyyadam? lopala gunde panjaramlo pattubadda pakshilaa ttapa-ttapa antoo kottukuntondi. intasepoo unna koddi dhairyam koodaa kaari neeraipotoondi. emi cheyyadam?
doorangaa godadaggara liftlu kanipistunnai. okka antastu paiki velte maa colleague unnadu - room number 1116 lo. [idemee tiliyakunda haayigaa unnaadu - bahusaa vaalla familyto skype lo matladtoo untademo. ikkada jarugutunna daanito sambandam lekundaa. haayigaa. majaagaa. amaayakamgaa. adi taluchukunte, prapancham talakindulu ayinatlu anipistondi.] oka saari maa colleagueku phone cheyagaligite?
kanu kosallo beak laati mukkunna vaadu, cell phone bayataku teeyadam gamaninchaanu. teesi, edo numberlu nokki, arabbi bhaashalo maatlaadadam modalupettadu. evariki? ika time ledu. time ivvaru.
reception desk meeda moodu phonlu kanipistunnai - okati red color di, rendu gray color phonlu. bahusaa okati intercom, migatavi bayati lines undocchu.
"Ali, okka saari maa colleagueku phone chestaanu", annaanu English lo.
Ali oka kshanam kadalaledu. naa chuttoo unna mutawwain vaalla chetulu nannu lagadam modalu pettai. ika time ledu. veellu aagaru.
"Ali?" annanu, inkoka saari.
Ali tala ethakundaane kallatho red phone vaipu choosaadu... okka kshanam.
(aa pedda mukku vaadu phone cheyadam ayipoyindi. phone tana paadaala varakoo unna thobe dress jebulo pettukunnaadu).
okkasaarigaa, desk meedunna red color phonevaipu anga vesaanu. teese lopale aa phone mogadam modalu pettindi. aa nissabdamlo chaala peddagaa adi moguthondi - tring tring mantoo.
ala munduku angavesthoone phone paikethanu. "hello hello hello" annanu.
intalone aa modativaadi cheyi nenu phone pattukunna cheyi meeda padindi.
doorangaa godadaggara liftlu kanipistunnai. okka antastu paiki velte maa colleague unnadu - room number 1116 lo. [idemee tiliyakunda haayigaa unnaadu - bahusaa vaalla familyto skype lo matladtoo untademo. ikkada jarugutunna daanito sambandam lekundaa. haayigaa. majaagaa. amaayakamgaa. adi taluchukunte, prapancham talakindulu ayinatlu anipistondi.] oka saari maa colleagueku phone cheyagaligite?
kanu kosallo beak laati mukkunna vaadu, cell phone bayataku teeyadam gamaninchaanu. teesi, edo numberlu nokki, arabbi bhaashalo maatlaadadam modalupettadu. evariki? ika time ledu. time ivvaru.
reception desk meeda moodu phonlu kanipistunnai - okati red color di, rendu gray color phonlu. bahusaa okati intercom, migatavi bayati lines undocchu.
"Ali, okka saari maa colleagueku phone chestaanu", annaanu English lo.
Ali oka kshanam kadalaledu. naa chuttoo unna mutawwain vaalla chetulu nannu lagadam modalu pettai. ika time ledu. veellu aagaru.
"Ali?" annanu, inkoka saari.
Ali tala ethakundaane kallatho red phone vaipu choosaadu... okka kshanam.
(aa pedda mukku vaadu phone cheyadam ayipoyindi. phone tana paadaala varakoo unna thobe dress jebulo pettukunnaadu).
okkasaarigaa, desk meedunna red color phonevaipu anga vesaanu. teese lopale aa phone mogadam modalu pettindi. aa nissabdamlo chaala peddagaa adi moguthondi - tring tring mantoo.
ala munduku angavesthoone phone paikethanu. "hello hello hello" annanu.
intalone aa modativaadi cheyi nenu phone pattukunna cheyi meeda padindi.
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Naa chethulonunchi phone oodi, cradle-tho sahaa kinda padadam, naa bhujaala meedi chethulu nannu okka saarigaa venakki laagadam, hotel main door mundu keechu mantoo oka van aagadam... annee okesaari jarigaayi. Ali unnachotununchi kadalaledu. Terichi-unna glass doors-lonunchi kanipisthunna van vaipu alaage choosthoo undipoyadu. Ttapee-mani kinda padina phone reciever-nunchi 'Hello, Hotel Ramada? Hello? Hello.." ani maatalu vinipisthunnai.
Time up... ika e prayatnaaloo panicheyyav. Time is over. Vallu venaka-nunchi nemmadigaa thosthunte bayataku nadavaka thappaledu. Alaa door vaipuku adugulu vesthoone, "Ali, please call my colleague, tell him... tell whoever you can" ani peddaga annanu.
Bayata street nirmanushyamgaa undi - edurugaa unna van thappa. 8-seater Mazda van. Paathabadi, akkadakkadaa paint lechipoyi undi. Neutral-lo motor thiruguthondi. Painunna street lamp veluthuru direct-gaa van roof meeda paduthondi. Van lopala light ledu - ayinaa front seat-lo iddaru needagaa kanipisthunnaru. Ikkada US-laaga right side driving ani telusu. Van naa left side-ku thirigi undi. Ante, front seat-lo daggaragaa kanipinche vaadu driver. Tala-koodaa thipakundaa straight-gaa choosthunnadu.
Intavarakoo emi matlaadani 'third' manishi venaka-nunchi munduku vachi, van talupu theesi lopaliki ekkadu. Venaka seat-lo koorchunnadu. Tarvatha idanthaa modalupettina modati manishi - pedda gaddam vaadu - ekki koorchunnadu.
Time up... ika e prayatnaaloo panicheyyav. Time is over. Vallu venaka-nunchi nemmadigaa thosthunte bayataku nadavaka thappaledu. Alaa door vaipuku adugulu vesthoone, "Ali, please call my colleague, tell him... tell whoever you can" ani peddaga annanu.
Bayata street nirmanushyamgaa undi - edurugaa unna van thappa. 8-seater Mazda van. Paathabadi, akkadakkadaa paint lechipoyi undi. Neutral-lo motor thiruguthondi. Painunna street lamp veluthuru direct-gaa van roof meeda paduthondi. Van lopala light ledu - ayinaa front seat-lo iddaru needagaa kanipisthunnaru. Ikkada US-laaga right side driving ani telusu. Van naa left side-ku thirigi undi. Ante, front seat-lo daggaragaa kanipinche vaadu driver. Tala-koodaa thipakundaa straight-gaa choosthunnadu.
Intavarakoo emi matlaadani 'third' manishi venaka-nunchi munduku vachi, van talupu theesi lopaliki ekkadu. Venaka seat-lo koorchunnadu. Tarvatha idanthaa modalupettina modati manishi - pedda gaddam vaadu - ekki koorchunnadu.
"shaitan!" ani.
Antoone, nannu munduku nettadu.
Naa talalo toofan. Ekkadiki theesuku-veltharu? Enthaina ikkada Ali unnadu. Okka paruguna paiki-velte maa colleague unnadu. No go. Gattigaa oopiri theesukoni van ekkanu - ekkaka thappaledu. Naa venaka beak-nose ekkadu.
Thalupu moosukundi. Van munduku kadilindi.
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