By Poornima Marh
Khaleel Ummer, 48, was born and brought up in Kerala and moved to Muscat in 1992. He was in Muscat for 10 years working in a construction company.
He is very fond of Cricket. He also mentioned being the captain of a Cricket team there, named Kerala Wing. He says ‘I also won a trophy’.
He moved to Bangalore 5 years ago, and currently works as a cashier and manager at the restaurant named Adukkala (meaning Kitchen in Malayalam). He says he misses home during Ramadan the most. “I remember as a child during Ramadan, every evening I would eagerly wait for my dad to come home. Once he arrived we would all go to my grandparents house. It was fun that time. All family members would gather and be together. Now, only the memory of it remains. That is what I miss most when I’m here. the whole family being together.”
When I asked him if ever it gets a little difficult and challenging working in a restaurant while he is fasting, he said “No, not at all. I started fasting when I was 5 years old. It is certainly easier now, as an adult. I do see all these cuisines, laid in front of me from 7 in the morning till 11 at night, but not once do I feel any temptation for food. Also I have been working in the restaurant business for the past 5 years so that makes it easier as well.”
TCN Series:Ramadan 1439