A massive dust storm lashed Doha yesterday. And I’m sad I missed it!

For Doha residents, yesterday began like any other day. The temperature was high and the humidity, stifling. But around noon, a dust storm — the likes of which we haven’t seen in some time — descended on Doha.

It was highly unexpected and took everyone by surprise. Before long, social media sites were inundated with pictures and videos of the dust creating havoc.

I remember the last time this happened. I, with my family, was inside Villaggio Mall, watching the first day, last show, of Fast and Furious 7.

Suddenly, the smoke detectors went off and the hall was filled with something akin to smoke. We were confused and waited for the wailing sirens to stop, but when it didn’t, I got up and herded my family out.

Gradually, more people started getting off the seats and it was a mad scramble to the exit. No, it wasn’t a fire. The fine dust had got into the smoke detectors and confused it enough to trigger an alarm.

Outside, the dust was immense. We couldn’t find where we’d parked our car. And even when we reached the spot, the only thing that helped me recognize my car was the number plate. Everything else was covered in an inch of dust.

We thought of waiting out the storm in the car, but then decided not to as it was already late at night. Visibility was down to just a metre ahead of us, but we put on the hazard light and drove home slowly.

We could see some drivers speeding even in that weather, probably getting a high out of the whole exercise. We took care to keep to the right of the road.

All in all, it was one of the most exciting evenings of my life, even though it did cause all of us quite a bit of inconvenience.

I am no longer in Qatar. I left at the end of 2015. But reading about the dust storm and re-living it again through pictures, I kind of miss being there. It was as if I lost out on another ‘Doha experience.’

Is that normal? Who knows? Who cares?