My New Home

Chapter Fourteen

I informed Alhaji and Jamal that I'll be going for a job interview the following day.

Jamal as expected was happy and congratulated me in advance while his dad begrudgingly agreed and asked me to keep chanting Rabee Zidni ilma (my lord, increase me in knowledge and understanding) and Rabbana alayka tawakalna wa ilayka anabna wa ilayka l maseer (our lord, on thee do we rely, and to thee do we turn and to thee is the eventual coming) before it's my turn for the interview.

I thanked him and didn't bother to tell him that I might be the only one to show up for the interview since it's a personal favor and just for formality sake. I'll need the prayer anyway no matter the circumstances, who knows, I might get there and they would have found a relative that needed the same job after all it's family first before friendship.

My last job interview looked so easy that I didn't think for a moment that I won't land the job. When I submitted my application online, i was rated ten out of ten. My interview score was high too but I wasn't selected and Jamal told me there is usually a tight knit competition for job in Lagos so I needed to always be prepared for disappointment. He would have offered to get me a job at his company, but what could a Theatre Arts major do in a software establishing company unless I wanted to work as a security guard. So, I'm definitely not taking this prayer with levity.

The next morning which happened to be the day of the interview, we all left home like the other day, the difference being that I was dressed for the job and I won't be going back home alone. We visited Mama at the hospital and while we were in the car driving out of the hospital parking lot, I pulled out my phone and checked the address that was sent to me by Hamdee the day before. I alighted at the prescribed junction and took a cab to my destination. It won't bid well if I was seen alighting from a bike or a public transport when I'm trying to land a job at a company Hamdee recommended and Jamal doesn't care much for the public transport as well. Also, knowing her family history, the company must be huge.

When I finally got there, the sight that greeted me was beyond my expectation and I was glad again that I listened to my instinct and took the cab. I proceeded to the waiting area. The receptionist asked for my name and purpose of visit. I stated it and she asked to me sit while she made a call. I looked around the place and concluded that it's too fancy for a publishing company after all they were printing books and not showcasing paintings because with the amount of painting that was hanged on the wall, you'll think it's a gallery. There's also too many flowers and air freshener, if it's like this in my office too, I'll go home everyday smelling like sweets.

After what felt like eternity but was mere minutes, a man fully dressed in suit arrived to collect me. I stood up, thanked the receptionist and walked behind the man.

Nervousness set in and I began chanting the Adhkaar Alhaji gave me in my mind. We walked past two intersections before we got to where we took an elevator ride to the fifth floor.

The company spaces according to me were totally unnecessary. Rich people and their obsession with wasting money. I thought sarcastically. I've seen several publishing companies and none was as big as this and the owners also, were as prosperous as they could be but I would stop judging them now and see what they actually have to offer and why this much space is needed.

The elevator pinged open when we arrived at the fifth floor and we stepped out. My guide took his place in front and we passed two offices before stopping at a door that has assistant CEO name plate attached to it, we knocked once and entered.

A man was sitting and busy doing some work on the desk top. At first, he didn't raise his head but he later paused what he was doing and acknowledged us. My guide gestured to me and told him that I was the applicant he asked to send up and after the introduction, he left.