An Exchange in An Emirate

​I can’t forget that waiter.
 
I had just arrived in the United Arab Emirates for several months’ work and went for a long walk along the seaside in the capital city of Abu Dhabi. Hungry, I stopped for a meal at a large boat that had been converted into a charming seafood restaurant.

​Hardly had I taken a seat when an elderly waiter came to the table with a check on his tray. Seeing me, he asked if I was with the Indian gentleman who had been sitting there earlier. I explained that, though I was from India, I did not know the previous Indian diner. Visibly perturbed, the waiter stated the obvious: that the man had left an unpaid bill. I suggested that he leave the bill on the table, explaining that the client might have gone to the restroom or left absent-mindedly and could come back.
 
I then placed my order and, when it came, was pleased to find the food delicious. By the time I finished my meal, however, the earlier client hadn’t come back and the bill remained unpaid. When the waiter came with my tab, I paid it, tipped, and added another sixty dollars to cover the earlier customer’s meal. The waiter remonstrated, “But, sir, you didn’t even know him!”
 
“That is true,” I gently responded, “but I wouldn’t like you to think poorly of Indians.”

​The waiter was very appreciative. I told him that I was staying at the nearest hotel and expected to visit the restaurant again to benefit from his excellent service.

​The next day, my first day at work, I stayed late at the office, and when I returned to my hotel I was surprised to receive an envelope from the receptionist at the front desk. Inside were sixty dollars and a note in Arabic that I could not decipher. The receptionist translated the message for me:
 
“Thank you for your kindness. The Indian gentleman came back today and paid his check. I wouldn’t like you to think poorly of Arabs.”

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