Startled we all turned… indeed there was a camel grunting and running towards us
“How do you know its her? It could be another camel.” asked Sonia irrelevantly
“Iwould know her anywhere! She has the same demented look. In fact, look,she is only coming for me…help!” my panicked husband yelled as he ran.
Sureenough Jamila was trying to get around to him! She bypassed us all andran towards him. The poor chap was running faster than ever before inhis life.
We started running too. If the situation hadn’t been soserious it would have been seriously funny. Camel chasing man and allof us chasing the camel chasing the man!
My husband ran up a dune and we all puffed our way up as fast as possible.
Much to our relief we saw the lights from our camp right below the dune.
“Thedune was blocking our view. We have not wandered off too far!” Myhusband declared as he hurried down. Jamila insisted on following him –but to our surprise she did not outrun him or harm him in any way – asshe could easily have. We ran, slithered, slipped, rolled our way backto the camp and rushed to our tent.
“Oh there you are!”declared Ahmed when he saw us rushing in. “I was worried. Ah…I see thatJamila found you!” He said smiling fondly at the animal, which wasfollowing us.
He then caught her and took her away and we allheaved a collective sigh of relief. We flopped down on the cosy carpetsand there was silence while we caught our breath.
Then I started giggling. Sonia joined in and Babu followed. We laughed so much that tears rolled down our eyes.
“She’s in love with you!” We told my annoyed husband who stubbornly refused to join in the laughter.
“Now I have real competition! There’s another woman in your life.” I said and bellowed with laughter.
Later we covered ourselves in woollies and stepped outby the bonfire. The fire was soothing and helped calm our hysteria!
We woke up to a cold, crisp, mist covered morning. After a hearty breakfast, it was time for the dune rides.This is what the guys had been waiting for! The climbed into the 4 Wheel Drive like excited little children. The drive was an incredible roller coaster ride.
And then it was time for the camel rides.
My husband tried to sneak off to the tent. But we insisted that he ride. “What’s the point of coming to the desert and not riding a camel?” I asked him.
Finally and very grudgingly he agreed. “But I refuse to ride on Miss Universe.” was his stipulation.
There were only two camels. Our friends took the first round and came back contented, albeit with sore legs. Then it was our turn. I sat on Jamila while he rode on another camel. The ride began and he waved goodbye and his guide turned his camel into another direction. Ahmed was guiding Jamila forward. But as my husband’s camel went in the opposite direction Jamila stopped. She refused all entreaties from Ahmed to move forward. Suddenly she turned and started going where the other camel had gone. Startled, Ahmed managed to hold on to her reigns. I was getting terrified – but Jamila was sure footed and was moving calmly so I tried to calm down too. My husband’s camel came into view and Jamila got excited. She quickened her steps and was soon right behind them. My husband, unaware of the peril was gazing happily all around him. The sounds from behind made him turn and he let out an audible gasp.
”What is she doing here!” he exclaimed almost falling off his camel.
Jamila got closer and closer as the other trained tried to make his camel move faster and faster. We decided to cut short our nerve wracking camel ride and headed back to the camp with Jamila staying stubbornly close to the heels of the other camel. At last the camp came into view and we quickly got off and moved as far away from the camels as possible. Ahmed took a strip of cloth from his pocket and covered her mouth. All the while scolding a scornful looking Jamila in Arabic.
We left the scene and went to collect our bags for departure. Ten minutes later we were settled inside Ahmed’s vehicle - minus Jamila this time...
As we bade goodbye to Ahmed my husband asked him about Jamila’s strange behaviour.
“Oh that… don’t be angry sir. She is little excited on seeing you. When she like someone she like to bite their…umm…uhh…you know…” he stuttered uncomfortably.
“All she wanted was to give you a kiss..ummm…you know where....” I teased my husband as we drove back to Muscat.
“A teeny weeny love bite…” Sonia joined in
“Alright make me the butt of your jokes.” Said my husband and then immediately realized his wrong choice of words.
The car was filled with sounds of raucous laughter.
