As temperatures soar and the rain plays truant, Muslim professionals observing Ramzan fasts have found a novel way to beat the heat and continue fasting in the day by opting for night shifts. Similarly, Muslim businessmen in the city are also working in the evenings to cope with the harsh climate.
“The energy-sapping weather makes it very difficult to fast in the day and travelling in the intense heat is a major problem. Hence, I requested my office to assign me the night shift that starts by 6 pm and ends in the morning,” said Abdullah Khan, who works in a call centre.
“This way I spend the day resting and work in the night,” he added.
Arshad Shaikh, who works at a broking firm in Ghatkopar, said, “Our firm services clients from many foreign countries including East Asia, the Gulf, Europe and United States. While previously I was assigned East Asia the climatic conditions prompted me to request my office to reschedule my time to service clients in the evening and early morning. This has helped in beating the day time heat and allows me to continue working.”
Meanwhile, fruit sellers are making the most of the religious season by hiking
the prices of fruits that are an essential commodity consumed by Muslim devotees while breaking the fast in the evening. Nilofer Asif, a housewife from Andheri, said the prices have gone up by almost 30-40 per cent.
Fruit-sellers say they have no option but to hike the prices as purchasing cost has gone up. The cost of meat and broilers has also seen a rise. Imran Ali, a chicken supplier, said, “The heat and the high demand for chicken in the month of Ramazan leads to the hike in prices.”
