Special charter planes landed on Tuesday and Wednesday with over 200 passengers, including pregnant women, youngsters and elderly, from Dubai. They have brought back harrowing stories of lakhs of Indians stuck in Dubai and other parts of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). mid-day spoke to two such returnees about their experiences.

Many who lost their jobs were asked to vacate their houses in UAE and have no way to return home amid no flights Abhijeet Shinde, 30, a resident of Wagle Estate in Thane holds a degree in hotel management. He went to Dubai on February 27 in search of a job as his restaurant business here did not work out and he had loans to repay. His pregnant wife mortgaged her jewellery, including her engagement ring, to arrange Rs 2.50 lakh for Shinde's travel.