Chapter 5 THE JOB HUNT
Mahina woke up to the delicious smell of fried bacon, eggs and toasted bread. She jumped out of bed and rushed into their small dining table in the kitchen. She was wearing a big shirt and her nerd glasses. Since she is farsighted. Dora was singing the lyrics of Arlo’s song;
‘Not even the stars can compare to the beauty that lies in her eyes’
‘Tonight I am gonna hold her, cherish her, and make her mine’
Mahina laughed in her hands and walked quietly to sit in the dining table. Dora heard her footsteps but pretended like she didn’t. Yesterday after Mahina returned, she tried to ask her about what happened to her but Mahina kept changing the topic. She promised herself that no matter what she will get Mahina to talk the following day. When Dora turned and saw the dark circles round Mahina’s eyes, she couldn’t say anything. She could only imagine what could have kept her friend up late and crying. Deep inside her heart she was disappointed at herself for not being able to protect her friend from the unfairness of the world. She desperately wanted to know what happened to her friend yesterday but she didn’t want it to look like she was forcing her. So she decided to just be there for her and if Mahina was ready, she was certain she would open up to her. Dora kept Mahina’s breakfast on the table and hugged her tightly and said;
“It’s okay dear...I am always here for you... I will give you a hand to hold and a shoulder to rest on, when you are tired of everything... promise”
Mahina couldn’t hold her pain inside anymore after what her friend said. She cried her heart out and narrated everything to her;
“Dora? I lost my job... it was all because of Ava and Emma. Pete sent me to interview Jaden the sports man of the year. I was able to get an audience with him and I interviewed him base on the instructions Pete gave me. I didn’t know the two were trailing me or that they were given the same Assignment like I was from their organization. Until I was done with the Interview and the company car was there to pick me up. I was holding the memory card containing the interview when they approached me and snatched it away from me. I tried to get it back but they had their security men hold on to me. until they destroyed the card completely and there was nothing left of it that I could repair from. They cursed me saying that;
“You will never be anything but just a disappointment and a mistake to father. The next time you try to even be more you will be greatly humiliated.”
“Although the company driver was my witness, mister Pete wouldn’t just listen to me. I tried to explain to him everything but he threw me out of the company.” Mahina was sniffling and her eyes were already teary. Her voice was becoming brittle. Dora hugged her and consoled her;
“There’s nothing for you to be worried about. I am sure the universe has something better planned for you. Trust me”
Dora was so frustrated by the whole story. How can it be that even after being disowned by her father, his second wife and her daughters were still after Mahina. What wrong could she have committed against them.
After breakfast Mahina left the house in search of a new job while Dora went to her flower shop. That day when Mahina left the House she decided to try media houses she never thought of applying for jobs in before. She started with ‘daily sun’ and after the Interview she was rejected. For some flimsy excuse they gave saying;
‘She wasn’t properly dressed and her lack of long term experience’
Mahina didn’t dwell long on their comment. Although she was frustrated and tired. The sun was scourging hot and the weather felt dry on her skin. She told herself she wouldn’t give up, until she finds a job to support her friend and to take care of their needs. She went on to try “The Messenger Media House” and they rejected her as well. After trying two others and she was rejected she was low in spirits and physically drained. She decided to try ‘Elites daily health News Media company.’ one of the best media houses in the country. she had no hopes that she would be accepted there, but she still applied. After all there urprisingly, she was called in for an interview. She was to be interviewed by the manager himself, Mr. Luther. when she sat in his office face to face with him, she was surprised at Mr. Luther’s humble nature. He smiled at her and even offered her tea’;
“Miss Mahina I have only one question for you, and I need you to answer me honestly.”
“yes sir!” she replied with all seriousness in her tone and facial expression
“why do you want to work here?” she was surprised by his question, but the man had a serious look on his face, so she answered
“Because... because... honestly I need a voice. I have been silent all my life and there are a lot of things that have been left unsaid. I want the world to fight the injustice that seems fair but it isn’t. I want to give hope to the hopeless with my voice” she answered him honestly with her eyes fixated on his. she looked serious and she was unsmiling.
“I get your passion Miss Mahina, but the world isn’t all rainbows and unicorn... you answered me pretty well...” she smiled but she was still concerned.
“You may get the job... but on one condition” her heart dropped at the completion of his sentence.
Just when she thought everything might work out well, this pretentious looking manager wants a part of her. ‘He is not so humble and kind as I thought he would be after all.’ She thought inwardly. Her head dropped, suddenly gloominess filled her being. As if the manager knew what was on her mind, he assured her it wasn’t what she was thinking of;
“No! no!... it’s not what you are thinking of...my condition for employing you is if you can get an interview with the CEO of this company, then you can be a complete employee, here.” she was elated at his explanation. It felt like she was dreaming so she reaffirmed from him.
“Do you really mean it sir?” he smiled and nodded at her and repeated his condition for her to work in the company:
“Only if you can interview the CEO!”
“yes!” she yelled excitedly.
“Then no problem, I will get that interview done soon... I promise in just three days”
“Three days it is, no more, no less. If you can’t get an interview within that period of time, the deal is off, you can forget about working here.” she nodded her head and promised to make it on time. He handed her the questions for the interview. she collected them excitedly and she showed herself out of his office.
Alba was on the fifth floor. He was standing by the handrails upstairs and looking at Mahina with a smirk on his face. He watched as she left the building cheerily. He got distracted when his phone rang. Alba picked up the call;
’Yes? Luther.”
“I handled everything like you instructed”
“Good!” Alba answered and turned off his call. He smiled and chanted her name for a while:
“Mahina! Mahina! Mahina such an interesting name for an interesting lady.”