Saber waited for Tantawi to comment on the resemblance. He didn’t, and proceeded to discuss the costs of the new advertisement, to which Saber reluctantly agreed. His money was dwindling, and dwindling fast. He walked into the cafeteria and sat at Elham’s table, waiting for her. She walked in, saw him, hesitated for a moment, then sat at his table. He ordered lunch for two.

“I’ve seen the photograph,” she said.

“Really?”

“The resemblance is striking.”

“You mean the man?”

She nodded, looking at him searchingly.

“He’s my brother,” he lied.

“Your brother! Why didn’t you say so before?”

He smiled, but did not answer.

“Who is the beautiful woman in the photograph?”

“His late wife.”

“Oh. And, your brother…I mean how…?”

“He disappeared before I was born. It was the usual chain of events. A quarrel, then disappearance. And now thirty years later, my father sent me to look for him.”

“What a strange story. But what makes you think he is a well-known personality?”

“My father told me. Maybe it’s mere supposition. But what strikes me as strange is that Mr. Tantawi didn’t notice the resemblance. Did he mention anything after I left?”

“No. But Tantawi’s head is full of figures and statistics.”

The waiter brought their lunch. They started eating. He stopped and said apologetically, “I’m sorry to be intruding on you like this, but I’m a lonely stranger in a big city.”

She smiled at him. “How do you spend your spare time?”

“Waiting.”

“How boring. But searching doesn’t entail waiting.”

“Waiting is unavoidable.”

“What do you do while waiting?”

“Nothing.”

“Impossible!”

“Now you realize how badly I need a friend,” he said with a pleading look in his eyes. The sympathetic look on her face encouraged him. “You are the friend I need.” She took a sip of her orange juice. “Well, what do you say?” he asked.

“You might be disappointed.”

“Don’t worry about that. In these matters, only the heart can tell.”

“We might meet when you come in to renew the advertisement.”

Laughing, he said, “In that case, you want me to keep renewing the advertisement indefinitely.”

“If you are so keen on finding him.”

“I am. But if the advertisement doesn’t find him, I must.”

She raised her glass; he raised his. “Cheers.”

“I think I’d better tread carefully with you,” she said with a smile.

They drank, exchanging glances and smiles. He wouldn’t have chased her that night long ago had she been the other girl, the seaside girl with the salty taste and carnations in her hair. She was very dear to him. He was in love with her.

You ask who the beautiful girl is in the photograph. You didn’t see her on her last night on earth. Her body wrapped in the white shroud, wasted and worn out. Suddenly he looked up and said, “I’m truly grateful!”