UNnecessary Struggles

The streets of Manhattan buzzed with a familiar energy, but something felt different. The masks, the distance, the lingering tension—it was a city reborn, yet scarred. Hadi adjusted his UN badge, its blue hue a stark contrast to the gray skies above. He hadn’t seen Anthony in over two years, not since the pandemic had locked the world down and reshaped their lives. Now, as the city crawled back to life, so too did their friendship—and with it, a mission that would test their beliefs, their loyalty, and their understanding of the world.

Anthony’s voice cut through the hum of the crowd, brimming with the same enthusiasm Hadi remembered. “Ready for lunch with an old friend?”

Hadi turned, a smile breaking across his face. “The usual?”

Their friendship had always been forged in debates, camaraderie, and countless outings in the city they both adored. The bond was as solid as the Manhattan bedrock beneath their feet.

Later that day, they met at their customary spot – the guest entrance – at precisely 2 pm, a cherished ritual reserved for their Friday Indian food feasts.

“I see you’ve changed the color on your badge. Did you finally give in?” Hadi teased as he opened his arms to welcome Anthony.

Anthony chuckled, “It’s my enduring love for this city; I couldn’t bear to be away any longer. Two years felt like an eternity.”

“Many of my childhood friends fled the city,” Hadi mused. “It’s been a mystery to me.”

“I’ve read about it; people are searching for more space, especially with remote work becoming the norm.”

Hadi raised an eyebrow, “Sounds like a sort of gentrification process, doesn’t it?”

Anthony smirked, “Another one of your theories? Are they controlling the population too?”

Hadi laughed, “You never know. I haven’t quite figured it out yet. But perhaps, one day, I’ll have a theory.”

The two friends strolled through the bustling streets of Manhattan, taking in the businesses that had persevered through the pandemic and mourning those that hadn’t.

“Those Indian restaurant owners are a tenacious lot. I’m glad they weathered the storm,” Anthony remarked.

Hadi patted his stomach with a grin, “Their food is the best. It’s one of the things that kept me going during the lockdown.”

“It’s the usual for a reason,” Anthony agreed.

As they meandered, Hadi probed, “So, what brought you back to these hallways? I never expected to see you here again.”

“You don’t waste any time, do you? You go straight for the kill with your questions.”

Hadi chuckled, “It’s in my job description, simplifying complex messages and distilling them into 280 characters. After a while, you learn to cut through the fluff.”

“Much like capturing a day or an experience in an image,” Anthony quipped.

“A picture says a thousand words,” Hadi responded.

“The pandemic has sharpened your words,” Anthony remarked, “Speaking of my return, I didn’t anticipate finding you here. I thought you might have declared war on the building.”

Hadi nodded, “Indeed, much has changed since you left. We have much to catch up on.”

The friends continued their banter and laughter as they awaited their steaming naan and aromatic meals. Hadi opted for his usual, Chicken Korma, while Anthony, in a daring mood, chose the fiery Beef Vindaloo.

Before delving into their usual deep conversations, Anthony inquired, “So, before we dive into our typical existential discussions, tell me, how is the family back home? Did you make the most of your time?”

“Overall, being with family was a blessing,” Anthony replied. “They send their regards, especially my dad.”

A fond smile played on Hadi’s lips, “Your dad is a character. His fake American accent always cracks me up.”

Anthony laughed, “Too much of it isn’t a good thing; you’re welcome to take it. I don’t think I could have endured the pandemic away from family. Things got pretty tough in France, much worse than I’d anticipated.”

“It was the same here,” Hadi empathized. “Seeing mass graves and body bags everywhere was surreal. It was as if our world had been stripped bare.”

“I couldn’t believe it myself when I saw it,” Anthony admitted. “I thought, this must be the ‘fake news’ Trump always talked about. The whole situation felt like a dark episode from a dystopian movie.”

“Thankfully, those days are behind us,” Hadi said, though a note of uncertainty lingered.

Anthony questioned, “Are they really? I hope so, but I’m not so sure. I don’t think the world can endure another shutdown.”

Hadi’s optimism wavered as he pondered the implications of the pandemic’s impact on society. “It’s a new world now, and we’ve seen sides of it that we never imagined.”

The two friends continued their journey through the city, their conversations a reflection of a world forever changed by the pandemic, and a future filled with uncertainty. They walked the streets of Midtown Manhattan discussing the continuous decline of the city, once flourishing retail businesses that had attracted tourists from all over the globe.

“It’s a sad sight to see so many ‘for rent’ signs,” Anthony pointed out.

“The pandemic exposed us way faster than anything else,” Hadi replied.

“You can’t blame it all on the pandemic,” Anthony remarked.

“Most of these stores were out of business before the lockdown. I blame Amazon and its shady ways of doing business, putting many people out on the streets.”

“Was it really like this before the pandemic?” Anthony asked, “My memory is failing me. I am remembering a more vibrant version of the city.”

“Come on, you are pulling my leg,” Hadi questioned his friend’s memory, “We used to count all the empty stores on our way to lunch.”

“You are right,” Anthony laughed, “Amazon did it.”

“So, Hadi, what’s the secret behind this change?” Anthony asked.

“What change? What are you talking about?”

“Before Corona, you were ready to hand in your resignation and go corporate. You were fed up with the whole system and incompetent boss.”

“A lot has changed, my friend.”

“Did your boss die?”

“She is still around,” Hadi laughed, “I am not as bothered by her and her gimmicks anymore, like we said earlier, Corona exposed many.”

“What happened to her?” an eager Anthony asked.

“Let’s just say that she couldn’t fake it anymore. Working from home exposed many people and their poor contributions to the work. You know how she used to claim all work for herself in closed meetings with management; she couldn’t do that anymore.”

“It sounds like karma served you well.”

“It sure did. It was sad watching her poor attempts to run an online meeting. She didn’t know how to run basic software. It happened in front of everyone, and it kept happening.”

“Has she at least stopped being a jerk to you?”

“No, that runs in her blood. She’s been playing nice,” Hadi raised his hands in air quotes. “She needs me at the moment, but I know she’s been trying to screw me in other ways.”

“What are her new tactics? I can’t wait to hear this one.”

“She’s using the system against me. She has been trying to push me out through the mobility clause.”

“Wow!” Anthony expressed his shock, “That’s low, even for her. Is she trying to push you out of your hometown during such times? This is unreal.”

“Don’t worry about it. We are going to us

e that to our advantage.”

“Our advantage! He used the plural. I like when you do that. Those sentences always lead to fun nights. Do share, Mr. Brain,” Anthony joked.

“I do have a plan, and you are most definitely a part of it. I did promise you that we will work together on some mega project one day.”

“And what is that mega project?”

“Man, you ask way too many questions. You are worse than my woman…”

“Wait, what? You got a woman now? Who are you? What did you do to my friend?”

“Let’s start from the very top. The change happened during the lockdown. I had this epiphany that led to some clarity, and it was coupled with my works getting some recognition.”

“Hadi, stop being vague, bro.”

“Bro, we got time.”

“Bro, we don’t have time. I must prep for a meeting.”

“Do you have negatives to deve

lop?” Hadi chuckled. “You want to take a break before your meeting, that’s your true preparation.” Hadi laughed some more. “You just had your Indian lunch, and we know you can’t wait to be glued to a toilet.”

“You don’t even know. I feel my insides twisting like a gymnast, doing some odd moves and sounds.” Anthony grabbed his stomach and joined the laughter.

“In the remaining three blocks, I will answer your first question, and I will answer your second after your relief efforts are finished.”

“You sound serious. Go for it, Mr. Serious.”

“The secret behind the change was God.”

“You found God while in lockdown, such an original storyline.”

“There goes your sarcastic BS.”

“It’s sarcasm. Many followed that faith-based path out of fear, but I would have never thought you would too.”

“I didn’t see it coming either. I am still in disbelief that it happened, but it did. And it happened because of one word,” Hadi gestured with his right hand, pointing to the glass building at the end of the street, the Secretariat. Hadi emphasized every syllable in the word.

“Mama Amina has something to do with this. I hear her in your words,” Anthony pointed out.

Mama Amina is Hadi’s mother, and she had welcomed Anthony into her home. Anthony loved her cooking and stories. Mama Amina was once the head of the Arabic translation office, and she knew the system inside and out. She was the one who helped Hadi get his job through her extensive network. She loved telling the boys about the good old days when people loved and believed in what they did. “It showed in the way everyone dressed to work. Nowadays, you can wear lingerie to the office, and you will be applauded for it.”

“It’s funny you say that, and it’s even funnier when you find out how it went down.”

“I love me a Mama Amina story.”

“I know you know the meaning of Amina.”

“I sure do. Your mom

holds the food hostage until I define her name and yours. You guys are funny with your names and their meanings. She is the trustworthy or safe one.” Anthony laughed, recalling the fun and funny ways Mama Amina managed to insert Arabic lessons in every encounter.

“Mama Amina sold me on a very unique perspective. She sees the Secretariat as one of the innate, natural, divine, and Islamic concepts!”

“If Mama Amina is in the story, I am more intrigued. You definitely take after her.” Anthony smiled. “However, you shouldn’t follow her storytelling style, hurry.”

“Fine! The Quran speaks of this Amana, which humans have accepted to uphold, and the word is one of the variations that have the same root.”

“And it’s the same root as Amina.”

“All those falafel breakfasts paid off.” Hadi joked.

“I am still waiting for the punchline. If you don’t hurry, that Vindaloo is going to burn a hole through my jeans.”

“Man, you are disgusting.”

“Hadi, tell me! What was the big reveal?”

“That is the thing, the Arabic word for Secretariat is Amana, which means it is our duty to manage the planet’s affairs, and that’s exactly what we do in this building. This building is a manifestation of our pact.”

Anthony reached his hand to touch Hadi’s forehead, “Are you feeling okay? Do you have a fever? Are you hallucinating?”

“It’s the mixture of heat and Indian food.”

“We have to finish this conversation later. I must go relieve myself before the meeting.”