If the first Iftar while stuck in traffic has happened already, how could the first Iftar all by myself be far behind?
There are times when I end up saying the same prayers twice. Not out of forgetfulness; out of a mix of laziness, compulsiveness and a lack of time and space of the right kind. Then later, when I get the time and space, let’s say, I compensate again.
In an auto-rickshaw, almost-peak hour traffic and no mosques on this stretch of the road. Quite convinced that I might almost run out of time for Asr by the time I reached where I had to, so I just offered prayers (yes, in a makeshift manner) in a moving auto. What I didn’t remember earlier, which I realized as soon as I got around my destination, was that the India Islamic Center was in the neighborhood.
Quick detour before reaching the venue, to ‘compensate’ like I said, for Asr in the cosy mosque which the center has in the basement.
A glance across the seminar hall told me there might have been at least one possible candidate (visible signs of faith, remember?) who could ensure that I didn’t end up having Iftar alone. I thought I’ll catch hold of the person when both of us would slip out of the hall, round about the same time, to the cafeteria. Always a nice thing to share Iftar with strangers, get to hear their stories and see their smiles.
No such luck. I went out of the hall alone. That person probably broke fast all alone sitting in the back row. So did I, sitting outside in the lawns.