Two... realisations

1) Qatar is really a really really really small place.

2) I am an alien here, not because I ain't Arab, but because I ain't white.

Now these both are two totally different stories, and one has nothing to do with the other. Tell you the first one first. Duh!

The other day, about two days ago, I got a call in office. Totally out of the blue. It was a woman, unknown, on the other end saying she really liked the stories I do, including the one on abuse of domestic servants I had done that particular day, or a day before, don't really remember.

I was busy doing something else, so didn't pay much heed to the appreciation, and asked the lady her name (she gave only her first name) and thanked her.

I went to my blog and looked at the comments on this post: A comment read: 'V said ... Oh! so you are R.W.W. I read that article today and thought it might be you as you had blogged about this topic a few days back. It was a good article.'

And another: 'V said... I came here through Jabberwock a few days back and boy! was i glad! Came to this country 9 months back and am here for another 2 yrs then back to TX. I've read all your article.'

The name of the woman who had just called ten minutes ago, started with the same letter. Obviously, I thought it was the same person. Come on, I didn't think suddenly Qatar would wake up and I'll be flooded with fan mail/calls.

Anyway, so today, I was getting really bored, so decided to search for the woman who called. Why? Just like that. Really. I was bored.

Searched... and found - her full name, her hotmail ID - she turned out to be a very good writer herself. In fact, I had glanced through her columns when I was in Delhi - when i got this job, I used to google Qatar everyday to see if I can kinda get to know what I am landing myself into. So bumped into a few columns of hers.

Well, that I had her MSN ID, I messaged her. Guess who she turned out to be...

A colleague's wife!

I was zapped. Totally zapped. I mean really, its embarrassing to know you just searched for a colleague's wife. Trust me it is.

Thank God the conversation ended soon, and she was on her way. I was pretty much in shock. So very kindly saved my ass and said "thank you for the encouragement (the call)."

This bloody place is really small man. I just gotta stop googling people I think. It's a weird habit. That said, now it's not her who's been commenting on the blog. She didn't even know of my blog. So it seems, there's someone else too. Yeah yeah, I know. I'm gonna stay away. Kya pata woh kiski biwi nikal jaye!

Now part II.

Yesterday, I went to watch The Rising at City Centre. It was a 11.30 (night) show, and it not being a weekend the hall was frigging empty. Well almost. Just a few Arabs here and there scattered around the hall.

These losers are really arrogant ok... really arrogant. They talk in between movies without even intending to say it in whispers. They just talk aloud as if they own the cinema hall. So there was this man sitting two seats away from me who kept on talking on his phone.

A normal reaction from me was, "Shhhhhhh".

The bugger didn't stop, instead started abusing me, in his language. I didn't say much after that, but just changed my seat and went and sat in the front row.

The movie got over, and I was casually walking out when I saw this guy waiting for me outside. he asked me why did I do Shhh to him. I told him the reason very sweetly and also apologised. Coz I know there's no point getting into a fight with these people coz it'll only be you who'll get screwed. It's their country after all. And the Indian Embassy here does nothing, or so I have heard, to help you out.

He clearly wanted to pick a fight. I said sorry to him about 10 times. Felt bad about it too coz I had just come out from watching The Rising where one Indian stood up to the entire bloody British Army.

He walked away eventually. No fight. I was glad.

I promise you, had I been white the bugger would have said nothing to me. They're shit scared of the whites, coz their embassies will bring hell down to Qatar if their citizen is even touched. Apart from that Qatar pays millions to the US to have US soldiers stay in Qatar for their protection.

So they see a white as a white. They don't see American or British. As far as Indians go, they don't give two hoots.

And I also understand, that had that guy even touched me, I would have left my hands... bigtime. I know I'd get screwed.

And I know no one would come out to help me.

I am an Indian in Qatar... like an Englishman in New York.

At the same time, I am an Indian in Qatar. A pure Indian. Not a scared Mallu.

Saalo ko bech kar kha jayenge hum aur pata bhi nahi chalega inhe.

Delhi, I come from - the capital city of the most unpredictable country in the world.

Yo India!