"Do you believe in destiny?"She asked me
"Yes, I do". I answered.
"Interesting, tell me what you know".
"Destiny is the general term that is used to describe what is bound to happen. People generally believe that your destiny is written by the supreme being before your creation".
"Who is the supreme being?". She asked me curiously.
"God".
"You believe in God?".
"Yes, I believe in God and prayers".
"Well, I don't".
"Aren't you a Christian?". I asked her.
"I do not believe in the existence of God. "Wow," I thought. I have never met someone who doesn't believe in God.
"The existence of a God is just a theory to make people believe that they have someone to turn to during hard times, someone they think can see and hear them, someone they think has the ultimate power to solve their problems hence the practice of prayers and worships. This theory of the existence of God brought forth diverse opinions on how prayers and worship should be done which also brought forth a religion and the existence of mosques and churches and temples. Do not be easily deceived".
"So you are a philosopher".
"I am a believer of common Sense my dear".
"We are all entitled to our opinions". I said in an attempt to avoid further discussions. My dad taught me when he was alive to always avoid debates on race, religion or the existence of one as it always brought conflict.
"Tell me something".
"What is that?".
"If destiny is written by the supreme being before one's creation then why do people bother to pray?".
She was trying to outsmart me. I would not give her the satisfaction.
"Terms and conditions apply". I smiled and answered wittingly.
"Okay. Since you believe in the existence of God and you also believe that he has the power to solve one's problems, then tell me why there is so much suffering in the world. Why are there homeless people, refugees and fugitives all over the world? Why are there so many disease outbreaks and why are there so many sick people in the world". Her question was so critical that I barely knew how to answer. I thought for a while and then an idea came into my head.
"You are a principal and was once a teacher right?".
"Yes"
"Then tell me why there are so many uneducated children out there. Tell me why so many children are out of school".
"They do not come to this school to enrol".
"Exactly ma. People do not seek God during their times of need and that is why there is so much suffering in the world. People have sinned a lot. You want uneducated children to come to this school to enrol just the way God wants people to go to their churches, mosques or temples to pray".
She was outsmarted and I was satisfied.
"Let's talk about pawns and thrones". She changed the subject.
"Pawns and thrones?"I asked.
"We all have dreams and aspirations. Those dreams and aspirations are the thrones. For some people, they want to have a lot of money other want to be academic geniuses. While some prefer to be an award-winning author, others want to be a fashion or movie legend. Dreams differ but the ways in which we achieve them or the people we use are known as the pawns. One greatest pawn is your opponents' weakness. You get what am saying right?".
"Yes, ma".
"You have to be able to make use of your pawns skilfully. You have to identify your opponent first and then find out his weakness. For most people who are very emotional, their weaknesses are their most loved possession like their relatives or lovers for example. For goal-driven people, it might be really hard to find the weakness but trust me everyone has one except you".
"Really" I was quite proud that she holds me in such high esteem.
"Yes, you have a thousand".
My ego fell as quickly as it rose.
"Goal-driven people do not usually show their weaknesses but you can find out if you are very digging. Most surprisingly, your opponent's weakness might be very easy to make use of. To get everything in life, you have to be able to gather your pawns and use them to your advantage. The funniest thing is that you might have a pawn and yet be a pawn to someone else".
"Just like I am to you".
"Excuse me?".
"Don't pretend you don't understand. I am your pawn and you know it. You are only using me to get what you want". I retorted and she fell silent. The air grew tense around us.
"Leave now Marvel. We will talk later".
She said.
I left her office angrily.
*BANG*.