The morning was dull and grey when I left for the office. Heavy storm clouds accompanied me all the way for the 40-kilometer drive to the city and it started to rain slightly when I arrived at 10:00 o’clock for my site meeting at the newly-built Al-Awadi Tower in Sharq. For a change, I was the first one who arrived. There was nothing to do at the empty office but to look down at the urban landscape from the 24th floor glass curtain wall. Traffic below moved at a snail’s pace with cars’ taillights glowing amber like hot coals on a barbecue grill. To my left, the steel-grey sea was dotted with numerous white swells cresting a couple of feet higher than normal. A large container ship made its way gingerly to Shuwaikh port followed by a flock of seagulls. In the far horizon on my right was Salmiya, blanketed by a dark squall – must be raining hard over there, I thought.

 

My reverie was punctured by the mobile which jangled shrilly inside my jacket – the contractor said he couldn’t come since he was trapped in a big traffic jam somewhere in Shuwaikh. As if on cue, the two other guys whom I was meeting also called with almost the same story. Damn, it was frustrating to come on time (for the first time) just to be stood up by everyone. Seemed like a bad conspiracy.

 

Well, since everybody seemed to be delayed because of the bad weather, I thought I might as well do some Christmas shopping. Drove to Salmiya and arrived just as the rain stopped. I scoured BHS, Al Fanar Complex and Marina Mall but couldn’t decide what to get for the wife. It was either too expensive, might not fit or she might have it already. I admit I am very bad in this department. Shopping, that is. An inner voice told me: Perahin mo na lang! Okay, I said, after leaving the last shop without a purchase. I had no problem with my son – a month ago, I already got him an electric Fender guitar during a Sale in Dawliah Electronics. Actually, we were just supposed to get an amplifier as replacement for the one he inherited from his elder brother but he complained what good was a brand-new amp if the hand-me-down Ibanez wasn’t up to scratch because the pick-ups weren’t working anymore. Fine, I said, shelling out the extra 65 bucks for the Fender, but on condition that it would be his Christmas, birthday and whatever-else-may-come-up present.

 

For the Boss, I ordered some Godiva chocolates and got him a Ralph Lauren pullover. Striped purple and green. I liked the color but couldn’t afford the price tag if I were to get one for myself as well. (Funny, but I am fond of denying myself what I would gladly give others. Is this a virtue or a masochistic streak?) For our two secretaries, I bought perfume. Which brand? The kabayan salesgirl sprayed me with over a dozen scents until I must have smelled like a dancer in a cabaret. A high class cabaret, though, since the stuff was expensive. I ended up with Givenchy’s Very Irresistible and Kenzo’s Flowers. As for the rest in the office, I got 10 half-kilo chocolate packs in Daskalides - already gift-wrapped and cheaper than Godiva. What else? Oh yes, I ordered a vanilla Christmas Log cake and assorted pastries in Bread Talk.

 

With my small Peugeot stuffed with the loot, I headed for the office. It started to rain along Gulf Road so I switched to the slow lane, put my flashers on and drove extra carefully. Not out of a sense of avoiding an accident but more out of concern that if I suddenly braked, Santa and his reindeers could come flying out of the cake!

 

It was past 1:00 when I got to my desk. A couple of phone calls, some sketches and several design reviews later, I was hungry and decided to tell the girls to fix up our Christmas feast. They had also brought some boxes of pastries from Caesars. So when the boss arrived a few minutes later, we immediately began. Our small office has 14 Indians and 4 Filipinos; 8 Christians and 6 Hindus. Whether it’s Christmas or the Hindu Diwali festival or even the Muslim Eid, it doesn’t matter – we celebrate. After all, who can argue about having good food! We are fond of eating in the office. Sometimes, Raj, when he’s in the mood (specially after signing up a good project) brings lunch and we all attribute it to his or my birthday when somebody else happens to be around. I must have had 5 birthdays this year alone! All false, because for the real one, I was with the wife on the Lisbon-Madrid train celebrating.

 

As the workday ended past 6:00PM, I handed out everyone’s gift and we wished each other a Merry Christmas. Raj was gone for another meeting so I left his stuff on his desk with a note that Santa happened to pass by and by virtue of his being a good boss, rewarded him with some leftovers from his sleigh. I stayed till 9:00PM finishing up some Specifications and Bills of Quantity since I didn’t want to come back tomorrow, a holiday for us good Christians. Being a predominantly Muslim country, Christmas is not an official holiday in Kuwait but quite a number of private companies give a day off to their Christian staff. Those who don’t get this privilege, however, go on a day’s unpaid leave in order to attend Mass and celebrate.

 

I got home close to 10:00PM and we left right away to attend Essie’s party. He emailed me an invite for a Christmas Eve sushi dinner at his house in Fahaheel, just a couple of kilometers from my place. We were the last ones to arrive though we were still on time since our gracious hostess, Gigi, was just starting to serve the steaming hot Japanese soup. I forgot the name, but it was good! Abe, Gerry and Jim with their wives Grace, Cris and Dewie plus their kids were there. After the ritual of exchanging gifts, the women talked shop while the kids went down to the apartment’s games room to shoot pool and play pingpong. As for us guys, well, we talked shop, too. What was lacking - beer or scotch to warm the heart – was more than made up by the soup and the different kinds of great sushi. Not to mention the good jokes and conversation.

 

We left for home way past midnight in the pouring rain. Come to think of it, it was already Christmas Day!