This happens

It happens not very often, but it does. Strangers become friends and friends become the guardian angels. I have been on the other side rather often, but yesterday, roles were reversed. Mr Mohammed (lets call him so), a someone I met once at the Dubai Abbatoir on an offical visit. As a journo, I do meet people for various reasons, this one reason being no special. Routine reports. I admit not remembering this Mr Mohammed until yesterday. In fact, Mr Mohammed, I recall now did have a rather forgetable face.

One phone call. Strange voice. Stranger circumstance.

"Anjela, are you all right? said the voice. Ignore the pronounciation. Ignore the fact that the person jumped right into the conversation without curtesy. Ignore the rather impertinent question.

"Well, guess so, am alive and speaking, arent I?" That is me. Cannot resist the urge to be sarcastic.
"Thank God." Oh good. Someone was actually thanking the Lord for keeping me alive!!
"Who are you?" My curiosity got the better of me. "Do I know you?"
Any hurt Mr Mohammed may have felt over an undiplomatic queston like that was lost in the conern he felt over my survival.
"Anjela, I was passing through Garhoud and happened to witness an accident. The girl looked a lot like you. I hope you are alright."
I was alright, really except that a nasty feeling crept up my feet and straight into my stomach. Who was the poor dear girl who must be lying hurt waiting for help?
Who was this dear, concerned man who called me up to inquire my state of being?
Once he had established the truth about me, he hastened to explain. "I never did forget you," he said with relief in his voice, "you were so full of life, for once I was scared life had been cruel to you..."

Mr Mohammed, my memory comes back, is from Sudan. A highly literate fellow who works at the Dubai Municipality. Thank God for people like him. Life becomes tolerable.