ABU DHABI // The tantalising aroma of shawarma and the constant noise of car horns keep Hassan, Hanan and Lilas awake at night.
“Putting the children to bed can already be difficult,” said Ruba Al Sharif, the children’s mother. “So imagine adding noise to the mix. Sometimes the kids start complaining that the honking is too loud and they can’t fall asleep.”
In January, the Jordanian family moved into a residential building at the corner of Muroor Road and 31st Street. But soon after they committed to the move, they discovered that the Lebanese Flower restaurant was scheduled to open on the ground floor.
“When signing the contract, I was surprised to find out that a restaurant was opening downstairs,” said Shadi Hasan, the children’s father. “But I had already made the deposit, and to be honest, I didn’t think it would be so bad.”
Because they are on the first floor, the family has to deal with the smells and the noise well into the night. The parking area in front of the restaurant is often blocked, with drivers either honking for their orders or honking in attempt to get through.
“Even after the restaurant closes, we still hear noise up until 3am – of people shuffling, moving chairs and tables around as staff are trying to clean up,” Ms Al Sharif said.
The parents, both agricultural engineers, start work at 6am, leaving only a short interval between the time the noise abates and the hour the couple rises.
“So, essentially, you get no sleep,” Mr Hasan said.
The couple said they are not likely to renew their lease, a decision made reluctantly.
“We liked it here because it was a convenient location next to our children’s school,” Mr Hasan said. “Who knows where we’ll need to move now. ”
Although the couple is not opposed to the concept of drive-by service, they would like to see some sort of regulations put in place. They said they have not lodged any complaints with the police or building management because legally nothing can be done.
“You can’t ask for personal comfort at the cost of other people’s blessings, that’s certainly not what we’re implying,” Mr Hasan said. “You’re talking about a business and people’s jobs.
“People are the way they are … culturally, people here are used to being served and while we’d love to see attitudes change, the reality is at this point it’s very difficult.
“What we’re saying is if you can’t prohibit it, then put clear rules in place to prevent these problems from happening.”
mismail@thenational.ae
Fifa Club World Cup quarter-final
Kashima Antlers 3 (Nagaki 49’, Serginho 69’, Abe 84’)
Guadalajara 2 (Zaldivar 03’, Pulido 90')
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SPECS
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The biog
Family: wife, four children, 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren
Reads: Newspapers, historical, religious books and biographies
Education: High school in Thatta, a city now in Pakistan
Regrets: Not completing college in Karachi when universities were shut down following protests by freedom fighters for the British to quit India
Happiness: Work on creative ideas, you will also need ideals to make people happy
Company%20profile
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The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
Score
Third Test, Day 2
New Zealand 274
Pakistan 139-3 (61 ov)
Pakistan trail by 135 runs with 7 wickets remaining in the innings
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'My Son'
Director: Christian Carion
Starring: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Tom Cullen, Gary Lewis
Rating: 2/5
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
What is Diwali?
The Hindu festival is at once a celebration of the autumn harvest and the triumph of good over evil, as outlined in the Ramayana.
According to the Sanskrit epic, penned by the sage Valmiki, Diwali marks the time that the exiled king Rama – a mortal with superhuman powers – returned home to the city of Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, after vanquishing the 10-headed demon Ravana and conquering his kingdom of Lanka. The people of Ayodhya are believed to have lit thousands of earthen lamps to illuminate the city and to guide the royal family home.
In its current iteration, Diwali is celebrated with a puja to welcome the goodness of prosperity Lakshmi (an incarnation of Sita) into the home, which is decorated with diyas (oil lamps) or fairy lights and rangoli designs with coloured powder. Fireworks light up the sky in some parts of the word, and sweetmeats are made (or bought) by most households. It is customary to get new clothes stitched, and visit friends and family to exchange gifts and greetings.
Huddersfield Town permanent signings:
- Steve Mounie (striker): signed from Montpellier for £11 million
- Tom Ince (winger): signed from Derby County for £7.7m
- Aaron Mooy (midfielder): signed from Manchester City for £7.7m
- Laurent Depoitre (striker): signed from Porto for £3.4m
- Scott Malone (defender): signed from Fulham for £3.3m
- Zanka (defender): signed from Copenhagen for £2.3m
- Elias Kachunga (winger): signed for Ingolstadt for £1.1m
- Danny WIlliams (midfielder): signed from Reading on a free transfer
