Oman, A Friendly nation

It was 1.30 pm and mercury was soaring like never before on a Wednesday noon. Anyone standing under the burning sun would get a sun stroke. I had a sales appointment with an operating company, 10 kms away from my office. In Muscat most of the commercial establishments are clustered on the sides of a main road that stretches from old city to Dubai.  Other roads are called service roads. With Gulf of Oman on north and Hajar mountain ranges stretching to south, Muscat city is a land which rose out of sea with a natural protection for the city by sea and mountains.

I was the only person waiting for a taxi on one of the service roads near my office in Al Khuwair. Al Khuwair is one of the recent developments of Muscat city. Hot air almost burnt my skin and nostrils making me feel like I had an oven over the head. I was restless as there was no taxi in sight & to add to its woe sun was not of any help either.  A Toyota corolla slowed down to stop next to me. Well dressed, in his national attire, an Omani asked with a smile ' Where do you want to go?

Omani men wear their traditional/ national dress which is predominantly a cotton gown in white, covering from their neck to toe. Omani youth at times wear shiny gowns in brown or black colours in the evenings. Some wear a colourful turban or just the traditional Omani cap (thopi). It didn’t take me much time to realize the Omani who stopped near me is not driving a taxi for a living thereby making me hesitant to talk.

I said " salam alaykum, I am waiting for a taxi sir”.

He gestured to get in and said, ‘I will drop you on the way’.

I was surprised and rather hesitantly asked him, ‘Sir, Are you running a taxi? I need to go to Gala, Industrial estate “. He gently smiled and said he was not a taxi driver but wanted to help me since it was stupid of me to stand under the hot sun during the peak of summer at a wrong place for a taxi.

He reassured that he will drop me at a place where I could engage a taxi. I had mixed feelings. I was uncomfortable and uneasy, yet was happy that someone was helping me. I did doubt his good intentions  “Will I be robbed? Hijacked?" Never trust a stranger is the lesson learnt in childhood.

I got inside the car and as I started putting on the seat belt he asked if I was from Madras. I was amused as mostly people refer  the place by its new name ‘Chennai’ instead of Madras  which I find more sexy than Chennai. He gave me the initial comfort and yet I doubted his deed. I believe in others but not the devil inside them. He enquired about my work and if I was new to the place. I was overwhelmed by his kindness and kept thanking him for being so kind and nice. He dropped me at a place which was more like a taxi stand. I thanked him saying Omanis are warm and kind to strangers to which he sarcastically replied “Young man, most Omanis are nice compared to Indians here”

I just blushed as I felt he might have mentioned nothing but the truth. I wanted to defend my fellow Indians but before his kind gesture any defense would be hypocritical. His small gesture made a great impression about Oman and the nation. Just 2 months ago I relocated to this beautiful warm country of warm people for work and I already feel like being at home.

It is small gestures and deeds that make a great difference in the world