The Curse

Could it be THE CURSE?

Seeing this country evolve from sand dunes to high rising towers of luxury, it’s hard to ignore those who put their sweat and blood into making this place what it really is. By that, I literally mean “Sweat” and “Blood”.

As it goes, the unskilled labor force is bought in by the ship loads from every third-world country to erect magnificent buildings that go on to become our homes, offices, cinema’s, restaurants, hotels and what not.

Today, we walk into glass elevators, dine on glass boats, work in boutique offices and retire to a home that offers amenities fit for a king or queen.

And in between all of that, there is that hazy picture at the back of our mind reminding us of all those who were seen carrying bricks and blocks, making up these magnificent structures. Wearing those blue/green/red uniforms with those yellow/white construction helmets we would see them burn away their energy under the scorching midday heat, as we swished by in our fast cars with the custom-fitted sound systems that drowned away the sounds of their drilling and fixing.

The reality, as it was and still is, is that many of those people spent the best part of their life’s to give us what we take for granted today, at not even a quarter of our pay-pack and with almost no security for their life and no guarantee for their daily food. Many lost an arm, a leg, and even a life, in freak accidents caused due to negligence of safety practices on the part of the company. Whether we put the company to question or the UAE labor laws, the fact still stands that much has been lost to a blind eye and a deaf ear.

With almost every local newspaper carrying front page news of deaths, accidents, deplorable living conditions, unsolved disputes, unpaid wages and the likes, for over what has become a decade, these people who conveniently formed the lower strata of society, suffered and lost, without being able to do much. After all, just as long as their families got food and shelter back home, their own well being did not really matter -even if that meant losing their sanity due to constant struggle and having their bodies carried in a casket back to their land of birth, it wall all worth the effort – or so they thought.

But with that very state of mind, came the curse of the underprivileged. I’ve heard it once too many times now, to ignore those haunting moments when the weary old man driving the taxi spoke of the regret and hatred for this city. I’ve heard it from the attendant at the fuel station, from the laborer who knocked our door in the mid-afternoon heat for a glass of water and I’ve heard it from the many that’ve lost someone they love in an accident on one of those construction sites. Of late, those who’ve been burnt alive in the recent string of fire-breakouts too, have added to the list.

Yesterday, on my way back home from work, our office driver narrated the incident of the fire that ravaged through a villa that housed 500 laborers, with as many as 20 people to a room most of who were bachelors from countries including India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Situated in a busy area, just behind a police station, the place caught blaze at 5:30 am killing the occupants who lay asleep.

He being an eye-witness saw charred bodies being carried away in those black body bags, some of which were filled with two bodies, instead of one – as to what people in the surrounding areas saw. A 7 foot truck drove away with remains of people who had lost everything they had lived for in a moment of utter chaos. Roofs fell, gas cylinders exploded, people doused in fire tried to escape, some had to run through burning door-ways as that was their only chance of survival. Those who didn’t perished. The next day, newspapers reported yet another crash-down on illegal living spaces used by the laborers so as to prevent such unfortunate incidents. This would have been the 100th time the authorities have mentioned a strict approach towards such living conditions and yet, this ‘illegal’ accommodation was a kilometers distance from a police station!!!

Well, the fight never ends, the effort never ceases and the hope never dies. As the government does “its best” to improve the living conditions of these people, not many can ignore the precious lives that have been lost in so many accidents. And that brings me to the conclusion. Maybe its true, maybe it is the curse that is now revealing itself bit by bit with a new fire break out hitting every corner of the place almost every other month.

Another eerie fact:

The fire in Deira was dated August 26th 2008, Tuesday

The fire at Atlantis in Palm Jumeirah was dated September 2nd 2008, Tuesday

Perhaps all of this does point out to something. Whether you consider it a curse or just another freak incident that happens most of the time, the choice is yours!

* Images taken from flickr and The National Newspaper

Living the Dubai Life

As I pulled up in my little red car, I was greeted by a dejected looking attendant. Although I gave him my best smile (hoping it would make his day a little brighter) all I got back was a sad looking face, that instantly made me wonder the reason for such a reaction...it was unusual, no doubt, yet I couldn't stop my self from being a bit chirpy, hoping it would overshadow his mood and bring him around.

The very next moment, just as I fetched my wallet , I heard his voice say, "Ma'am, we are now a self-service station". That was when it hit me - I was on the Jumeirah Beach Road at the ENOC Fuel Station - 1 of the 10 Enoc stations in Dubai that has recently embarked on a 2 month trial project for self-service. Yes, you read right "Self-service in a VERY VERY hot country".

Yes, OF COURSE, i thought! I had just read of it a day earlier in the local newspaper, so I was mentally prepared for it, although i didn't imagine how it would be to get out of my car and do it myself. Luckily for me, I found it more exciting than the rest of the Dubaiites here and jumped out immediately asking for the "how to's". As soon as I had paid up at the cashier in the air-conditioned mini-mart (what they call C-Store) at Enoc, I ran over to the fuel pump and asked an attendant to help me out. Getting my hands on the huge handle of the pump was a bit of shock. Let me tell you, it's not light-weight!!

While the tank was filling, I realized that the doleful greeting I received earlier was due to the fact that these workers were soon to be redundant. So I initiated a little small talk asking him about the introduction of the new system and what it meant to them - the people who would be first and foremost, affected by the decision.

Not needing a literal answer that spelt out their woes, I knew that it obviously meant that a lot of jobless people would be looking out for new employment ( that is, IF they were not going to be sent on a cancellation visa to their home country and IF they did not receive a work ban to return to the UAE) After all, it is very rare that companies give their employees an easy transfer to another job, that too, if they are on lower levels of menial labour. (This is still minus the new visa rules that have come into effect)

Just as the numerous thoughts passed my mind, his low voice broke through with the words, "Not sure Ma'am. We will just have to wait and see and then will probably have to look for another job somewhere, if we can". Living in Dubai for so long, I was instantly aware of the plight of uncertainty that he, and his colleagues were already facing, and the look on his face made me sure that he too was trying to avoid the subject and stay as positive as he could. What spirit indeed!

By the time my tank was full, I bid him a quick thank you-goodbye and drove off as quickly as i could, because by that time, my mind was already working in overdrive mode, imagining and hoping of some way that I could do something to give him a little hope.

During the few minutes I spent in refilling my tank, I can say that I truly had a taste of what the fuel attendant's face every day. Unimaginable weather condition, humidity levels that leave one dehydrated and drained out, long shifts, moody customers who don't spend a moment to say thank you and above it all meager pay scales that don't amount to anything more than a few hundreds after paying off rent and utility bills. However, reading through the morning news I learnt that many drivers were pretty vocal about the new service, mentioning their discontent towards having to get out of their air-conditioned cars, paying up and filling up, while not knowing how much to fill and pay for, so that they have a full tank. Petty issues indeed, as it always takes a few tries before we are able to be perfect at anything in life!

All said and heard, i couldn't help feeling infuriated at the many comments made about the self-service, where many people grumbled and groaned at the discomfort (especially at getting out of the air-conditioned cars) without anyone stopping to think of the life that the fuel attendants face each day.

No doubt, they do it for a living and that is probably the best type of employment most can find in this city, yet i don't believe it is fair for citizens not to spare a little consideration when making curt remarks such as "that's what they are paid for" ...

Enoc's group brand and marketing manager, commented that none of the fuel attendants would be made redundant, and that the self service was introduced so that customers would get tempted to buy things from the C-store while they paid up for the fuel. I say, that's a whole load of CRAP!

First of all, the trial project is being implemented to make the city on par with international practices, so there is no way these people will hold the same job, should the project be successful. Second, if everyone parked their cars in front of the fuel pump, got out to pay up at the C-store and while at it, got tempted to buy things they would not otherwise (had they not to be in there) then one can only imagine the traffic pile up at the gas station. Talk about frustration and the height of stupid management!

Just the thought of the whole issue makes me go back to the days, when private taxis were the only way to get around within the city. The drivers were the sweetest you'd have ever seen, as most were very content with their jobs and their ability to feed their families back home. They drove around town the whole day, never refusing any customer standing on the road-side, and at most times lowered the fare with a little bargaining. To cross the creek, you would bargain your way to Dhs 5 from the initial rate of Dhs 10 quoted by the driver. That too, would be given by the time you reached your destination, with most of the them agreeing to it with a smile and asking only for prayers and good wishes. Such were the days when people came to the UAE to make a living out of the simplest of jobs.

However, since the start of the hired-taxi services, a lot changed. Many old private taxi drivers were forced to give up their jobs as they did not fall into the correct age-bracket of the new employment target. (Many of the private taxi drivers were well into their 50s and 60s and would earn as much as they could without taking too much off-time) All of them were forced to leave the country as the new taxi companies had a certain criteria to be met, before they employed drivers. And then gradually came the rules and regulations, the fines, the annoying passengers, the shift time-limits and the rest....

The question is, are these new employed taxi drivers happier than the old drivers who ferried private taxis before the introduction of the new service.
The answer: Certainly NOT!

Another question: Are customers and residents of Dubai happier at the rates and availability of the taxis, as compared to the old times, when we could hail a cab within just five-minutes of stepping out of the house (No matter where you were located) and would pay half the rate than we pay today.
The answer: Certainly NOT!

With every change comes a certain amount of disappointment and contentment. However, the degree of the change and the benefit it brings to most determines if things are for the better or the worse.

A reason for living

This morning, a friend said to me

"everything in this world happens for a reason and everybody is a reason by themselves
and ultimately everybody is a reason for the other"

I guess with those words, he summed up a whole lot of things in my life.

As my best friend gets ready to tie the knot at the end of this month, i sit here counting the days as they pass by, watching friends come and go, leaving their footprints all over my heart.

By nature, i tend to be a very selective person when it comes to making friends, but once i do make one, i end up making them the center of my world, where i love to pamper them to the extent of being spoilt. Such was the case with this darling heartbeat of mine, who is now on her way to make another's heart beat with her little ways.

I've seen many friends come and go in life, and although they are central to us at certain times, there is always that dreadful moment, when we instantly know of the inevitable gaps that begin forming.

Marriage in most cases, has many women giving up friends and family, coz they have a whole new world to deal with. Staying in touch gets more difficult as the responsibilities pile and before we know it, time creates a drowning gap that leaves us almost speechless. I guess that explains one reason why old friends meet each other and let out a loud shriek before they even utter the regular "hi - hello".

Men on the other hand, have it really easy. I think women envy them to an extent coz they get to keep their friends, their family and everything they love, even those hard-to-part-with sentimental stuff from their first crush! Women, on the contrary, have to let go each step of the way...sometimes because of residential changes, sometimes because her husband wont understand the meaning behind an old Valentine card, and sometimes because she simply cant keep track of her little treasure box as it grows in size with each passing year.

Eventually, that brings all the emphasis back onto real time, real moments and real people.

Friends, i believe, are the reason we keep living. They end up popping by unexpectedly, at a particular time for a particular purpose and once they've done their part, they are off onto the next person, the next moment...

Sometimes we cant figure out their role in the big picture, but it only begins to make sense after they've gone...slowly that canvas reveals it's numerous colors and we see the beauty of life in all clarity. We begin to see the gaps being filled with laughter, with pleasure, with memories, with moments and just like a virtual album, a new chapter is created in our minds. I guess that's where we run and hide when the world gets cruel and when we want to relive our past.

Therefore, if as this dear friend said, everyone is a reason by themselves and everybody is a reason for another, then i take it that friends are the one's who keep us alive when our heart stops beating.

They leave us with memories, that never fade.

They give us those imaginary wings, when we want to soar.

They fill in those empty gaps, when we don't know that they even exist.

They hear the words we say, when we think we are silent.

They color our world with new perspectives, that we never thought of before.

They know stuff about us, that we don't know ourselves

and sometimes,

they are the only ones who can resurrect our spirits when our minds give up.

To all my friends, who've been my reason for living, at some point or the other, i dedicate this first post as a toast to all those beautiful memories that will live on...