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"Inzain int al7een esh 7aarek", bursted Khalid, annoyed and just had about enough of Nawaf's constant ridicule. "Mo 7arni shay, bel6agag feek ent o mostagbelek, bas la teshta6 wet7e6 dobek dob el rayaal chena ghala6 b 7agek o teg3ad et6ali3 7achi," Nawaf snapped back. The guys at the dowaneya knew better than to intervene, they just acted as if they were glued to the TV screen with the Premier League match. Faisal made a stretch for the remote and gently lowered the volume to hear the fued in the back between Nawaf and Khalid continue.

"Yoba inwayif ent ely meshta6 mestashref 3ala afaana, thalaitna yakhy chena ma7ad sawaha gably. Ana shift oboo Jaboor b dowaneyat 3ami, o sa'alni haa takharajt wela la. Lama geltla ee, ohwa ely 3ashamni galy khalas ergid waamen mokanek 3endena bel bank mawjood. Ya3ni mo ely raaye7 raz wayhe chalabt feeh ela tetwasa6ly".

Nawaf wasn't impressed. A business major (finance) from KU, with a GPA of just over 3.00; he was now working at one of NBK's branches. He took pride in the fact that he hadn't employed any was6a in planting a job there. He just applied, did the test, got the first call for the interview, did that and all the other steps. All alone. Despite his father's position and his family name. And oh boy, is it a family name.

"Bo waleed yabnel7alal abeelek kel khair walla, o yakhy sh afreg 3anek ana ely egbaloni o ma egbalouk. Il 7achy kela wagef 3al mogabala, latdesh 3alaihom chena bank yadik wala etdish 3alaihom chenek taj ras'hom. Laken mo etethalal wete7ailag. Khalek methel ma ent o khalas, mo3adelik oho eli besawi el bajy", contended Nawaf.

Khalid, a business major (economics) also from KU, graduated a course prior to Nawaf. Yet still was unemployed. He also broke the 3.00 GPA barrier, and was mocked by the guys at the dowaneya by saying "ent etha el lajna eli betgablek kelha 7areem, ethmin mo bas el watheefa, ethmin edarat far3 mara wa7da. Etha reyayeel, eghsil eedik wegleb wayhek". Khalid was one for the ladies.

Both guys graduated the same high school, and shared as many classes as possible in college. Basically, they 'cheated each other off' into getting the +3.00 GPA. And ever since Nawaf got the job, having graduated after Khalid did but was employed first, the guys have been giving Khalid a hard time in the name of fun. It wasn't funny. Not for Khalid at least.

"Inwayif ent mn sejek wela etegashmar, ely yesem3ek yegol ehni elnas etgader 3al kafaa'a. O ba3dain ay kafa'a ay ba6eekh 7aaly mn 7aalek tawny metkharij la 3endi esnen khebra walahum ya7zanoon. Gair shahadat eljam3a 3endy shahadtain.. zandaqa o fandaqa. Ya3ni aro7 amot a7sanly," Khalid argued.

Nawaf leaned to his side, made a stretch for the ash tray and sat back again, silent and dragging on his cigarette. "Wana? Sh3endy gair ely 3endek, ashof egbalouni bedon la akalem obo Jaboor wala gairah."
Khalid knew that was coming, without thinking he replied instantly "Ismek shaaylek."

The TV was on mute by now. The guys constantly lowered the volume, until the TV was now silent.

Nawaf could not retaliate. He grew accustomed to the fact that people expected his life to be easy just because of his family name. Not his friends though. But he also knew better. He knew that there was this very very slight chance that his family name was the reason he was picked for the job; and not some other guy with a near 4.00 GPA who could speak better English and had more certificates than he did.

Almost ten seconds have passed, and Nawaf was silent. Khalid knew his friend probably would have got the job regardless of his name. But he was not dumb enough to assume that just because they were talking about a job in the private sector meant that that stuff does not make a difference. Afterall, who was running the private sector?

Faisal looked back at the two seated opposite each other, "meyaaaw. Ha ig6aawatna, mo ila en6aale3 el le3eb sa7?" Nawaf and Khalid were not amused. Faisal realized that this time was slightly different, and stuff got pretty intense. He said "Bo waleed kelna 7aaseen fek o nadri 6agat chabdik mn el ga3da, bas Inwayif ma3ah 7ag ma lah daa3y et7e6 3ala Jabor lena obooh ma sawaalek shay bel bank. Ya3ni en radat lel sij, ent ely refatht etgadim 7aalek 7aal gairek. Wayed gharrik kalaam bo Jaber o sawait lena ala' taaly. Sharr3an mayjouz akheena."

Khalid told Faisal to shut the fuck up. Faisal jumped back to face the TV and told the rest of the guys seated near him to agree on a place they'd all order from for dinner.

Nawaf was by now fiddling with his mobile. Khalid was making his way to the fridge to get himself a drink. He thought watching the match would be less of a hassle.

Just a regular night.