A plain girl. The picture is for Illustration purposes only.

They say you should steer clear of “plain” girls, and not because of looks – no, the danger lies in their stickiness. Once you touch one, good luck escaping. It’s like signing up for a free trial that automatically upgrades to the lifetime premium plan. And there’s no unsubscribe button.

Apparently, this very important caveat never made it to certain parts of the Gulf.

Here’s the scene: at least four times now, I’ve spotted the same odd couple combo. The woman? African, probably in her thirties, rocking that unmistakable face you’ll find on many domestic workers. The man? Arab-looking, early twenties, and very pale. He is clearly neither sun-seasoned nor dust-conditioned, which tells me he’s fresh off the air-conditioned life. My suspicions are always confirmed when I hear them chatting away in Arabic.

If you’re slow on the uptake, here’s the plot twist: she once worked in the Gulf as a domestic servant, he was the curious young master of the house, and one day… well… someone decided to test-drive the help. Fast-forward, she’s back in Kenya, he’s followed her like a lovesick puppy with a passport, and now they’re living far away from the prying eyes of Aunties, Uncles, and “the family name.”

From my observations, these couples prefer quiet spots outside busy towns – probably because explaining “how we met” would require both a translator and a lawyer.