The loud noise of the missile defense system disposing of some items outside keeps me awake at night. As I close my eyes, the faces of my parents and relatives in Achham come to mind.
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Now I have a screenshot in my hand, not a cup of coffee, which reads, ‘Public Safety Alert’. As soon as this warning sounds on the mobile screen, the atmosphere of the Expo 2020 DIP One area in Dubai suddenly freezes. It feels like the cars running on the road outside have stopped and my heart beats as fast as Mangalsen in Achham.
It has been three years since I started making coffee here. The smell of coffee coming from the machine used to be sweet. But now, the smell of coffee has also disappeared due to the fear of which missile will fall at what time. The loud noise made by the missile defense system when disposing of some items outside does not let me sleep at night. I close my eyes and the faces of my parents and relatives in Achham come to mind.
I and my Nepali friends who are with me have been in fear since hearing the news of the attack on Terminal-2 of Dubai International Airport. Many companies have asked their employees to stay indoors on unpaid leave. The government here says, ‘Stay away from windows and doors, go inside a safe building.’ I am inside a safe building, but my heart is unsafe.
I spoke to my mother on a video call last night. My mother’s eyes were swollen. Someone had posted a video of a missile exploding on Facebook. After seeing that, my mother felt, ‘My son is unsafe.’
My mother says crying on the phone, ‘Dad, you will earn money later, you stay safe, go home.’ I remind my mother that I am safe, but deep down I know, no one can say what will happen suddenly.
The pain of losing our younger brother three years ago has not left our family . My sister is serving the country in the Nepali Army . I am the eldest son of the family, I came here as the trust of the family . But, now I think, will this Gulf War destroy our trust ?
Neither the situation of being able to live safely, nor the decision of the ship to return home . I hope that the Nepal government would have coordinated something for us . But, so far, no one has come to ask . We are witnessing a war here that is not ours, but its wrath is burning us .
All I can say for now is - missiles are flying in the sky here, but my attention is in that quiet courtyard of Achham . Where my mother is waiting for a call from me, holding her mobile phone and typing.
Presentation: Menuka Dhungana
