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Mustafa Kunnathuparambil: Man who postpones Iftar for the last-minute orders in UAE

Like many other grocery delivery guys, Kunnathuparambil said he has to extend his fast for a few minutes due to last-minute orders.

For the last 29 years, Mustafa Kunnathuparambil has been working as a delivery guy at a small, non-descript neighbourhood grocery store in Abu Dhabi. That means he is on call from 6am till late at night, with a few hours of break in between.
The holy month of Ramadan is a busy season for Kunnathuparambil. "There are more home deliveries during the Ramadan evenings and I have to be on my toes all the time," the 49-year-old from the south Indian state of Kerala said.
Like many other grocery delivery guys, Kunnathuparambil said he has to extend his fast for a few minutes due to last-minute orders. "That is a part of our job and I don't hold a grudge. I try to cater to all orders even if one comes dot on the time of breaking the fast. Duty comes first," says Kunnathuparambil, who is married and with four children.
During Ramadan, his day starts at 6am and ends at 2pm. "I resume duty at 5.30pm and break my fast at the grocery itself. We have a few dates and a packet of juice. Within minutes, we are back to work," said Kunnathuparambil.
It is only after the other employees get back he gets time to go to his room for a proper Iftar. "My room is a 10-minute walk away from the shop on the Electra Street. Luckily, my roommates would have prepared some food and I get an hour or so for Iftar before I head back to work."
He finishes his duty at 12am when the grocery shop closes.
"I have been doing it for almost 30 years. Some people get more time to rest and some don't. I am happy that people like us get to serve other fasters. We have no complaints," says Kunnathuparambil.
anjana@khaleejtimes.com