'Puzzled'

Episode 27 - Sea

Episode 27 - Sea‘Le Negresco Hotel’, Nice, France, 27 December

The waiter brings our orders, a beefsteak for me and a vegetarian risotto for Mohammed.

'Are you a vegetarian?' I ask, curiously studying the culinary creation presented on his plate.

'No, I’m afraid, not. You see, when in Europe, I don't order meat in restaurants.' he replies and thrusts his fork into the rice tower.

'Why so, if you do not mind me asking?'

'That's because I'm a Muslim from the Emirates, under Islamic Shariʻah we're allowed only halal meat.'

'Oh, I see.' I say, suddenly feeling guilty for the display of my not very halal habits in front of this mysterious Emirati.

'Please, don't shy away from eating your meal. There is no reason why you shouldn’t enjoy it.'  he says, noticing my hesitation.

I relax and start on my dinner.

‘May I ask you a question?'  he asks.

'Yes, but nothing personal, please.' I say.

'What brought you to Nice in the middle of winter?'

Indeed, what, I think. Neither friends, nor work ...

'Well, to be honest, I haven't the foggiest idea.' I reply.

'How come?' he inquires, surprised.

'You see, I haven’t really thought about it, just acted on my spontaneous decision. A day or two before Christmas an idea of going to Nice came to me. I booked a flight, packed my bag and came ... '

'Oh, I see, you mean you had no initial intention for the trip, right?'

'Well, yes, but do we always have to explain every action by some sort of initial intention?'

'Of course not! Sometimes, the most unintentional actions contain the deepest meaning.'

'And you? Are you here on business?' I ask.

‘No, I’m not. In this sense, I'm more like you, just enjoying the French Riviera. You see, I'm forever in love with the sea of here.'

'But don't you have one back home?' I ask.

'Yes, but it's different ...  Seas aren’t alike.'

He takes his mobile out and looks something up there, then hands it to me.

'Have a look.' he says.

I take his phone.  A turquoise calmness of the sea softly meeting the white sand unfolds before my eyes.

'But ... ' I say, mesmerised by the picture, 'is it not beautiful or bright enough for you?'

' Bright - yes, beautiful - yes, but it is void of passion, of emotion ... Such beauty can be monotonous and even boring.  And the sea of here isn’t like that. It's ever changing, so multifaceted and emotional, it can never bore me!'