Tales From The Desert: "Weird But Exciting"

There is something about the desert @ this time of the year. Every climatic change in the desert is marked by sand storms, the local Arabs call it shamal which refers to change in climate. After 8 months of ruthless summer this shamal marks the start of what you can refer to as the weirdest 4 months of the desert.

It was Saturday evening and I was on my way to the mall as usual. For the past 2-3 days I had observed that the climate was very still, and it was no different that evening. As I was walking I noticed that the sky had slowly started getting darker, suddenly a strong and cold wind blew over me immediately ringing a bell of unusuality and I knew some where @ that moment what was in store with it.

Somewhere in the desert, the wind was getting stronger and had reached a point where it would gather the sand around with it and fulfill possibly its oldest tradition, the tradition of shifting sands!!

Soon the storm descended towards the city and reached me, with every second passing by the wind started getting stronger and suddenly I saw a huge mass of sand blinding my vision. Instantly I faced the opposite side covering my eyes and mouth an instruction I had received from my uncle when I was new in Dubai.

I turned around to have a check and everything beyond 10 meters had disappeared, people around like me decided to halt until the storm settles down. Soon the sand started settling, and as the mall was close by I decided to rush there with a sense of urgency to take shelter. I had come out fresh from home just less than 15 mins back and here I am with hair and clothes covered in sand.

That night as I was lying on my bed thinking about that incident over and over again just admiring nature and its mystic and un-predictable gift the deserts. Thinking about it I was also excited that soon I could expect some rains and cooler days / nights ahead, with that thought I surrendered myself to sleep.

It was 5:30 am as the alarm on my cell phone went off with Bob Marley singing GET UP STAND UP!! To wake me up, but as usual I switched the alarm to snooze and went off to sleep again. 15 minutes later he tried again but in vain, and as the clock struck 6:00 am my back up alarm which was posted on a table in one corner of the room with a sound irritating and loud enough to wake me up and get me off my bed to shut it off for good!!

As my feet touched the cold floor a chill passed through my body and in reflex I pulled them back. My half open eyes were searching for my slippers which somehow always landed up to be under the bed, finally I could locate them, put them on and shut the roaring alarm off before it woke up every one else in the building.

As I proceeded towards the balcony to pick my towel and have a look @ the morning sun, I switched off the AC on the way since it had gotten really cold that morning. My eyes still half open could identify through the curtains that it was darker outside than usual, and as I moved the curtain away to open the balcony door it only got confirmed that it was not the regular bright mornings that I had quite gotten used to for the past 8 months.

My eyes widened as I looked out side, dark black clouds were covering the sky. The first thing that I sensed when I opened the balcony door was the sweet smell of wet mud which brought with it a sense of nostalgic happiness and joy... Déjà vu... as it reminded me of all those times when I had felt the same way before… I closed my eyes and decided to enjoy that moment feeling the cold and humid wind blow over my face. As I opened my eyes and moved outside I stretched myself to unlock all the stiff muscles in my body, and said to myself what a way to start the day! I wished if I had gotten up earlier and would have been able to catch up with some rain, but never mind I said the weather still made my mood, Oh yes it made my day!

I got ready and reached the bus stop, surrounded by faces which had become somewhat familiar to me. We all knew each other but just by the nods and smiles that we exchanged every morning. The bus arrived on time that day, and my one and a half hour journey to the office began.

Usually to pass time I would be listening to music or reading, but today I had my eyes stuck outside. As time went by the sun started tearing its way through the clouds using its powerful rays like a ninja’s sword and performing the act as gracefully. There is something about the Desert sun that I like very much, I have to admit that I haven’t ever witnessed a more majestic, powerful and brighter sun anywhere else.

Into deep thoughts which took me back in time when last year in a matter of one or two weeks the city experienced sand storms, rains, thick fog covers with cold and windy evening and nights. The temperature actually managed to reach 4-5 degrees @ one point of time, which was quite a contradiction to the high 40’s and even 50+ temperatures that were to offer during the summers. I was mentally getting prepared and @ the same time getting excited for something similar, I don’t know why but nature in any form excites me!!