By: Saleh
Abdullah Alkhamyasi
Do you think
patience has a taste? This is what I asked myself when I read “The Taste of
Patience” by the novelist Mohammed Eid Alaraimi. I was actually taken aback
with the intelligently chosen analogy.
The Taste of
Patience remains a masterpiece in the contemporary Omani literature. It is an
eye opening, thought provoking and above all soul captivating.
It
illuminates many empowering lessons on the nature of man and depicts moments of
happiness & sorrow, hope and despair, surrender and will power.
The novelist
shares his experience in battling the odds of disability for more than two
decades.
As a young
man Mohammed graduated from USA as an Industrial Engineer. Upon his return he
joined PDO. Few months later he got married and you could imagine the magnitude
of his dreams and aspirations. However, destiny had something else in stored
for him.
After spending
the holidays with his family, It was time to go back to Marmul. In fact, It was
his last working week before getting transferred to Muscat. He left Sur
remembering his mother’s prayer, visualizing his wife’s mesmerizing smile which
tempted his soul to stay back.
Half way
through, the call of destiny arrived. Two huge camels intercepted him. He could not avoid them. His car hit one of
them forcefully. The animal flew up and landed on the car flattening the roof
on his head. The accident resulted in a spinal cord injury. It has disrupted
his life extensively and condemned him to a wheelchair.
The journey
in search of treatment took him from Ibra hospital, khoula Hospital, to London
even the USA. He sipped the bitterness
of patience in an incremental dosage. His treatment subjected him to a
painstaking rehabilitation and physiotherapy program.
He became a
victim of bleak thoughts. He felt like a man condemned to a life imprisonment,
denied the freedom to die. His feeling of despair and frustration deepened. The
disability imposed a solitary life on him.
He saw his
dreams fade away in a blink of an eye.
So what should he do? Shall he keep weeping like a burning candle? Or should he gather his strengths and awake
the giant within him. Should he rise to the occasion and surmount his bleak
reality? He sailed through his life with
a glimmer of hope promising himself a better tomorrow. His will power made him
learn how to make new dreams that comprehend to his new reality.
He admits
that many people helped him during his tragedy. They exhibited their
solidarity, kindness, sacrifice and other human gestures.
For
instance, Dr. Harvey the Director of Medical Services at PDO then was supportive
to him. He shifted him to a private room. He fixed a TV in it and was
instrumental in sending him abroad for treatment. Not only that, but he negotiated
his employment contract with the company on his behalf.
Others such
as nurses, friends even people whom he did not know came for the rescue. On the other hand, there are those who
deserted him as well.
Mohammed, had
to forgo his profession as an industrial engineer and settled for a translator
role instead. He was keen that his disability does not overshadow his ability.
He had to adapt to the new role. He had to put his heart and soul in search of
excellence. He exaggerated his ability to avoid pity feelings for his
disability.
From a state
of defeat, despair and surrender Mohammed emerged as a shining star. He became
a professional writer and translator. Today he is a renowned novelist within
the GCC Countries. His name is tied up with patience as an elevating virtue.
He became a
voice for “People with Special Needs”. An advocate for their betterment. An
educator with a mission of changing the stereotype thinking about the disabled
segment in our society. He vividly illustrated that yes life is not a rosy
journey? It has its own ups and downs. However It is our attitude which makes a
difference. Embracing a positive attitude enabled Mohammed, to endure
irresistible bitterness, overcome formidable hurdles and ride fierce waves in
his life to discover the rewarding taste that patience.