The Morning Split
It was the final morning in Cairo. We had no specific sightseeing planned. My travel companion, Dr. Ijas, had a flight back to Jeddah at 11:00 AM, while my flight to Calicut via Riyadh was scheduled for 3:00 PM. Since there was a significant time gap, we decided not to travel together. The taxi driver we had met and bonded with the day before agreed to drop both of us off at our respective times.
In the early morning, Dr. Ijas and I took a final walk through the streets, grabbing a quick cup of tea. A pack of street dogs roaming the area gave us a brief scare, but they soon went on their way. At 8:00 AM, Dr. Ijas departed for the airport. I returned to the hostel for a short rest.
Infiltrating Tahrir Square
Around 10:00 AM, I set out again. My destination was the famous Tahrir Square.
As I walked, I couldn't help but notice the heavy security presence: soldiers, police, and their specialized vehicles
were lined up along the roadsides. It was a Friday. I recalled reading that Tahrir Square is historically the
flashpoint for Egyptian revolutions, often igniting right after the Friday prayers (Jumu'ah). I realized the security
deployment was in anticipation of this possibility. Navigating through the military presence, I finally reached the
iconic square.
My mission was food. I had noted via Google Maps that there was a KFC here. Knowing my journey home—which included a four-hour layover in Riyadh—would be long and the plane food minimal, I wanted a substantial meal.
But when I arrived, the KFC was closed.
Meeting Mr. Bernawi
While I stood there, a man started paying attention to me. He approached and asked if I was from India, trying to
strike up a conversation. I had read warnings about potential scammers in Cairo, so I was cautious at first. He
explained that the KFC wouldn't open until 11:00 AM.
As we talked more, I realized he was genuine. He introduced himself as Bernawi. He shared his life story: his wife was a nurse who had worked for many years at a hospital in Saudi Arabia, where he had been employed as a driver. He fondly recalled the many Malayalis who worked there, noting their kindness and how close he had been with them. Seeing me, he had guessed I was a Malayali and wanted to connect.
The KFC finally opened at 11:00 AM, but the staff announced it would take another half hour for cleaning and preparations. Bernawi and I continued our chat. He told me that after leaving Saudi Arabia a few years ago, he settled back in Egypt, where his wife works at a Cairo hospital, and he drives a taxi.
"If you ever have any problem here, just come to Tahrir Square and ask for me," he said warmly. "Everyone knows Bernawi."
I felt a pang of guilt for having initially suspected him. He was just a kind, innocent man reaching out to a stranger from a place he remembered fondly.
The Final Meal and Departure
After the wait, I bought my chicken from KFC, said goodbye to Bernawi, and headed back to the hostel. On the way, I couldn't resist buying one of my favorite treats—a mango juice—to enjoy with my meal.
I settled down on the hostel's beautiful rooftop terrace. The Russian traveler I had met earlier was already there,
eating his hostel breakfast. As I ate my chicken, listening to his stories about his time working in Qatar, the smell
attracted a friendly cat. I tossed it some bones, which it happily accepted, adding a final charming moment to the
morning.
Around 12:30 PM, I checked out. My pre-arranged taxi driver arrived quickly. During the ride to the airport, the driver and I chatted extensively, adding one more brief, positive human interaction to the trip.
I checked in, and after a long wait, my flight took off from Cairo. A two-and-a-half-hour flight brought me to Riyadh.
After a four-hour layover, I boarded the final leg home.
As I flew back, my mind was full of the ancient wonders I had seen, but more importantly, it was filled with the faces of kind individuals:
Sakhir Azhari, who guided us through Cairo's sights.
Bernawi of Tahrir Square, the friendliest stranger I met.
The taxi driver who safely navigated us to the airport.
An unforgettable chapter in my life had closed. The pyramids were great, but the warmth of these people defined my final day in Egypt.
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