NAGA (ناقة)

Modify by Blue-Bird™

1975

Don't worry, ma'am. This is an emergency.

Besides, he's the one who chose a hospital full of male doctors.

I mean, I believe everything will turn out well,

especially once he sees his healthy newborn.

NAGA

THE PRESENT

11:56

Are you back?

Your dad says get ready.

He went to the grocery store and will return soon.

I've been ready for half an hour.

Sorry we're late, your majesty. We were at the ER.

Whoa! What happened?

We called you, but you were asleep.

What happened?

- Here, since you're going to the market. - What's this?

Get him a cake. He had eye surgery.

- Mom, I don't have time. - You do have time.

And I'll send you a good photo of your brother.

That's so last decade.

Do you remember Um Mishary's huge cake?

It had a big photo of Mishary on the cake.

Let's drop it, Mom. Please.

Hey, good-looking. Hello, dear.

I had surgery.

Congratulations.

Give me some gum then.

Damn you!

Whoa!

I can't even take a breather in this house!

- I'll poke out his other eye. - Whose eye?

Sarah!

Girl!

With bones so tender, unseasoned too

Too

Beware the clinger's hold It clings to you

To you

- My mild touch, your squirms betray - Betray

Entangling your rugs, the longer I stay

Stay

Yesterday's my treat Today's your display of might

Might

Beware the wolf within your sight

Shattering your essence And the ground you tread

Wow, very good! Well said…

- A poet, through and through. - Big night tonight.

- The national team's playing. - You must've written a poem.

Dad, can you pick me up at 11:00 instead of 9:00?

I've got one, but it's more fitting after they win.

Is that a promise, Abu Fahad?

If the national team wins, I'll call you myself from the studio.

Yes, do call me. May they win.

Great. Abu Fahad is optimistic. Can't wait for your poem.

At least at 10:00?

Here. That's her, Dad.

1:00 P.M.

At precisely 9:59.

Be ready. Neither a minute later nor earlier.

Will do.

- Sorry, we had coffee without you. - It's fine.

Mom's driving me crazy. She's more concerned about my wedding than I am.

Can't blame her. Wedding prep is hectic.

We still need perfumes

and the rest of the textiles.

Wow, look! It's gorgeous.

What's wrong?

I got distracted.

- Look. Is this suitable for pillowcases? - Yeah.

Did you even see it? Touch it.

- Good, but a bit rough. - A mark of high quality.

- Excuse me. - Yeah?

- How much is it per meter? - It's 360.

Whoa! Why so expensive?

- This is the price of Italian velour. - No, thanks.

Ask other vendors…

- What's this? - Could you buy a cake for Fahad?

He hurt his eye, and Mom wants to cheer him up.

I see. You're really going to do it?

Yes. Haven't we agreed?

We agreed you'd go alone, not make me a servant.

Good Lord!

Don't make me plead after hauling your bags for two weeks.

So your help isn't free. May I never need it.

It was the same in sophomore year.

You left me waiting in the sun, and your mom scolded me.

Whoa! Sophomore year?

You're so mean. Always holding grudges.

- Didn't I ask you not to say that? - But it's true.

Once someone wrongs you, you hold onto that grudge forever.

Goodbye. Enjoy.

The nerve!

- Quiet down. - Abu Mishary.

- Forgive him this time. - Listen.

- Abu Mishary, go back to your store. - He's such a...

Don't mind him.

You're stressing me out.

- You gave me a headache. - It isn't worth it.

You said you'd call an electrician. We're suffocating.

We've endured this for a whole week! A week of inhaling leaking gas!

What do you want me to do? My store is closed.

The guy is busy. You want me to kill him?

- Figure it out. - How?

- Handymen keep standing me up. - I'm losing customers.

It's a blessing in disguise.

What blessing? No good comes from you.

- It is. Believe me. - Are you closed?

It'll be open in an hour or two.

- How long will you be open? - Until 9:30.

- Okay, I'll come by at 9:00. - Okay.

Just so you know…

Get in.

Come drink some tea

She said tea on the go

Whoa!

- Am I a donkey to you? - Of course not, darling.

The henna on your hand is pretty. It reminds me of my mom, Heila.

May she rest in peace.

Did you bring the "stuff"?

Where?

- What's that? - It's in it.

How's that?

Abu Kholoud mixed it with the tea.

That sucks.

How so? He hooked us up.

- Is he still with that annoying girl? - Yes.

- What? - We're going to a camp.

A camp in the desert?

Where else? On the main road?

It's far. No.

- No! - No!

Just listen!

It's not just any camp.

I've never seen a camp like it in my life.

- Damn you. - I'm serious.

Do you want my dad to kill me?

We won't be late. Trust me.

That place is lit.

Abu Nayef only invites me once a year.

Get lost.

Chaos.

- Are we going in this beater? - What do you know about classics?

On the way here, three people asked to buy it, but I declined.

Swear we'll return before 9:00.

We won't be late. I swear we'll return before 9:00.

Say, "I hope my mom dies if we're late."

I hope my mom dies if we're late.

2:00 P.M.

What's wrong?

Nothing. Don't worry.

What's wrong, girl?

Who's that?

Abu Nayef, the camp keeper.

He said he'd send the location. He hasn't yet.

I'm not sure if he dozed off or what.

It's fine.

I don't want to waste your time.

That's fine.

I'm here for you, not for Abu Nayef or "Abu Crap."

Are you shy?

What's with him?

No clue. What a jerk!

Go ahead.

What's wrong with him?

- You want me to fly? - Just ignore him.

Go. Pass. He seems dense.

- Saad, let it go. - Pass me.

- All right. There. - Saad!

Screw him.

On you and on your face.

- You know what? - What?

Let's just head back.

What? Are you serious?

Cancel the whole day because of some hick?

It's still early.

Are you scared?

Yikes!

BALILA ZAMAN

It's fine.

- What's fine? - Changing your mind is fine by me.

We'll dump it and it'll be fine.

- No. What are you talking about? - I'm serious.

I'm serious too.

- All right. - Will I pass out?

I never passed out before.

Can you drive?

Yes, don't worry.

How long will it last?

Three to four hours maximum.

Do you feel anything?

4:00 P.M.

My stomach is starting to ache too.

I saw the "balila" guy picking his nose.

Hey!

Hey!

Hello!

- What are you doing over there? - What does he mean?

None of your business!

Don't get us in trouble.