al-7ukuumah

Audio with Theyab's pronunciation

Hassan needs to do paperwork. He goes to the Ministry of Information and approaches the reception desk.

"Excuse me, who as2aal about filing these papers?”

The receptionist looks carefully at Hassan.

"Please go to that desk over there," she says, vaguely pointing to the other side of the room.

Hassan wanders over to the clerk.

"May I ask you su2aal?" he begins, showing the clerk his papers. The clerk takes one look at the papers, then steals a glance at Hassan's flip-flops, his board shorts.

"Second floor."

Hassan sighs, grabs his folder and makes his way to the elevators. The second floor is filled with people running around and a gaggle of women showing each other their nail polish. Hassan approaches them.

"Excuse me, can you help?"

The women stop chatting and grimace at Hassan's Pink Floyd t-shirt.

"No paperwork is done in this building. You have to go to another building."

"Which other building?" Hassan asks.

The women shrug and turn back to their conversation. “Check the website.”

Now Hassan goes home and does his homework. He puts on his starched white dishdaashah, lets his beard grow and returns a week later to the Ministry of Information.

He approaches the ground floor reception desk.

"Excuse me," he says, "mit2akidiin this building isn't the right place to file these papers?"

The receptionist gives him a big smile. "Yes sir, it's the correct building. If you don't mind, I'll take your papers and have them ready in five minutes. Please have a seat."

Hassan slaps his forehead in exasperation.

اسأل	as2aal	I ask
سؤال	su2aal	A question
متأكدين	mit2akidiin?	Are you sure? (>pl)