The Obsessions - Novel - Chapter - 16

Wheel of Time

Summers changed into more pleasant winters every year. God made me instrumental to arrange the entry of some of my relatives, friends and others to Dubai. They worked hard and earned money quite well. Many other fortune seekers thronged to Dubai thinking that they could pluck money from the trees in the desert. I was blessed with two sons by the mercy of the Almighty. All the three children grew up and their education was well attended to.

While Dubai was maturing like a teenaged girl, my dreams slowly blossomed. Good deeds would be rewarded with better gains, with God’s grace. The trees which I planted and grew up with my sweat, started to yield fruits slowly. My mother left us for her heavenly abode leaving us in a chasm of grief. But her blessings surely transformed the balance of fortune in my favour.

It was the turn of my grandmother. She never got bored with her longevity. In fact, she proved that old was gold, as she enjoyed her life to the brim of earthly happiness. God decided to give her a break. She, one day, left us for ever leaving with us all the memories of her. I prayed for her soul from the land of opportunities. When I had sought her blessings prior to my departure to Dubai for the first time, she had said “your stars are great now. Jupiter rules you now. You will earn a lot of money”. I prayed to God for her statement to become true.

I came home with my family on leave. After a fortnight, it was my daughter’s wedding. My sorrow flowed like the rainwater that day, when my daughter in her bridal attire, went to her husband’s house. My pain was unexplainable, as I felt a part of my heart was cut and severed from my body. As the years gave her marital bliss, she presented me a jewel to my crown, a grandson. I attained the same happiness which my grandfather had experienced when he first took me in his hands, half a century back.

My cup of happiness was getting fuller as my age advanced in the Pearl of the Gulf. By this time Dubai transformed into a young maiden, attracting more and more persons towards her. On my sixtieth birthday, shashtiabdipoorthy, I did not go for work. It was an auspicious phase in everyone’s life. Phone calls from my daughter and sons confirmed that I was sixty and I was congratulated. My wife prepared a small feast. That evening we visited a photo studio to record our physical state in a photograph which I could always point to people, boasting of my age and internally praying to God who had blessed me to live that farther. My daughter gifted me a granddaughter, another jewel to my crown. I eagerly waited for and prayed for a jewel from my son. My wish came true, as my son obliged me with a granddaughter, the third jewel to my crown.

The day dawned, another day in my life. That day had no aim and purpose.

I thought I was free as the blowing wind, free as the swaying leaves and free as the singing birds. I did not have any driving tensions. My ego was very satisfied and there was no boss for me that day. I cherished my memories at Dubai, my second home. That day I looked back into the past. I could see the happy faces of my dear and near ones basking in my love and affection, satisfied at their attainment in their lives. That day I prayed to God to shower His blessings on every one to prosper in their lives.

That day, I had retired from my employment at Dubai.

My brother in law drove the car. I put down the shutter so that I could see the place for the last time. My wife at the back seat sat with a very sad face. She never wanted to leave the place. I, too never wanted to leave. But my health limitations compelled my resignation, even though with hesitation. All my previous journeys to the airport were exciting with the anticipation of going to the homeland for vacation. There was a gloom surrounding us. I looked at every landmark as the car sped past. The Citibank building constructed by me stood at the left as a monument to my Engineering excellence, along the airport road. I looked at it for the last time as tears blinded my vision. We passed the Al Garhoud Bridge and cruised along the road by the side of the Airport Hotel to the airport. On to my right was Rashidia, a very important place in all our lives. Many of my relatives would never forget that place. We sat at the airport at the departure section, waiting for the PRO of my company to arrive.

The PRO arrived and handed over the passport to me, my passport to freedom from my hard work, my passport to leave my Dubai for good. I flipped the pages of the passport. On a page my residence permit was cancelled. My heart ached as I would not be able to come back to this place any more. We got the luggage screened and proceeded to the immigration counter. The huge airport, one of the best of the recent times, spread a melancholy gloom in me.

When the aircraft rose to the sky, I looked down at the lights, at the city of joy and hope, where I toiled, where my children studied, grew up into independent adults. I said good bye to the rulers, to the friendly people. I saw my wife wiping off her tears. I gathered courage and closed my eyes.

Welcome to Emirates flight no: the Captain announced.