Is this title inspired by one of the protagonists of a breathtaking Bollywood film? Yes, it is (if you know, you know). But, this — this is a story about my irrevocable love for Sulaimani chai, a silent yet constant companion, and selfless advice from strangers who have felt like family in a foreign place.
Side note: I don’t really wish to refer to the pandemic in this story. We have heard enough about it already, haven’t we? So, let’s hit the rewind button, and take a pause.
It had been ages since I actually witnessed a sun rise. On my way to work on a Monday morning, I noticed the tip of a massive skyscraper splashed with neon orange light. Having reached a roundabout, I noticed that this blinding light on the building was a reflection of the gigantic sun, gleaming as though it were clad in millions of marigold flowers.
Since it was a slightly foggy morning, the sun rays had a bokeh effect in the sky. It was one of those sights that are so surreal that routine life takes a back seat, as life gives you a chance to stop, stare and stay amazed for a few fleeting moments.
As the fog cleared, the clouds revealed that the skyscraper was none other than the Burj Khalifa. When I set foot in Dubai 2 years ago, the tallest building in the world became my constant companion. Anywhere that I would travel in the city, this giant structure would peak at me amid the city’s skyline. After spending a little more than 24 months here, I smile each time I spot it — as though I were meeting an old friend.
Eventually, on days that were tough, the Burj Khalifa became my shrine. During work commutes, I would glance at it and bow my head gently as I prayed to get through all the rough days. It was a perfect definition of finding a friend in a city. Who would have guessed that this glorious structure brought me to life each day.
With this, I realised that every city has a lifeline. Whether it’s the local trains in Mumbai, the subway in New York or the cabs in Dubai, the public transport of any city is like the blood that runs through our veins, like the chlorophyll that bedazzles a plant.
“The best part about Dubai is that time flies so quickly, here. This makes the happier times more memorable and the sad times pass by even quicker”, a cab driver had once mentioned this to me on a rough day. That statement flipped my day by a hundred and eighty degrees.
There are more than 200 nationalities living and working in the UAE and I’ve had the most moving conversations with cab drivers in Dubai, be it a short journey or a long one. There’s so much to learn about where they come from, their families, cultures and their perspectives on life — they add that humane element to our robotic daily routine, and for me, they’re voices from all over the world that guide me, every day.
“Dubai is the best place to be. I’ve been here for almost 25 years, this is my home,” another taxi driver added as I asked him about where he hailed from. He had been sipping on a cup of tea that looked like black tea. “This is Sulaimani chai. It keeps me going,” he quipped.
These are the ones who have played the role of a friend in need, a brother offering advice or someone who unknowingly imparts words of wisdom that have turned my entire day and my life, around.
Speaking of chai: In Dubai, office breaks involved conversations with colleagues over a steaming hot cup of Sulaimani chai (with lemon and mint). Now you may think that I am obsessed with the sun, but the colour of Sulaimani chai with a drop of lemon morphs into a brilliant shade — much like the colour of an early morning sky.
Did you know that in Arabic, the name ‘Sulaiman’ translates to “man of peace”? How apt, especially since we, as mere mortals are in constant search of this feeling.
Soon, this Arabic concoction, the sight of the world-renowned skyscraper and RTA cabs became my safe place. Thousands of us have landed in this gracious city for jobs, where we constantly find little ways to turn this new city into our home. For me, Dubai is not just a place. It is and will always be my greatest friend.
Hansika Korivi works in Corporate Communications in Dubai
