Eternal Café

I sat in my house thinking about my task and trying to gather my thoughts, and despite my attempts to focus, it was useless, as thousands of thoughts were arguing in my mind.

To find myself in the middle of a boxing ring,

Where the two main thoughts are fighting in my head right now.

What I'll do about the mission versus what I'll do about proposing to Miss ( Zahra).

And now I'm standing in the middle of them helplessly, taking punches and blows right and left

While the rest of the thoughts were divided into two teams, each encouraging one of the two conflicting sides

Leaving my brain to bleed at the end

To be rescued by the bell of the boxing ring, I mean the bell of the phone.

I reach out to pick up the phone, "Hello."

"Hello (Salem), don't forget our date in an hour at our favorite cafe" (Adel) said from the other side of the line

I replied, "Of course, my friend, I did not forget our meeting, and don't forget to remind (Osama)".

To reply (Adel) "Just, don't be late as usual."

I laughed, "Okay, I won't be late this time. Bye."

Then I hung up the phone and went to get dressed

...

And while I'm on my way to the café, let me tell you about it.

This café with its table and chairs has been witness to many of the happy and sad moments of our lives.

When you enter it, you will find the fragrance of history and the aroma of coffee greeted by your senses, and you find yourself feeling nostalgic for the past that you did not live.

...

Here I'm at our favorite café on time,

it seems that my friends had not arrived yet.

I went and sat at our table in our favorite corner.

While I was trying to call the waiter, Adel's voice interrupted me, saying, "Wait, is what I am seeing true ? I can't believe my eyes. Mr. (always late) has come on time. It's a historic day that calls for a special celebration."

then he call the waiter and said with a childish smile , "(Zaki) bring us our usual drink, and our friend (Salem) will pay for it".

(Zaki) said, "Okay, Mr.(Adel), coming right up!

Then (Adel) and (Osama) sat at the table, and (Osama) said, "About the mission...."

I interrupted him, "Before talking about the mission, I want to say something important."

(Adel) and (Osama) straightened up in their seats and stared at me questioningly

I said "I finally mustered the courage to propose to Miss (Zahra) next month, but the dean and his mission came to wreck this plan."

To find (Adel) looking at (Osama)in resentment saying "damn it"

(Osama) smiled, "I knew this idiot was hiding something from us."

To look at (Osama) in amazement, "Wow, it's the first time that you beat (Adel) in the guessing game you've been playing since college days."

Then (Adel) said, "Why did you hide this matter from us?"

I answered , "I was going to tell you, but the mission came like a storm. I didn't mean to keep it from you, dear friends."

Then (Zaki) the waiter came to serve our drinks, to put in front of me a cup of tea, and in front of (Osama) a cup of anise, and finally a cup of hot cocoa in front of (Adel)

Then we all thanked him, then he replied, "You are welcome" and went to complete his work, leaving us to continue our conversation

Then I asked (Osama), "Sorry for interrupting you earlier, what were you going to say about the mission?"

(Osama) raised his glass to sip from it before saying, "As you know, before any mission, I search for the nature of the place I am going to and any information about it."

As soon as the Dean mentioned (Siwa Oasis), I felt happy because I will monitor the biodiversity there, did you know that there are many endangered species in Siwa Reserve?

(Osama) goes on to say passionately, "Where there are many mammals, reptiles and birds, and my favorite animal is the fennec fox..."

(Adel) interrupted him, "Wait a minute, my friend, I appreciate your passion for wildlife, but is this the important thing you wanted to tell us?"

(Osama) continued, "Right, right, sorry guys, I lose my focus when I talk about wildlife, well, let me tell you what I found after searching,

Did you know, especially you, (Salem), that the station we were going to was basically an abandoned mining station for more than ten years, and it was abandoned after the occurrence of many unexplained accidents!, until the Desert Research Center turned it into a subsidiary research station for them "

I replied, "Dude, do you mean mining station No. 13? It's just baseless rumors that were said by the residents of the oasis to scare off intruders and thieves. As for the reason for closing it, it was not mentioned, according to reports."

Osama replies to me, "But, Salem, why was the main reason for closing it not mentioned?

Don't you find this suspicious because there are mysterious disappearances swirling around the place, and the missing have not been found so far."

To answer him, "Did you forget that the station is close to the (Great Sand Sea), which is famous for its disappearances due to quicksand, or do you, as usual, believe the gossip..."

(Osama) furrows his eyebrows and looks at me feeling upset

"Why don't you take my words seriously?" he said.

(Adel) interrupted us, "Guys, calm down. We'll all go there and take a closer look, and we'll figure out for ourselves why the rush."

He continues, "Let the task of unraveling the mysteries be upon me

To say (Osama) and I at the same moment, "If you do the investigation, we will all be doomed."

(Adel) says, "Are you jealous because you're sure I'll solve this mystery as soon as we get there?"

Osama bursts out laughing and says, "Okay, this will be your job, whatever happens to you, you brought it for yourself, Mr. Detective."

(Adel) replied, "Okay, challenge accepted ."

Then (Adel) raised his cup of hot cocoa and said, "To the eternal mystery"