Love's Minimum Wage

         Sitting back feeling anxious yet at peace he sits back in his seat, not in first class but in coach for the very first time in his life. He finds it very displeasing, the cramped seats, the lack of food, and the congestion. Second guessing himself and mentally preparing for take off he sits and ponders on this life changing challenge he has volunteered to do. Watching the stewardess slowing walking down the aisle taking orders from each person he notices the smile upon the stewardess face. He asks himself, “does minimum wage equal happiness? Normalcy? Is this what I want in life”? As he continues to ask himself questions about the so called “normal life” he slowly closes his eyes and retraces back to the decision he made 1 month ago. He was at a coffee shop with his best friend Aaron. He said, “Aaron do you ever feel like this life, that we are living is pointless? I mean do you feel complete? Because I sure don’t”. He remembered the look on Aaron’s face. It was a puzzling look. Aaron replied, “Man we are living the good life, we’re rich, handsome I mean what more do you want? It’s all about…” but before Aaron could finish he cuts him off “see right there, that’s what I’m talking about, I don’t want that. I want to find out who I truly can be and find someone for me instead of what I got. So I’m going to go, I’m going to live a minimum life, work a minimum wage job for a year.”! Aaron mouth dropped to the floor he couldn’t understand but he supported him and from that point he knew that there was more to life than just money.

       “Ding” the sound from over head and fasten your seat belt light interrupted his thought. Before he knew it the plane began to descend and he found himself passing through the international gate, baggage clam, and continuing out the airport. Sticking out like a sore thumb among the Dubai people. He was a tall 30 year old bachelor, your traditional all American man. He was rugged. His eyes showed curiosity and he had hair that you wanted to run your fingers through. He looked and soaked in all that laid before his eyes the city was breath taking. There were sky scrapers and the women wearing dresses in bright radiant colors. As he began to observe his surrounds more he realized he had went to one of the riches countries in the world. He had known before hand but he didn’t truly imagine Dubai to quit like this. He thought “what am I doing here? This is truly going to be a challenge, I have placed myself right back in my old ways”. He quickly realized that this was exactly what he needed to truly push himself into growing. As he hales for a cab, he takes a deep breath and under his breath whispers “welcome to your new home for the next year”.

          He finally reaches his new fully furnished apartment that he had pre rented before leaving home. He then begins to settle in. Later on that day he attends his job ordination, where he receives a uniform ,along with instructions and fills out paper work, life as he knew it was about to change.  It is now his first day of work as a concierge at a very high ends Hotel in Dubai called Deira Hotel. Before stepping behind the counter he pins the name Josh, a bright shinny gold name tag on his upper left side of his chest. Josh’s boss stands along side of him and utters some encouraging words. “Don’t worry! If you don’t get everything right, if there is anything you don’t understand or have questions about just come and ask. I’ll be more than welcome to assist you”. Josh took a deep sigh of relief to let out the nerves he was feeling.” Thank you sir”. Josh was acting like he had never worked a day in his life. Well, in a way he pretty much hadn’t. He came from old money. The only thing that Josh could ever remember that came close to him actually working was when he had helped his father with some office work but that only lasted for about a month. Josh’s first day of work was going rather well. He seemed though to be struggling with the task of being at the front desk and some encounters with rude customers. He couldn’t understand why he was being treated as such. Quickly, being reminded that he was no longer going to be respected by others based of his wealth, his pervious status. Also he is quickly reminded the he is in a new country with new ways of doing things. Just by observing the people in the lobby and the few customers he has already encountered. Josh got through the major challenges that he was mostly going to face through out the day. Josh knew it wasn’t going to be a day like any other. There was just something about it. “was it the new life style, the people, what was it”? In three hour from him clocking in, he notices this gorgeous woman as she sparked walking into the wide open, marble floor lobby, struggling to carry with her 5 pieces of luggage. She looked about in her late 20. She was clothed in bright colors and sequences and covered in jewelry: chandler earrings, rainbow colored bracelets on both wrists, along with a nose piercing.  She had long silky black hair and tan smooth skin that looked perfectly kissed by the sun. As Josh ran from behind the counter to assist the breath taking woman with her bags, all Josh could do is stare into her perfectly almond shaped eyes and her full lips. “Let me get that for you”! Says Josh. The woman places one of her bags she is holding on the floor and extends out her right hand. “Oh thank you so much! I’m Karishma by the way”. Just gazing at her beauty he almost forgets to say his name. “I’m Josh” he replied. Karishma was from India and came from wealth herself that was very clear to see through her appearance and tons of luggages she carried. She inherited her father’s millions when he had died. He died when she was 12 from a sickness that wasn’t looked after properly.  Despite her wealth she is very sweet and loving. Yet she is hard to read at times. Karishma keeps up this wall against many people and doesn’t let too many people into her world. Karishma fears that men will only purse her because of her riches. She wishes her father was still alive to continue to teach her what to look for when it comes to finding a soul mate. However, there was something about Josh… thoughts began to race her mind. “ what was it? Was it he’s foreign good looks? Or the curiosity that filled his eyes”? She wasn’t sure but something about him struck her interest. Karishma was visiting Dubai for quite some time. she was excited to spend her time in Dubai.

       Time was passing but for them it was standing still. They began to show interest in one another and began to date. But as time moved on Josh feared to tell her, the most important thing that once shaped him. He was afraid to reveal this to her, because over the time they spent together he had learned about her feeling toward men that had money or men that only wanted money. And the stresses of life were starting to hit him hard. Keeping a secret from Karishma and the struggles of living minimum wage eat at him every day. So many times he just wants to revert back to his old way of living not having to worry about the struggles he faces. He finds it such a challenge trying to juggle both worlds stretching his pay checks and keeping Karishma happy knowing that he just your average joe.

          As the secret is eating at him he decides to take Karishma out on a date to reveal to her his secret. The waiter sits them down at the table. As josh is unable to even enjoy a night out he tell her, “I need to inform you about information of myself I have been holding from you.” She says, “Let’s wait till after we eat”. But he can’t finish this night. As he tells her this long awaited confession he see the pain fill up in her eyes her smile turn into hurt she doesn’t say anything she just slowly gets up form the table walks away a crack fill his heart to realize he has lost her. In the distance he sees her stop in mid tracks she turns around and smiles. And lips “I already knew” and continues walking.