Mysterious Elixir

Tucked away in a remote corner of the desert is a lone tent. Plumes of smoke emerge from its cracks, and the origin of the smoke is unknown to us. Our curiosity gets the best of us, so we trek towards the flimsy abode to satiate our inquisitive ways. The desert’s heat is enough to wear down even the most hydrated traveler, but we continue to inch closer to our destination. The smoke continues to emerge, and we suddenly detect a familiar aroma: sweet hookah smoke! We are somehow reassured that we’ll be in good company. Before our legs give out from the exhausting arid heat, we peel back the covers of the tent to discover a covert conversation taking place. Once we enter, we announce our peaceful visitation, and our intuition tells us that the conversation in the room has resumed on a different topic. Our host pours us qahwah as he inquires about our itinerary. From the corner of our eye, we spot the other occupants indulging in Medjool dates and other caramel-rich desserts. The initial