Postcards from Iraq

He does not expect any danger because he has had a good earlier stint in Iraq. ‘‘I used to serve buffets of Indian continental dishes to the Americans at the air base. They were very friendly with us and we were safe and secure so long as we remained within the air base,’’ he said.

Around 30 of his Indian colleagues in Iraq still keep in touch with Xavier via e-mail and Internet chat. Apparently, the atmosphere in the war zone is not worrisome even after the abduction of the three Indians. ‘‘As a waiter in Mumbai, I was hardly paid Rs 5,000 per month. But in Mosul, my monthly salary was Rs 15,000 and it was directly deposited in my Mumbai bank,’’ Xavier told The Indian Express. He began his catering career a decade back with Oberoi Flight Services.

Before he landed up his Iraq job, he thought he would be working for KBR in Kuwait. ‘‘When I first saw the newspaper ad last year, it only said ‘vacancies in Kuwait’. It was much later that I was verbally told by my placement agency that I would have to work in Mosul, Iraq.’’

Xavier had gone on a three-month tourist visa to Kuwait, and from there he was sent across the border to Iraq.

‘‘What will I do here? There are practically no good jobs available in Mumbai in any of the restaurants and hotels. So the only option for me is Iraq, no matter what,’’ he remarked.