A suspected Bag
By: Abdulaziz Ali Omer
The former Dean of libraries in Gedaref University once sent me an Arabic email expressing his discomfort arising from a wrong assumption that his academic brief-case might contain an item of illicit goods during a visit to Khartoum. Here is his message to the Citizen:
“.One day, I started to make travel arrangements to join my scholarly peers in Khartoum.
I loved that bus trip on many level. Firstly, listening to a song I loved ” The Destiny” by the singing kegend Ibrahim Awad. Secondly, watching a nice performance of Sudanese Folklore ensemble through the T.V system in the main part of the bus . Thirdly, I was glad with receiving an invitation to participate in a scientific conference held by one of prestigious universities in Khartoum
On the eve of that convention , I ascended the bus where over each passenger’s seat a notice of an Emergency Exit was conspicuous. What a good precaution! I whispered to my self as I took the seat number five. I remember I was elegantly dressed . Nazar, who was a gentle and kind young man seated nearby , greeted me and had extended hospitality from the hand of host after we set off. Shortly before the bus resumed its advance, one of the members of the transporting company stepped up to the bus followed by a very pretty young lady from one of neighouring countries, and he ushered in to her seat behind us. But that employee at the transporting firm returned to descend when some on the bus grinned and said: ” I hope that her papers are complete so that there will not be some delay in her procedures of inspection.” It was while we were in the first crossing-point , somewhere along the highway, that the questing team got on the bus , probed and examined us for a moment, then their well- trained eyes were focused on my brand new, clean, shiny and bulging bag . “The number five seat’s occupant should come down to us ” the host relayed the order with a shy glance thrown towards me while the inspection team alighted from the bus..
As I was about to comply, Nazar , my neighbour insisted on going on my behalf. By then I stayed in my seat , opened a tiny hand bag lying closed beside me and began withdrawing the key of a large suspected bag.
When I stood on the bus door-step, ” You have embarrassed us. In conducting search, you have found nothing except a university teacher’s bag to look for it .” ” But come on and see. Is this really a university teacher bag” a skeptical voice asked in protest. In this instant, I heard that young man replying ” Yes!” with an obvious sign of an irritation Then, he explained that I had been going to take part in a conference or something .”
To justify their initial suspicions, one of the youngest inspectors apologetically remarked ” It looks much as i it must have been the bag of a drug dealer or a currency trader”. Consequently, I felt relieved at being exonerated from the charge of bearing any sort of contraband.
Moreover, I started to feel like a citizen treated with dignity and all due respect to concerned authorities. It’ was not that other fellow passengers were inconsiderate but that Nazar seemed willing to save the situation.
At last, before I got ready to leave the bus ,,I thanked Nazar, my traveling companion. Without his magnificent help and sensible intervention, I would not have arrived in time for the conference. Both of us exchanged phone numbers and promised to see one another again.” There are always things that impel the traveller to continue the journey, these are Tuti Island and the confluence of the White Nile river with its blue twin.
From the editor:
The inspection process at any point of the highway is a plausible security measure dictated by the policy of state . But, it should have its rational justification, be accurate rather than being based on mere suspicions which if proved untrue, the matter would be annoying or humiliating to the law- abiding citizen. The fleeting inspection officials are ambassadors on the road. As much as they have a responsibility of preserving public security, they have another duty which is painting an honourable image of the country.