Crisis under the Sahara Sun

By Fozila Chowdhry

It is the summer of 1975. A small group of tourists make their way over to Morocco from different parts of England, together they form a group of much wanted friendship and camaraderie. Only time will tell how they cope in a country, far away from home or whether their friendships are tested to

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fozila Chowdhry
• Release date: Jan 26, 2024
• ISBN: 9781916981829

Book preview

Introduction

It is the summer of 1975.  A small group of tourists make their way over to Morocco from different parts of England, in the hope of indulging in the unusual cultural beauty and scenery the country has to offer.  For some, it is the beginning of many holidays to come, for others, it is a holiday of a lifetime.  Together they form a group of much wanted friendship and camaraderie.  Only time will tell how they cope in a country, far away from home or whether their friendships are tested to the limits!

Morocco is an exotic land that has lured many travellers over the centuries. Throughout the seventies, the record of people travelling to this beautiful, exotic country has reached to its full heights. Morocco is located on the west coast of North Africa, just a short distance away from the south coast of Spain and Western Europe.  One footstep into Morocco and a tourist could find himself or herself in one of the most magical lands of North Africa!

It is in the wilderness outside the cities where the real magic lies. Many tourists take a camel trek in the desert, join in the community spirit of listening to storytellers, dance with one another to exotic Berber music and finally, sleep under a blanket of stars.  One could take to the hills to discover the beauty of the Atlas Mountains, and observe the scenery of the landscapes down below. One could walk along stone paths through green trees, over tranquil brooks and streams.  The Atlas Mountains are a paradise in themselves and it is utter bliss to feel perfectly content in these peaceful surroundings.  One could take time to savour all the natural beauty surrounding himself or herself.  It is sheer pleasure to explore a cave of wonders, selling everything from tagines to handmade carpets.  Souks or markets are the honeycomb of connecting alleyways where all five senses come alive.  How gentle and kind the locals of the Atlas Mountains could be! They never tire of offering hospitality to people from faraway lands. Mystical and colourful, with a pinch of spice, the country and its desert culture offer an allure that is difficult to define and resist!

List of main characters

Mr John Wilmott - Librarian

Mrs Jane Wilmott – Housewife

Lucy Wilmott –A student of History at Oxford University

Ajay Patel – Shop owner

Rina Patel - Housewife

Helen Forrester – Admin worker

Gordon Jones – Teacher (Helen’s Boyfriend)

Chapter One

Marrakech, Late July, 1975

Marrakech Menara airport, 10.30 a.m, Tuesday, 27th of July, 1975

The first plane landed at Marrakech Menara airport.  It was a dazzlingly radiant day for the economy travellers arriving from London. Once airport security checked the luggage the tourists were finally able to move on.   They changed their pound currency notes into dirhams at the currency exchange bureau, situated a few feet away from the checkout points. Leather luggage was thrust onto trolleys, mainly small suitcases and embroidered rucksacks gave out a casual atmosphere.  People from all backgrounds stood in the reception area, some would be taken straight to their hotels, others would be wondering what mode of transport they could get hold of to reach their bed and breakfast inns.  Once, some people reached their hotels and others reached their inns, they will then plan their journeys for the rest of the holidays they will spend in Morocco.

A couple of later middle-age, Mr and Mrs Wilmott, and their daughter, Lucy, stood in the airport entrance waiting for their hotel representative to arrive to collect them.  The journey took a slight toll on Mrs Wilmott, at her age she was beginning feel the exhuastion of travelling. Lucy, their daughter, had excitement written all over her face.  Being the only child, she had a conventional upbringing, all prim and proper, not a hair strand or a piece of clothing out of place. The Wilmotts loved and cherished their only child dearly.  With no brothers and sisters to contend with, Lucy was the main focus of her parents’ attention. They did all they could within their affordable means to give her what she wanted and needed.

Mother, I’m thirsty, I need to have a drink.  Lucy then turned to her father, John Wilmott, who stood slightly apart from his wife and daughter, keeping a lookout for the representative who would collect them. 

It won’t be long now, dear, the hotel representative will be here any minute now to take us to our hotel.  John Wilmott tried to reassure his daughter, he wanted Lucy to hold onto her thirst for just a little while longer, but she kept on imploring, father, please, my throat is dry, I need a drink, now!

John Wilmott picked out a few dirham coins from his leather wallet and handed them over to Lucy.  There was a vending machine near the entrance for drinks, crisps and chocolate.  Lucy obtained a large orange juice bottle and a packet of cheese and onion crisps so that she could share them with Jane, her mother.

It’s all right, my love, I can manage for now.  You go ahead, quench your thirst and ease your hunger.  Jane Wilmott reassured her daughter, knowing it will not be long before the hotel representative will arrive to collect them.

The Wilmotts, luckily, only had to wait for a quarter of an hour, when a sleek, black car drew up.  A tall young man with tanned skin and olive-green eyes got out of the car.  Ferdous, as he was called, walked towards the Wilmotts and extended his hand in greeting to John Wilmott.

My name is Ferdous Tägwawi and I am here to take you to your hotel, The Riad Star.  I trust you have managed to collect all your belongings from the airport checkout. Ferdous said, as he extended his hand to John Wilmott as a sign of welcome and hospitality.

Thank you for being here, not too early and not too late.  Jane Wilmott answered the representative, her eyes fascinated by his face, especially his eyes, she secretly found them mesmerizing.

It is my privilege to show you around Marrakech and wherever you planned to explore further, I’m sure someone else will be there, too, to help you.  He gave Lucy, not her mother, an entrancing look.  Lucy felt herself go weak at the knees, slowly turning to jelly at the way he looked at her.

Once their luggage was stored in the back of the car, they got inside and claimed their passengers’ spaces. John Wilmott sat in the front passenger seat with Ferdous, while Jane and Lucy took their seats behind them. It was not far to reach their destination, the Riad Star hotel, was located in the heart of the old town, the Marrakesh Medina, a medieval walled city.  The renowned Jemma Al Fnna Square was just a twelve-minute walk away from the hotel for authentic sightseeing.

Once we’re inside the hotel we can indulge in nice cool showers, Jane Wilmott pointed out, and her daughter agreed with her. Half-an-hour later, the Wilmotts reached the Riad Star hotel. The hotel was situated in the heart of the old town, Marrakech Medina, in a district that owns top attractions like the Marrakech Museum and the Ben Youssef Madrassa. The Jemma-el-Fnaa Square, being world famous, takes just twelve minutes to walk to from the hotel if you can keep your eyes temporarily away from the colourful shops along the way.  Once one reaches the Square, he or she could find a labyrinth of souks specialising in crafts and carpets, spices, leather, exotic lamps of different colours, shades and metalwork. The Jemma-el Fnna Square allows room for diversity.  Palaces and ancient monuments associate with each other.  There are also galleries, museums, cafes and restaurants full of both, national and international tourists.  Morocco being a part of North Africa, the citizens within it tend to socialize all year around.  The hotel, where it is located, has a reputation to be the perfect base from where to explore authentic Marrakech.  It offers one a short taxi ride from the Medina to the new town of Guilez with leafy boulevards, parks, gardens and bars.  Guilez buzzes at night, complete with world class restaurants

The Wilmotts booked the Josephine Room, named after the icon and heroine, Josephine Baker.  It was unusual in Marrakech, in those days, for the Josephine Room at the Riad Star hotel to have a window extended onto the street.  It is believed that the Pashah of Marrakech paid children to sit outside Josephine’s window, to read to her when she was recovering from some sort of serious illness.

Both, the Wilmotts and their daughter, had a desert to explore within a day or two.  Lucy sat down at a nearby table and helped herself to as much fruit juice she could drink, courtesy of the hotel, to get her well replenished for the journey ahead.

Marrakech Menara airport, 12.00 p.m, that same day

The second plane landed at Marrakech Menara airport.  There was a mixture of travellers from the four corners of the globe, with a diversity in ethnicity and language.

Ajay and Rina Patel were feeling the effects of jetlag and they could not wait to get to their hotel.  Coming from a caring and nurturing Indian culture, they had plenty of hands to help run the shop in their absence.  A much-needed break overtook them so a group of relations offered to run the shop in their absence, to their relief.  It would only be for five or six days, but at least it would be relaxing as life in Bradford was pretty hectic.

Once the luggage was thoroughly checked, they went over to sit in the nearby lounge. They threw their heads back on the sofa and closed their eyes for a few minutes.  Surrounding them were people, changing their currency just like the Wilmotts, at the currency exchange bureau, a few feet away from the checkout points.  The Patels opened their eyes after a few minutes, and they realised the sooner they got to their hotel destination, the better. Like the Wilmotts, they changed their currency into dirhams, put their cotton suitcases of durable quality onto the trolley, and made their way to the reception area to wait for their hotel representative to pick them up and drive them to their hotel. 

We could both do with a drink, after all, it is a very hot day.  Do you have anything in your purse? Ajay asked, he was always reluctant to look through his wallet for some change, and wanted Rina to come up with the money instead, although she was the housewife and had limited access to his funds.

No, I’m afraid not, Ajay.  You’ll have to search your wallet.   

Rina was reluctant to open her purse knowing full well Ajay would make her spend all her coins when needed, and then make her beg for some money when she should not have to. Ajay mumbled disappointment under his breath and took a few dirham coins out of his wallet.  He went to the nearby vending machine and brought back two cans of Coke.  The Patels quenched their thirst and remained seated in their places to wait for their hotel representative to arrive.  Half-an-hour later, a lady of medium height, with almond shaped brown eyes and dark brown hair got out of the black car to greet them. 

Good afternoon, I am Karima Wahdi and have arrived to pick you up.  I am sorry about the duration of the time you had to wait, the traffic in Marrakech is quite hectic at this time of the year.  I hope you had a good journey.  Karima said, as she shook hands with Rina and, then, they deposited their luggage in the back of the black car.  Both Karima and Rina sat at the front while Ajay sat in the back. Back in the seventies, it was the custom for Asian ladies to sit in the backseats of the family car, especially when other male members wanted to join them, the men actually had the privilege and not the women to sit at the front!

It took them about a quarter of an hour to reach their hotel, The Riad Cinnamon.  This hotel is located in a quiet residential area, again, in the heart of the same historic district of Marrakech Medina, near to the Almoravid Koubba (the oldest building in Marrakech), the Marrakech Museum, and the Ben Youssef Mosque. The Riad Cinnamon hotel is a thoroughly restored merchant’s house. The famous Jemma-el-Fnaa square is just a ten-minute walk away, through the souks to the south.  The owners, the El Korchi family, lived in this large merchant’s house, now the Riad Cinnamon hotel, for nearly sixty years. 

They were renowned as the best bakers in Marrakech, famous for their delicious recipe, the Spekia, a sweet cake eaten at festivals and celebrations.  This spacious house was regularly used as a wedding venue long before it was turned into a Riad hotel. In Marrakech, the owners of impressive hotels, such as this one, traditionally volunteered to host such an important event as a gift to the newly wedded couple. It was seen as an act of charity towards the community.

The Patels booked the Fez suite, inspired by the colours and styles of the imperial cities of Morocco.  This suite was conveniently built next to the swimming pool and patio, should the Patels feel adventurous enough to plunge into the water!

Rina fell down on the bed, she was exhausted from the journey.  She was only married for two years but she already began to feel the strain of their union. She decided she would have a shower later.  She needed to take a nap first.

I need to sleep off this jet lag.  I’ll have some lunch after I’ve woken up and had a shower.  What are you going to do? Rina asked, she looked up to her husband with half-open eyes, sleep slowly overtaking her.

I’ll take a shower, now that you’re drifting off, then, I’ll head downstairs to have a look around. Remember we got the desert trek in two day’s time. See you soon!  And off he trotted off, without a backward glance at Rina, such was the typical way with couples who had traditional arranged marriages, the husband and wife just about accepting each other, such was the way of marriages in Indian culture in the seventies and in the early years before this millennium decade.

Marrakech Menara airport, 3.00pm, that same day

A group of young people entered Marrakech Menara airport, most of them in their early twenties, hoping to soak up what delights Morocco will be able to offer them on a tight budget. 

Most of them would reside in communes, so that they could share the cost of transport and lunch.  Amongst the group was a couple from Manchester, Helen Forrester, an administration worker at a local hospital, and Gordon Jones, her boyfriend, a teacher from a primary school in the town, Oldham, both the hospital and the school based on the outskirts of Manchester.  Both Helen and Gordon lived in the same town, and they had been together for six months.  They both had to live with their parents because it was expensive to rent, and they had to save up for a deposit to get a place of their own.  Anyway, they were here to get away from it all, to go through some adventures while they were still young and free of heavy commitments.  After all, the decadent memories of our youth keep us going in the later stages of our lives. Life in the middle stages could turn out to be mundane for some!

Helen and Gordon decided to stay with their group of friends for a day or two, before they would make a trek to the Sahara Desert.

I’ll get us some crisps and cans of coke, darling, your throat must be all dried up.  Gordon said, he was always so caring towards Helen.  He walked over to the vending machine and purchased two packets of crisps, salt and vinegar and cheese and onion, and two cans of coca-cola.  They joined the others on the lounge sofa so that they could munch on their refreshments.  They still had some time to spare, after all, there would be no hotel representative to pick them up. 

Marrakech, here we are!  The group shouted out in cheerful tones.  The group decided they will stay at a bed and breakfast inn. After all, it was cheaper in the long run if they wanted to spend their money on clubs and the desert treks for those who paid for it.

Half-an-hour went by when everyone decided they would start looking for a bed and breakfast inn.  Two of the men got their maps out of their rucksacks and started looking at the list of cheap bed and breakfast inns available in Central Marrakech.  They finally found one closer to the markets and the museums.

Gordon, Riad Jona looks as if it would be more than adequate for our needs.  Mark offered, a fellow schoolteacher and a friend of Gordon’s, pointed out the accommodation to him and Stephen. 

The Riad Jona looks quite posh for a bed and breakfast inn, it looks almost like a three-star hotel.  What do you say, Gordon?