Last night ended on a good note.
After finishing my work, my roommates and I continued watching the movie Double Occupancy, which we had started earlier. It turned out to be a wonderful watch—filled with comedy, romance, and emotions that kept us entertained until the very end.
By the time I went to bed, it was around 11:30 p.m.
Thankfully, I had a good night’s sleep.
This morning, I actually woke up around 6:00 a.m. I sent my usual “Good Morning” message to my Pappa, smiled at my phone, and then… went right back to sleep.
After an entire week of work, my body clearly wanted a little more rest.
Weekends have become my recovery days.
Instead of going to the gym, I usually prefer swimming. It helps me stay active while also giving my body a chance to relax after a busy week.
I finally woke up properly around 8:30 a.m.
By then, my roommate was awake too.
We discussed whether to order breakfast or head downstairs to the restaurant.
I suggested we eat at the restaurant instead. It would cost a little less, and honestly, having breakfast outside the room always feels refreshing.
He agreed.
After getting ready, we walked to the restaurant together.
I ordered a masala dosa along with a fresh cup of milk tea.
Simple breakfasts somehow taste even better on weekends.
On our way back, we stopped by the supermarket inside the hotel to buy a few essentials like toothpaste and soap.
And of course…
We couldn’t leave without buying ice cream.
Since arriving in Dubai, none of us had eaten any ice cream yet, so it felt like the perfect excuse to treat ourselves.
Back in the room, another colleague asked if I’d like to go swimming.
That was already my weekend plan, so I happily agreed.
While all this was happening, my Pappa kept finding little opportunities to call me.
Being the weekend, I knew it would be difficult for us to talk because she’d be at home with her family.
That’s why every call felt even more special.
She called me several times throughout the morning whenever she found a free moment.
Every single call brought the same excitement.
Seeing her smile—even for just a few minutes—was enough to make my day.
After swimming, I felt incredibly hungry.
I ordered a bucket biryani and returned to my room.
While eating, we decided to finish watching Double Occupancies.
The movie became even better as it progressed.
It had the perfect balance of comedy, romance, emotions, and friendship.
By the end, all of us agreed that it had been worth watching.
Originally, our plan after lunch was simple.
Eat.
Sleep.
Relax.
But somehow…
Plans rarely stay as plans.
Instead of sleeping, one of my swimming buddies suggested we go out somewhere because staying inside the hotel all weekend felt boring.
That sounded like a good idea.
So we decided to visit Karama and explore a few shops.
Since we planned to leave around 6:00 p.m., I still had about an hour left.
To pass the time, I started watching another movie—Idhaya Murali.
I only managed to watch about thirty minutes before it was time to leave.
During that hour, I found myself checking my phone every now and then.
It had been almost two hours since my Pappa’s last message.
I sent her a quick text saying I was waiting to hear from her before getting ready to head out.
Soon, we left for Karama.
The evening turned into a small adventure.
We walked through several shops, comparing prices and exploring things we didn’t really plan to buy.
Sometimes browsing is just as enjoyable as shopping.
At one point, we passed a perfume store.
None of us had planned to buy perfumes.
But curiosity won.
We walked inside.
The fragrances were amazing.
Some were light and refreshing.
Others were incredibly strong.
I ended up buying a few perfumes that I felt would last a long time, especially since I tend to sweat a lot in Dubai’s weather.
One of them was so strong that I almost got a headache while testing it!
Still…
I liked it.
My teammate also found a few perfumes she liked, so the shopping unexpectedly became much bigger than we had planned.
After leaving the perfume store, we headed to an electronics shop that we’d seen on Instagram Reels.
Unfortunately, the prices weren’t nearly as attractive as they had looked online.
Sometimes social media creates expectations that reality simply can’t match.
A little disappointed, we booked a taxi and returned to the hotel.
By then, I was starving again.
Everyone else planned to order separately, so I ordered my own dinner as well.
While writing this blog, my Pappa sent me a message.
She had gone to watch Idhaya Murali with her family.
What surprised me most wasn’t the movie.
It was the distance.
The theatre was almost 50 kilometres away from their home.
I laughed to myself wondering how they had chosen a theatre so far away.
Maybe that was the only place where tickets were available.
Or maybe they simply wanted a family outing.
Either way…
I’m happy she got to enjoy her weekend.
At first, when she texted that she had “left,” I assumed she meant she’d left the theatre after the movie.
So I immediately asked,
“How was the movie?”
A few seconds later, she sent me a photo of the opening scene.
That’s when I realized she meant she’d left home and had just reached the theatre.
I couldn’t help but laugh at my own misunderstanding.
Later, I asked whether she’d had dinner.
She didn’t reply, which probably meant she was still spending time with her family.
And honestly…
That’s perfectly okay.
I hope she’s having a wonderful evening.
I hope she reaches home safely.
And most importantly, I hope she gets a good night’s sleep.
As for me, my dinner should arrive in a few minutes.
After eating, I think I’ll head straight to bed.
I’m feeling pleasantly tired after today’s activities.
Tomorrow, I don’t plan on going anywhere.
I simply want to rest, finish a little office work, and enjoy a quiet Sunday.
Although…
If there’s one thing life keeps teaching me, it’s that plans almost never stay the way we make them.
So let’s see what tomorrow has in store.
One thing, however, never changes.
No matter how enjoyable my day is, a small part of me always wishes I could spend it beside my Pappa instead of hundreds of kilometres away.
I hope the day comes soon when I can see her smile without waiting for a phone call, hold her hand, and create these memories together instead of writing about them.
Until then…
Thank you for reading another page from my diary.
Have a wonderful day.
Good night, and I’ll see you in tomorrow’s update. ❤️