I was on my was past Aminiya School, Chaandhanee Magu tonight, after a dinner with a visiting diplomat. I was smoking a cigarette as I walked past. At that moment, a young man walked up to me and quite politely asked, “can I have a light”.
I looked at the young man and offered him the cigarette in my hand. He took it and I stopped, for him to take out his cigarette and light it. The young man did not stop, but just walked on and puffed on the cigarette and did not turn back, and walked on.
It was a shocking moment of truth. Truth, about life in Male’ and its unique culture.
Smile and Let Smile 
Anonymous
October 18, 2008 at 4:23 pm
The bad habit , was it smoking (esp in public) in the first place or the one who took your cigar or is it both?
Abdulla Yasir
October 18, 2008 at 2:43 am
Laugh out loud.
Shihab
October 17, 2008 at 4:05 am
Hilath, I did… & mrmv, a police jeep was parked on the other side of the road with two officers in it, but i did not bother report it… & anon, i got the message but not able to kick the habit yet: i did for seven years and in moment of failure relapsed into the addiction two years ago… simon, indeed…
Hilath
October 17, 2008 at 1:51 am
I hope you take that in good humor ‘cos I think the guy maybe found humor in that, too. Personally I have never come across such an instance and I think he was just being amusing by walking away like that. Not defending him OK? Heh heh.
MrMv
October 16, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Just coz u were not taller than that bully. Let start a self defense class in vilimale, I think there’s market now. Just b thankful its value was lower than 2bucks.
Anonymous
October 16, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Good!! Think positive Shihab, that boy wanted to give you a message: its a bad habit to smoke in public places! Hope you got the message
Simon
October 16, 2008 at 5:40 am
Hehe. You were mugged eh?