An expat in Doha

Not withstanding all the pros and cons of living in a desert like Doha, it is not an exaggeration to say that ife as an expat in Doha is a blissful, 

comfortable one..atleast for many.

But offcourse it then depends on your own definition of bliss and comfort..

If you define it by a luxurious life, a well payed job, a secure and lavish lifestyle, then you can get most of it here, provided you have a skill and some hell of a luck.

Doha, though a metropolitan city already, is quite different from the other such cities in the region and enjoys a sense of serenity in its atmosphere. No hustle, clean environment, welfare state.

One can never get enough of it.

It still disappoints me to some extent, how it doesn't show some regard, any regard to those of its citizens who have spent almost all their lives serving the state, and they can be sent home anytime , any day for any reason despite all the hardwork they put for the welfare of this state.

Doha is progressing fast, there are scores of multi billion dollar projects under way, what harm would it be if it started showing some regard and support to its long- serving denizens?

I was born, raised, and given wings to fly in this state.

My father is a teacher here, he's been teaching the students of Pakistani community for long before even I was born, we were raised here and now he is looking forward to his retirement and all the available options and prospects keep him worrying constantly, we three daughters can see it so clear on his face already. The worry of future

Katsaridaphobia

We both had just started to watch this movie; Patch Adams, and this was this scene going on where the mentally ill roomie of Robbin Williams is being scared to death of what seemed to be imaginative squirrels. And in a matter of moments my peripheral vision caught something flying ahead, breaking into our room. Before my conscious mind could manipulate what it really was, my reflexes sparked and in a matter of a millisecond I was in the next room shaking and screaming "cockroach!!" .

My sister apparently braver than me, took the lead to kill this unruly creature which really was a cockroach, while I waited and prayed anxiously for the demise of that little ghost.

Only until I was confirmed that the creature is dead did I put my feet on the ground and entered the room.

But this cockroach free bliss was only short-lived. As I woke up in the morning with a strange ache in my head, I noticed I could recall most of the dream I'd dreamt last night. The poor creatures didn't leave me even in my dreams. How can one forget a purely co******* dream. Plenty of them here and there. I even saw some picking at my iPhone. It makes me reallize how not easy it is to get rid of this scary obsession which, though for others is a constant source of entertainment but if you are one of those poor fellows suffering from karata***** whatever it is the name for cockroach phobia, (I apologize for being so week at memorizing such names) it's indeed a matter of life and death for you. 

From your coconut friend

My dearest friend

You always say, friendship has no end

I know I've been a bad one

But I also love you from the deepest, and that I don't pretend

We cry, we fight

We put ourselves in utter plight

But is it possible to forget all those darker moments

For the sake of those, which were heart melting and bright?

I lost my mind, hurt you, pushed you away

"we are good friends!" Instead You'd always say

I left you alone, I broke the promises

But without you beside me, I always find myself astray..

Forgive me, friend, for all that I have done

A friend as lovely as you I will find in none

The smile that makes my day, I wish to see it forever

And pray for those loveliest moments of ours to return

The coconut man

An old stumpy man with a shabby outfit walks by, with a large platter that is supported over his turban.
As he strolls along his casual shouts "kachi giriiiiii, das roopay (10 rs) das roopay" are hardly taken notice of but by some, who come over to him and buy some white fruit.
Selling coconut is a common practice in Pakistan especially on the roads and in streets.
The coconut has been neatly cut into equal sized pieces, washed n sprinkled with water time and again, and are a enjoyed as a light treat by Pakistanis.
And for a little chunk of refreshment outdoors, 10 rs is no big deal
It is an equally affordable and a palatable snack.
I've loved it since I was a kid. The white "giri" always fascinated me and I used to ask my parents to buy me it.
Coconut selling and many other such little businesses/traditions which are a part of our culture ought to be looked upon with respect and such people should also be looked upon with respect as it is not an easy task to tread along the roads carrying the platter all day for a very sparing amount of fortune to support their families, better than the much cursed upon begging traditions taken up as business bh some very unrespectable lads in our society.