The Desert Rose - Chapter 8

 Wet Day

Menon woke up from his sleep as the aircraft jerked and it was descending. Water particles were rolling down the windows like transparent pearls. It was raining.

It was raining cats and dogs in Dubai. The winter rains had arrived on time. The taxi driver drove very cautiously as he could not see well in front and the rain thumped the windscreen and the roof of the car. The road turning right to Rashidia was fully submerged. The sand track had many pot holes and Menon was reminded of the roads in Kerala during the monsoon showers. The car turned left and negotiated an upward gradient and stopped at the gate. The watchman in his plastic raincoat came out. Menon opened the glass shutter and showed his face.

“Namasteji” he said and lifted the barrier gate. The yard of transport vehicles was fully filled with rain water and the taxi stopped at the back of Menon’s quarters.

The same day, Menon drove down to Ghusseli. He was restless as he wanted to know about the effect of rain on the construction work. On both sides of the road water had logged and spread over large areas. The sand track to the site was full of puddles of water.

Jasbir Singh met him at the site office. Workers had not assembled yet as their quarters were fully immersed in water in the heavy rain the previous night. All of them were working on top of the sheds trying to cover the roof with polythene sheets. Some of them were emptying the water from inside the rooms.

“Sir, today no work is possible. The sky is still overcast and more rains may fall”. Jasbir said.

“It is okay. Today will be a paid holiday for the workers. You may announce. Call me on the wireless if you need anything. I shall see you tomorrow” Menon told the foreman and walked back to where his car was parked. On the way Baqer Ali wished him “Sabah Al Khair, Mohandis (Good Morning Engineer)”.

He had a glimpse of Gauri through the window. She smiled at him and for the first time he was able to see her face as she had removed her veil. She was very beautiful with long eyes. She had thick and long hair. She continued smiling at him.

“Mohandis, please have lunch with us tomorrow” Baqer Ali invited him.

He accepted and drove back to Dubai.

The beautiful eyes of Gauri followed him on his way. He could not rub off her face from his thoughts as he had started to develop a special feeling towards her, unable to explain to himself of what kind.

He met Ibrahim at the office in Dubai. A fax message was received from Bergosa about the prospective arrival of the workers after two days.

The next day, work continued as usual at Ghusseli site. Rains had subsided the previous evening. At twelve noon, Menon walked towards Baqer’s hut. Three more Land rovers were parked near the entrance of the hut. As he went inside he was greeted by Baqer and his three friends.

“Today is my birth anniversary. We will celebrate it with a lunch.” He smiled.

I am 76 years now. Look at me, I am still young.” Baqer laughed out loudly. Everyone smiled.

Baqer went inside the kitchen and brought a large circular receptacle full of steaming rice packed like a pyramid. He kept it on the carpet. Mutton pieces were peeking through the hot rice. It spread a very appetizing aroma around.

All of them sat around and started to eat. Menon knew the custom and he had taken part in many Iftar parties during Ramadan.

“Mohandis, you are very slow in eating. Eat like us.” Baqer said.

He handed over to Menon a few pieces of boneless mutton from the rice lot. Menon ate all. My stomach is about to burst. Menon thought.

He thanked Baqer for the sumptuous lunch and went to his site office. As it was the lunch break on site, he dozed off for a while on his chair.