I ran back up the stairs I had just descended.

Barely a few steps away from the hotel is when it hit me. My stomach churning. Still unaccustomed to the natural food.

As I ran up the stairs, two steps at a time I saw Abdi – a blur as I rushed passed him.

He didn’t see me.

I rejoiced at my temporary moment of ninja like speed.

***

Abdi had chided me earlier as I was taking my lunch up to my room. I could barely hold a conversation with the intoxicating smell of spiced lamb coming from my white plastic bag in hand and wafting through the air.

We ran into each other near the lobby, his face still wet from wuddu.  The front of his hair glistening from recently being washed and small water droplets visible on top of his short cut black hair. As I shook his wet hand, my suspicions of his purification was confirmed.

“Asc walaal” he said.

“Wcs” I replied.

“Maxaa salaat Jimca uu tukan waysi?” he asked with the concerned look of an older brother. My intention to not pray apparent.

“Inshallah” I quickly said before continuing my walk up the stairs. With each step of getting closer to the door, my mouth watering a little more in anticipation.

He muttered what was probably a prayer to help me see the better path.

***

I ran up three more flights of stairs, no longer seeking the path of a stealthy ninja – my stomach continuing its threat. When I reached the door to my room, rushed and shaky hands dropped the keys. I groaned not appreciating the effort it’ll take to pick them up. Once the herculean task was done and my keys were back in hand, I quickly entered my room.

After fifteen minutes of being in the washroom, I heard the hotel room door open – a muffled creek emanating briefly.

Did I lock the door behind me? I wondered.

My heart raced as I slightly panicked with the image of who might be coming entered my mind. Encountering the cute cleaning girl like this would definitely not help my plans to ask her for shah and sweets later this week.

The door made a silent click as it was closed. I heard the footsteps approaching the bathroom door. My throat becoming dry as I prepare myself to yell I was in here and accept my fate.

But the sounds of shuffling feet passed by and stopped near where the dresser was.

“Mahubtaa inuusan soo noqonaynin?” came a males voice that sounded familiar.

“Ha, mardow baan arkay isaago baxay.” Came Abdi’s voice.

I remained silent, frozen as I wondered why they were in here. Maybe Abdi and the other guy are doing some quick repairs, I thought.

I voiced my desire for a functioning fan to combat the sometimes suffocating heat after my first night arriving here.

“Laabo cusub baan heley.” Said the first man.

“Bacda ku rid.” Abdi responded.

“Sulwaalkan ku dar.” He followed.

“Qolkan maaxa uu doratay?” Ask the other man.

“Qof oo Jimca tukaanin, waa iska kaafir.” Abdi said with indifference in his voice.

Still in shock at what was happening. I finally recognized the second voice.

It was Yaasin! I exasperated in my mind as the realization dawned on me. He was another employee at the front desk. He towered over Abdi when I saw them together when I was registering into the hotel. His skin was considerably lighter than Abdi’s, but the tanning of the sun’s effects visible. Unlike Abdi, as I later found out, Yaasin chewed qhat as was evident by his heavily yellow stained teeth.

I stayed quite as I hear a few more things being put into the bag.

Five minutes after a careful ransacking of what was probably all my clothes in the dresser, Abdi and Yaseen were leaving as quietly as they came. I briefly panicked thinking they might come into the bathroom and try their luck in here. But they passed by, unlocked the hotel room door, and started walking through. Yaasin leaving first and Abdi following behind quietly reciting a prayer.