The Desert Rose - Chapter 1

 On to Bedouins’ Land

The Landrover travelled with a very slow speed on the Quarry Road. Their destination was the village of Ghusseli. They were surveyors from Dubai Municipality to demarcate the construction site for the building of eighty villas at Ghusseli which was forty kilometers away from Dubai, on the Al Ain road. The road was one lane with two halves one higher built of asphalt and the other one of concrete.

He drove his “Oldsmobile” car with care so as not to come in contact with the edge of the two halves lest the tyres should get damaged. There were camels, crossing at various points which were a very great danger on that road. Stretches of waste desert land of sand dunes lay on both sides of the road. The automatic car sped slowly following the Landrover. He inserted the gadget to play audio cassettes in the slot. The cassette of Boney M started the songs with their latest one, “Ma Baker”.

The road took a turn to the right. The Landrover stopped to catch up with him. They got down and ushered him to get down from his car and accompany them in the Landrover, as they had to traverse through fine dune sand. He parked his car on the right side and jumped into the back seat of the Landrover. The four- wheeler bumped over the sand dunes which gave him a very uncomfortable feeling as his stomach churned inside. They drove for about five kilometers through the sand. Many huts made of Khajur (Date palm) leaves were visible along the way.

“Bedouins”, the Egyptian Surveyor smiled at him. “They are the local Arab inhabitants, the original Arabs”. The surveyor explained in his Arabic covered English. Invariably at every hut, there were camels.

“They drink camel milk. That is why they are healthy and strong like me”. He rolled the half sleeves of his shirt up and showed his muscle to him with a roaring laughter. The Egyptian gentleman looked very innocent. The Landrover stopped. Everyone got down. The surveyor took out the surveying instruments and set up them for their work to start.

The winter sun’s rays were very pleasant. Chilly winds brought sand particles and pierced his eyes through the sides of his sun goggles.  There was a howling noise as the wind passed through the Landrover seats and the tarpaulin roof cover. He covered his ears tying a woolen cloth.

Three hours passed and Khalid, the Chief Surveyor came back to the Landrover.

“Khallas (over)”, he said.  “Mohandis (Engineer), I will show you the demarcated points” Khalid told him and he drove the Landover with the Engineer sitting along with him in the front seat.

“Look, these are the four corners of the first group of villas. You need to protect them with a concrete base around the wooden pegs”. Khalid advised him. Likewise he showed him all the points for all the eighty villas.

The Engineer looked at his watch. It was 1 O’clock in the afternoon. As it was winter there was no much thirst. Khalid asked the Engineer to sign a paper called “Demarcation Certificate”, which he did. From that moment the waste land bounded by the established points was his property, his company’s responsibility till the constructed villas were handed over to the Dubai Municipality.

Khalid dropped him at his parked car and said “Mashkur Mohandis (thanks engineer)” and said good bye.

The Landrover sped back to Dubai. The Engineer got inside his car and reversed it. He was feeling hungry. As he drove, he looked to the left side for any restaurants. At the intersection of a Strategic Camp, he spotted a restaurant, “Khalifa Canteen”. He parked his car and went inside the restaurant.

A few Bedouins were sitting around a table and drinking “Sulaimani” (tea without milk). As usual, the owner of the restaurant was a Keralite.

The Engineer thought of having a full lunch and ordered Porottas (a kind of wheat preparation) with mutton chaps (mutton curry). He was very hungry and in no time he ate three porottas. He took a cup of tea. The owner had put ample sugar and milk in the tea for the Engineer.

The Engineer paid money and took leave of Abdulla, the owner of the restaurant.