moosaalhu and i walk towards sivas58, the new turkish place that’s opened up on ameer ahmed magu behind nasandhura. i’d seen their menu before – it’s quite spare but it features the essentials.

‘you seem a bit down,’ says moosalhu. ‘are you a bit down?’

‘i think it’s the new year,’ i say after screaming at a fellow pedestrian who almost spat onto my foot.

‘what’s wrong with the new year?’ asks moosaalhu.

‘it reminds me of the previous new year,’ i tell him.

‘what’s wrong with the previous new year?’

‘it reminds me of…oh you won’t get it. the world of a sad man is not the world of a happy man.’

moosaalhu nods and says: ‘i think you need to change your worldview.’

‘for the last time, no flat-earther talk.’

‘all right, glober,’ he mutters.

‘did you say something?’ i ask.

‘nothing.’

‘i’m almost certain you said something.’

‘nuh-uh.’

we enter the restaurant. it’s well lit, and seems more spacious than it is. must be the mirrors running by the counter. a group of men sit by a table, talking – they are the restaurant’s only diners besides us.

‘take a seat,’ a server instructs and we do, trying to sit as far away from the men as possible.

‘guess we’ll go with the kebab,’ says moosaalhu.

‘guess so.’

and the kebabs arrive in a few minutes. i wolf one down.

‘man, must you be so disgustingly noisy?’ says moosaalhu shaking his head.

‘it’s good stuff,’ i tell him. ‘i love the meat, really flavourful.’

‘yeah me too,’ he says.

i move onto my second.

‘hmm, i don’t really care for the sauce,’ i say.

‘what’s wrong with the sauce?’ he asks.

‘it’s not saucy enough.’

‘hah. great criticism.’

‘why, what do YOU think of the sauce?’ i ask, irritated.

‘i love the whole thing.’

the men let out hoots of laughter, startling us. i begin listening to them but they’re speaking in a strange southern dialect.

‘who the hell are those guys?’ i ask moosaalhu who’s studying them.

‘i think they’re the owners,’ he replies. ‘they’re scaring away potential customers with their raucousness.’

‘huh,’ i say. ‘you can take a bunch of men out of their island and give them a business in the capital – ’

‘yet they can’t help but bring their island with them,’ finishes moosaalhu.

‘yeah,’ i say, looking at him fondly. ‘i guess people better come here quick before these fishermen run the place outta business.’