Meant To Be

Chapter 22 - The interview

    Time flew by as quickly as an eagle and in no time Sam found herself standing in front of a short, rusty old building, with a placard hanging carelessly from one side, of the rusty old gate, which read 'Palak Prathmik Shikshamandir.' 

     Dhruv was standing beside her.  She hadn't been able to prepare herself for the interview. It was the very first interview of her life. What questions were going to be asked? Who all would be asking her questions? She had no idea. She tried to prepare for the questions, which she thought was very common and the interviewers might ask her those questions. But the excitement of doing something new and also the nervousness of doing something new wouldn't let her prepare even a tiny bit for the big opportunity she had got. Eventually, when Dhruv had knocked on the bedroom door and had asked her if she was ready, she had decided to go with the flow and answer all the questions honestly, without mincing any words.

     "They have specific timings for the interview." Dhruv said, turning to her.

      Sam nodded, bothering least about what he said. She was more concerned about the interview.

     "Don't worry. Everything will be alright. Just be honest and transparent. That is what is needed. Honesty." Dhruv said putting a soothing hand on her shoulder. "I'll wait here outside. I may not be allowed to come in. Whenever you are done, just come out and inform me."

    Sam nodded again, this time finding it a bit difficult to move her head. "Thank you." she said.

    Dhruv smiled. "All the best." he whispered. He gave her a slight push towards the gate, indicating her to go in.

    Sam took a deep breath and started walking. She stepped inside the gate, which was half open for people to enter. She took a step. Then two. And as she was about to take the third step, someone called out-
   
    "Wait!"
 
     Sam flinched and turned around, to check if the person had called out to her or someone else.

    She saw a thin old man, in security clothes, hobbling towards her, his right hand clutching his right leg thighs.

    "Where?" he asked, showing a hand gesture, which indicated that he was asking her where she was headed to.

     "Er..I have come here f..for an inter...interview."

     The security guard raised his eyebrows and checked her from top to bottom. And that was when Sam realised that she'd covered her face again and only her eyes could be visible. No wonder the guard stopped me.

     "Have you taken an appointment?" the guard said it so quickly, that Sam took almost a minute to understand what he said.

    "No." Sam shook her head. "I've come for a..walk - in interview."

     The guard didn't say anything, but kept looking at her. Sam clutched the bag which she was holding in her hands and which contained all the important documents. The guard looked down at the bag. Please. Please.

    "What is your name?" he asked.

     "S..Samiksha Malik."

      The guard nodded and gestured her, with his stick, to go in. Sam sighed and whispered a 'thank you' but she wasn't sure if the guard heard it.

    The school was as old from inside, as it was on the outside. The plaster on the walls had been cracked. While in some places, the walls were partly covered with cement. But there was one thing which Sam didn't fail to notice: that the school was clean. There was no garbage on the corridors. No papers, lying on the floor. Everything was kept in their respective place.