Cherished Memories of Africa — Page 62
44 and set out to the shopping centre which was quite close to the hotel. I was very hungry. I could not afford to eat in that hotel; my budget would only permit filling my tummy in a small restaurant. Neither had I known the language nor the names of foodstuff. I kept roaming in the shopping centre for quite a while. Boarding and Lodging Arranged While roaming around, I passed several streets. The architectural designs of houses here are quite different from those back home. Because of shortage of space, there are usually no courtyards and doors of the rooms generally open into the streets. While passing in front of a house, I saw an elderly lady cooking food and some chairs nearby. I assumed it was a restaurant. I went in, saluted the lady in English. She responded in her own language which I could not understand. I gestured my desire to eat. She called somebody loudly and a young man came out of the room and enquired in his language. I told him in English that I could not speak Portuguese. To my utter joy, he started speaking in English. He told me that it was their house, not a restaurant. I told him that I was a stranger in the town and wondered if he could guide me to a restaurant. May Allah bless him, he went with me. I told him that I was a Muslim, therefore, would eat food without anything haram in it. He took me to an average restaurant. I ordered omelette. He sat with me; I invited him to share the food with me but he declined even when I insisted. I told him that I had two problems. Firstly I would stay in a cheap room, not a hotel. Secondly I am a Muslim; if somebody could cook food of my choice, I would pay for it. He suggested that we would go back and talk to his mother; hopefully she would agree to cook. He promised to resolve the