Missing the mountain peaks and his young daughter

“Each day I am on a different duty. Today, I’m on trolley collection, in the drop-off area of the airport. That means I’m not allowed indoors the whole day,” said Keshab, a porter at the Abu Dhabi International Airport, who is employed by a private company.

To him, it is a hard job with little rewards. “I work for six days a week, in 12-hour morning or evening shifts. Everyday I do something different - either collect trolleys, help arriving or departing passengers with their luggage or help with the loading and unloading of the bags at the X-ray department,” added Keshab. The quiet, short, thin 30-year-old porter left his home in Nepal, a year ago, in search of an income that would help him support his family.

His wife and four-year-old daughter, Anshu, are back home, waiting for his return. He phones them once in a month and, sometimes two or three times in a month, when some passengers are more generous with their tips.

“Every time I speak with my daughter she says ‘daddy I miss you’, ‘daddy come home’. It breaks my heart. I miss them, too, and I miss the clear mountain air of Nepal and the fresh, tasty food,” said Keshab with a sad smile.

From his Dh700 salary, he sends home around Dh500 every month.

“It is very little and if it doesn’t improve I don’t think I can continue to stay here,” he said.

He doesn’t mind the hard work and harsh living conditions, but he has to be able to support his family.

“When I work day shifts, I get up around 4.30am. A bus brings us and takes us back to the airport everyday. After work I cook some rice, lentils and chicken, spend a little time with my friends, then go to sleep around 10-11pm. I live in Khalifa City. There are 18 of us in one room, sometimes even 20. We have a tiny kitchen and electric heater. So there isn’t much that we can cook.

Until a month ago, the company provided food for us in exchange for Dh200 a month, but the food was very poor, so we decided to prepare our own meal and keep the money.”

“On my day off, I usually clean the room, do some shopping and listen to music. Sometimes I go to Abu Dhabi. I haven’t seen Dubai yet, or any other city in the UAE.”

Keshab’s contract with his company is for three years, but he is not entitled to his first paid home ticket in the first two years.

For now, he is left with the dreams of Nepalese peaks and the voice of his beautiful young daughter.

silvia@khaleejtimes.com