Street talk: 'I was part of the (Royal) family'

"It is not every day that one encounters a touching story, which is ambiguous, yet beautiful at the same time. Mohammed Aftab, originally from Pakistan, has called the UAE his home for over 31 years, all thanks to a Shaikh and Shaikha from Al Ain, who invited him to move to the capital in 1983.
The now 45-year-old, recalled flashbacks of his one-of-a kind history. "When I was 14 years old, my mother and father passed away in Kashmir," he said. "Soon after, I met a Shaikh and Shaikha who were visiting Pakistan."
The meeting certainly seemed like fate for the 14-year-old at the time. "I didn't have parents, brothers or sisters. I was alone and working as a coffee boy at a household. The royals, who were from Al Ain, came to me and asked if I would like to move to the UAE."
Of course, the little boy did not hesitate to answer, as he felt this was a dream come true. "I remember the Shaikha asked me 'Mohammed do you want to come to Abu Dhabi?' And I said 'Yes!' right away," he laughed.
"I still remember arriving in Abu Dhabi on Gulf Air in March, 1983," he added.
He believes that his hard work and dedication, even as a child, made others appreciate him. "The royal family who was visiting Pakistan saw that I was a good, honest and a hard working individual," he added.
Aftab worked at the household of the family who took him in, mainly mastering what he loves to do most, which is to create exquisite coffee.
"At first, I worked in the Shaikha's house, making Arabic coffee," he said. "I also learned to cook Arabic food, but I was the master of Arabic coffee."
Aftab pointed out that it wasn't all about mastering the art of coffee-making for the royals, but it was also about becoming part of the family. "They were really good to me, they took me in as a child. I even travelled with them to different countries," he said.
"I remember my first trip to London was in 1984, a year after they invited me to live in Abu Dhabi. I was part of the family," he added.
He noted that although he was adapting to the life he had, it was time for him to move on and become more independent. "I worked for them for 10 years, and when I was 24 I started to take on different roles, such as driving and housekeeping. I wanted to do anything and everything I can do," he said.
Aftab, who now works in Rosewood Hotel, a fancy five star hotel located on Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi, said that life has certainly become simpler. "My life here is simple, but very good," he noted.
He highlighted the notion that although UAE has blossomed into a modern and dynamic nation, the upscale of expenses has made living difficult at times, compared to the past. "When I first came here, things were much cheaper, so life was easier."
He noted that despite rent being managed by his employer, living on a Dh1,250 a month salary is still tough. Especially since he needs to send a majority of his salary back to his wife in Karachi, who waits two years to see him.
"Life is now very expensive. A 1,000 salary back then was considered a lot because things were more affordable," he added.
While life hasn't always been an easy journey for Aftab, he is nevertheless still thankful for the fate that brought him here as a child. "I'm thankful for everything," he said, adding that, "I am thankful that the UAE is my home."
Although he hasn't been in touch with the royal family for years now, he still keeps a memory of them in his heart. "I haven't spoken to them in a while, but I miss them a lot."
jasmine@khaleejtimes.com
Interviewed by Jasmine Al Kuttab Street Talk is a weekly column to get a glimpse of people's lives in UAE

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