Short stories (true)

The taxi driver's daughter

At the medical faculty of Alexandria University, a lady professor walks into Auditorium no 7 and greets her students, "Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatuLlahi wa barakatuh."
The students reply in unison, "W alaykumus salam wa rahmatuLlahi wa barakatuh."

The professor addresses the class, "How is everyone? Today is the first day of the second term, and it is my good fortune to be with you this term. Before I introduce myself to you there is something I want to tell you. If there is anyone whose circumstances do not allow him to purchase my textbook, he should simply write me a note after class and send it to my office. He will be excused from buying the book."

A student asks, "How come, professor? All the professors before you made it clear that those who don't buy the textbooks will fail the year."

She replies, "That does not apply to me. I am speaking only of my own textbook."

A student laughingly remarks, "In that case, professor, everyone is going to claim difficult circumstances and no one will buy the book."

And the professor replies, also with a laugh, "No problem. I will allow it. This being my first day with you, let me tell you a little story."

And she began...

-----------

Twenty years ago, before most of you were even born, there was a microbus taxi driver named Ahmad Abdul Tawwab. He had a daughter just beginning her first year of medical school, more or less the same age as you. As he was taking her to university one morning he gave her sandwiches which he had prepared: "Fatima, take these sandwiches. You can have them for lunch."

Fatima laughed and replied, "Daddy, ever since first term you have been giving me sandwiches, which I take with me to college and then just bring back home. Daddy, I'm not at school anymore. I am in first year med school!"

Uncle Ahmad said, "So what? You still have to eat, don't you? Take the sandwiches and have them for lunch."

Fatima: "Dearest dearest Daddy, it won't help. The other students will laugh at me when they see me with sandwiches!"

Uncle Ahmad: "Ok, then take these fifty pounds and use it to buy yourself some lunch. And buy something to prepare for supper."

Fatima: "You are truly the best father in the world. I know that from the day Mommy died you have only been eating from my cooking."

Uncle Ahmad: "You cook just like your mother, although you were very young when she died. I didn't have to teach you anything."

Fatima: "But Daddy, didn't you tell me you had to teach Mommy how to cook because she barely knew how? So you taught me too, and therefore my cooking has to be good."

Uncle Ahmad, smiling sadly: "There was no one like your mother."

Fatima: "Of course, of course. She has always been the love of your heart."

Uncle Ahmad: "She was my heart itself, my dear... But where is the time going? We still have to get to university. Come, let's go!"

Fatima: "Daddy, every year you have been dropping me off right at the school gate, and this year you're dropping me at the university gates. I am so glad that I could realize the dreams you and Mommy had for me."

Uncle Ahmad: "Allah have mercy on her soul.  What time do you want me to come and get you?"

Fatima: "I am not sure what time lectures come out. So I'd rather come over to you at the terminus when I am done."

Uncle Ahmad: "Ok, my dear, I will wait for you there, in sha Allah."

----------

At the terminus.