Beyond Obsession

Rest, finally

“Hello there!” The beautiful and elegantly dressed said to Taylor. For a minute, Taylor wanted to smile back at her but then again, he had been through so much on one day.

“My name is Lynda, and welcome to The Jefferson Holiday Home” She continued. The young man standing beside her stared at Taylor. He was Arab, dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a light white shirt.

“I am Taylor and it has already been an awful experience since I arrived in Dubai. I am just hoping to get a place I can lie down.” Taylor answered.

“Well, I am sorry about your experience. I hope to make it way better for you. Let us check you in.” Lynda said.

“I cannot imagine you just ignored my presence,” Natalie said jokingly, with a smile on her face. She had texted Lynda, her best friend earlier to tell her that she was bringing a guest.

“Oh, Natalie, sweetie,” Lynda said back. They had known each other for a long time now.

“You go ahead and check him in,” Natalie said as she followed everybody into the bungalow.

In the sitting lounge on the reception, there was a large white leather couch. Taylor sank into the seat as he awaited for Lynda to finish with the details of payment and such. The wall was graced with beautiful artwork and Taylor could not keep his eyes off the latter. He was an artistic man.

“Looks like you are all set.” Said a voice from behind the reception desk. This time, it was a deep male voice.

“Alright,” Taylor said as he followed the young man. “I never really got your name.” He continued as they headed for the stairs to fully check-in.

“Oh, sorry, that is because I didn’t give it to you. I am Ahmed, I am a resident of Dubai.” Ahmed Kamir said. “This is your room,” He said as he unlocked the door to the beautifully decorated room.

“This is so much better and bigger!” Taylor exclaimed, and this time there was a broad smile on his face.

“Oh, look, you like it already!” Ahmed said before he left Taylor to settle in.

Taylor was amazed by how much bigger the room was and at the same cost he would have been charged at La Mada.

Downstairs, Natalie and Lynda sat on the couch. The two had been best friends for 8 years now. Natalie had helped Lynda settle in when she first arrived in Dubai. Within no time, they found themselves meeting almost every single day.

“I am telling you this guy was totally mad at La Mada.” Natalie was saying when Ahmed got back.

“He does not seem to be the type to get angry,” Ahmed said, in regards to Natalie’s comment.

“Well, look who we have here,” Natalie said, sarcastically. He had never liked Ahmed but he had found a way to accept him as a part of Lynda’s life.

Ahmed Kamir, the son of Kamir II, had been born and raised in Dubai. There is not one thing or place he didn’t know in the country. Besides, he had traveled to most parts of the world, being the only one to the tycoon. He lived across the street, right opposite the holiday home. He had gotten to know Lynda when she first bought the bungalow. He had been kind and nice and Lynda loved having him around. And since Ahmed did not have much to do most days, he would offer to help around the resort. That is how they became very good friends with Lynda.

“And how can you tell, you are angry!” Retorted Natalie.

“Well, I happen to read people as they talk, walk and do the things they are doing. That can tell you a lot about a person as compared to actually having a conversation with them. Ahmed was right, Taylor barely got angry, and even when he did, you could hardly tell.

“You do have a point Ahmed, that guy does not explode with anger,” Natalie said. She had experience and watched worse happen once guests felt violated at the hotel.

“Well, you see,” Ahmed concluded as he joined the two ladies. He offered to pour some wine for them and took a beer for himself. He headed back to the couch and on the other side. The three friends talked for almost three hours before everyone left for bed.

Taylor had already settled in his room. It had been a difficult day but he could not ask for a better place. He left the TV on and went on to lie down. He was somehow happy that he got this place over his first choice of hotel. He hoped that Dubai would be kind to him since he had been working tirelessly, and now it was time for his vacation.

As he lay down on the bed, he wondered if the city was as beautiful as it had been that night. He did not have an itinerary since he was driven by spontaneity. He hoped for the best, and the two ladies downstairs had seemed nice to him. It was going to be the most beautiful holiday he had ever been to, he said to himself before he went on to sleep. It had been quite a long day.