“Pahmi, I would really like to get to know you again. Would you like to come to the theatre with me, they're doing a new play about a caveman and chickens?” He said nervously.
Pahmi was pleased to see him again now that he was rich and famous.
“Okay,” she replied, “but no hanky panky, and I must be home by 10 or my mum will go bananas.”
After that they started to date regularly and before long she declared her undying love for Kharmoun; soon they were to be married.
Next came children, two boys, Mohse and Kareem. Then came the school fees, the bigger house, the sports chariot for Pahmi, the bills, the bills, and more bills.
"What I need is a good idea," he declared.
His mind wandered back to the day he returned to Cairo, the crowds in the bazaar, the lack of parking.
"If only they'd put the shops somewhere quieter, with plenty of room. THAT'S IT! I'll build an out of town bazaar, on the west bank where land is cheap and there's lots of it. People will come from miles around, we'll give them something for the kids to do, fast food, multi-stage theatres, and lots and lots of parking. But this will take more money than I have, I'll need a partner, a very rich partner, I need............THE PHARAOH."
Kharmoun went to see the pharaoh and explained his plan for an out of town bazaar. The fourteen year old pharaoh was a pushover, all he wanted was to see his people happy, and to have his name displayed above the entrance to the bazaar; Kharmoun agreed.
Kharmoun drew up the plans for the building. Two large square
areas joined by a covered avenue, and further areas for parking and other facilities.
But what about the roof over each square, he couldn't fill the bazaar up with pillars like the temple, there wouldn't be room for all the stalls. He needed inspiration and couldn't sleep for thinking about the problem, night after night he lay in bed awake for half the night. He was getting really tired, one night he got up at five in the morning and while pacing up and down the bedroom, he noticed Pahmi laying on the bed naked. Then he got it an idea, he would build the roofs pointed, all the weight would be supported by the walls, and so the roofs would last.......forever! Brilliant!
Work started, and gradually the massive out of town bazaar began to take shape.
First the walls went up, then the two pointed roofs, until finally some eighteen months later the construction was complete. In some strange way it reminded him of his wife Pahmi.
It was terrific, the two square bazaars each covered by a massive, pointed roof, a covered avenue joined the two. There was parking for four hundred camels and one hundred chariots. Three smaller buildings with matching pointed roofs housed a drive in camel burger joint, a chariot wash, and toilets.
Kharmoun was summoned by the Pharaoh. “Kharmoun, I am very excited by the new bazaar, we must build more of them in other locations so that all Egyptians can benefit from out of town shopping. We will be equal partners in a new company to manage and build out of town bazaars, which I have called PHARAOH TUT and KHARMOUN Ltd. In recognition of your work I have instructed the builders to build a huge sphinx in your likeness, including your rather large nose, in front of the bazaar.”
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