Another Dawn @ Room No.712, Hotel Gloria

Another dawn @ Room no712, Hotel Gloria, Doha

Dad's voice broke my deep slumber
I woke up; still dreamy though
Another dull day at Doha
Huh!! ! Little I knew
That life could be this bleak
Is it because I miss Chennai
And longed to get back?
Is it because I have nothing great to do
And I am just pulling along?

Hey!! ! Is it the same "me"?
Who was longing to get out of India?
One trip to Doha and I am done...
I decide "No more trips to gulf alone"
My mom's cynical comment
"This brat needs experience to understand"
I am writing this for friends
Who ask "How was Qatar?"
How I wish I could shout "Hell"
Well I couldn’t.....! ! !

The place smells of oil
Of money so dear
Of men in white and women in black
Of unfriendly locals
And too many NRIs!! !

I hear more Malayalam than Arabic...
I see more pillai's than Al Sheikhs...
I meet more old buddies than in India...
Still this place kills...

I pity my fellow Indians
Who out of fate or choice
Live a life without life....
There is no temple to visit
No neighbour to befriend
No milkman to fight
And no buddy to roam

Well there is money and oil...

My last day was nearing
I went to buy souvenirs...
Bought surprises instead
I got the best saffron
Better than what I get in Kashmir
I got the best cardamom
Better than what I get in Kerala
I got the best coffee
Better than what I get in Coorg

Do you know why?
Well there is money and oil...

No jungle no animals
Only concrete jungles with "social animals"
No plants no trees
Only the ones artificially "implanted"
No chaos no traffic jams
Only NRIs who are surprisingly disciplined!! !

Visiting gulf on work
To some, a privilege
To some, an obligation
To some, a commitment
To me, "self-imposed foolishness"...

I am lucky that I am getting back
I pity those who can’t
To my beautiful homeland
Where there is love and peace
Instead of money and oil!! !