The interview

The interview
By onuzulike somtochukwu
Episode one.
I woke with a start! My body and sheets covered in sweat, I blinked trying to readjust my eyes to the darkness, same dream again… three nights in a row, should I be worried ?.. scared? ….i hurriedly knelt down and prayed quickly, as I struggled to stand, electricity came on…..NEPA! I screamed inwardly, out of habit, than actual happiness ,I walked slowly to the bedside and picked up my cell phone, 4.45 am… same time ,yesterday and the day before , how weird can this get? I glanced at the antique clock on the wall to make sure it’s in sync with the time on my cell phone, yes it is! i laid back gently on my bed and let my thoughts wonder….
Two years ago, I was just a young girl with dreams, now am very close to achieving those dreams and finally be able to give my mother a life she deserves, only if I can be able to get this job, a medical laboratory scientist in CIKA a well known international drug manufacturing company, the job comes with its own perks, a huge salary, free two months training in Japan, and after 90 days as an employee an all expense paid trip to any country of your choice once every year, but why this dreams? The interview is barely a week away, and I have been lucky enough to be one of the remaining two applicants….. all my life I wanted to make a difference, become somebody, show my family that a female child mattered as much as a male one , I studied hard because of this excelled in all examinations with honors, graduated top of my class and jilted men because I needed no distractions, now am at the verge of achieving everything I worked so hard for……. electricity  went off ,bringing me back to earth, I sighed and turned on the rechargeable torchlight, this country is a mess …I murmured to myself and slowly I dozed off.
        I’d always loved Saturdays ,the smell of washing powder, antiseptics, freshly laundered clothes, and the sound of music from the 90’s , everything about Saturdays, but this one seems  different, it was hot ,interviews are usually held Mondays, why Saturday?… images of what I could be doing floated in my head, I quickly  urged myself to focus, I can’t be distracted today of all days ,the long awaited interview, the interview that gave me constant nightmares. Here we go , I said to myself and walked briskly through the entrance of the huge grand building, I have never been here ,the first two interviews were held in a conference video call, the first tiny niggle of fear crept up my spine, I quickly dismissed it , and made straight for the reception, a young attractive woman probably in her late twenties, was seated at the reception
“Good morning ma’am” she said, smiling brilliantly  as I approached
“Good morning” I replied and tried my own version of her smile….
“How may I help you “ she queried
“Am here for an interview”…. I replied trying not to be intimidated by her superior composure, how can a mere receptionist exude such powerful aura I wondered trying to keep the smile on my face,
“An interview? She asked , with surprise
“Name please” ? she asked further
“Eugenia Ekwueme” I replied…
She stared into her computer for a while,
“Umm  you’re name is here alright but you’re  visiting the MD, not an interview “ she said quickly, then  picked a black object ….
“Smile if you wish” she said, and I immediately realized what the black object was, I smiled  and the flash blinded me momentarily, an awkward silence ensued as I stood there waiting, after two minutes that seemed like an eternity she looked up… with another dazzling smile , here she said handing me an instant identification card, wear it at all times till you leave the building she said softly  and take the elevator to the last floor.
“Thank you”  I replied hastily pinning the I.D to my shirt and walked to the elevator , the elevator was empty , I pressed the button for the last floor and watched the door close, I straightened my shirt in an effort to compose myself , what does she mean by visiting Hian!…I quickly said the lord’s prayer as I stepped off the elevator, the last floor was busier than the  ground floor , they were two  men in laboratory white coats and nose masks wheeling a cart full  of chemicals into the opposite elevator,
“Excuse me” I called…
“Hey!’... I called again
the taller one stopped and stared  at me, then back at his colleague, then right back at me, at this point I felt like poor Alice in wonderland
“I was wondering if you could point me towards the conference room or MD’s office, you see am here for an interview” , he pointed to a glass door and went back to his business of wheeling the cart, before I could say thank you.  I walked to the glass door and opened I found myself in another large room that looked like a waiting room , a small weasel like woman was seated behind a huge mahogany desk.
“Good morning ma”, I said rather too loudly, and cringed inwardly at my own voice
*silence*
“Good morning ma!’’
“Ehn what?” She blurted
“Am here for an interview”,I replied…ignoring her rather sarcastic reply
“Interview for what?”
“I applied for the position of a medical laboratory scientist in this company ma!”
She laughed … or rather she croaked
“Why is oga doing this” she said more to herself than me …laughing harder and choking.. I stood utterly confused and wondering what all the drama was about, then the piercing sound of a telephone ,interrupted the woman’s horrible laughter , she picked up the receiver,
“Yes sir”
“Ok sir”.
She dropped the receiver and glanced at me, sizing me up… “you can go in” she said pointing towards the door.
The room seemed even larger than the waiting room, there was a huge picture of the president on the wall, sophisticated wood flooring, a huge screen showing the previous room and the small woman, I took in everything in one glance, the office had personality, though it is more masculine than feminine.
The MD backed me….. even with his back turned he seemed imposing, big, cocky , confident …..
“Don’t you just love Lagos” he said, still looking out the huge glass window…
“Yes sir,it is a fine city, am more than willing to relocate, if I get to be employed here”, I replied..glad that finally I can get this interview over and done with
“What of Belarus? Would you easily relocate?”
“Belarus?”  I asked shocked
 “Yes Belarus”  he said, turning to face me fully
I gulped , damn he is an Adonis!.. I quickly dismissed that thought
“Sir, ofcourse if it is…”
“Don’t answer hastily” he said with a wave of his hand …cutting me off
“Take your time….. new country, new friends , possibly new family”  he said smiling
“I’m saleh okenwa , managing director CIKA Nigeria… and please sit” he said with another wave of hand.