The Story
In Muscat, a lawyer waited three weeks on a decision. Nothing came directly. Then a mutual acquaintance mentioned, in passing, that the client's family was reconsidering the structure. He treated it as talk and kept waiting. The message had already been delivered.

Cultural Principle
In the Gulf, difficult information often travels through a third party so that nobody has to say it aloud. The indirection protects the relationship, not the sender.

Takeaway
Listen closely to what reaches you sideways. It is usually the reply you have been waiting for.

With regard,
Taqua