Janvi still hadn't found answers to any of those questions posed by her mind. But she did realize one thing – that Maahir had been talking on behalf of her while she had been staying mute. And she didn't remember the last time someone had talked on behalf of her.
Chief had folded his arms, closed his eyes and plunged into a deep train of thought. He could easily have been a statue if not for his right forefinger that had been dancing on his elbow. Vikasa was still chomping her biscuits beside them and Janvi had concluded she was kind since she had shared two of her cookies out of the three packets she had devoured in the meantime.
"Okay, I'll consider her," announced the Chief, opening his eyes, "But I won't draft her in just like that. Let's play a game. If you win, I'll recruit you."
"But-"
"I am talking to her, Maahir."
Maahir gulped and went silent. The Chief can be really scary when he wants to.
"Sure," replied Janvi, without thinking twice. It wasn't like she had a choice. Maahir had elucidated her the process of regular recruitment already. It had several phases including written exams. She was well aware she had no chance whatsoever of clearing them, owing to the fact she hadn't even attended highschool. This is the only practical way for her to join Trixy.
"That's good. Vikasa, take Maahir and wait outside. I want no interference during the game."
"Wait- " said he, wanting to protest but Vikasa had already grabbed his back collar and dragged him out without difficulty. She hurled him at one side of the door, adjacent to Quiroshi (who welcomed his new companion cheerfully) and sat at the other side, leaving the door open to listen in.
Chief pulled open a drawer and got out a bunch of white cards, two markers and a stopwatch. He gave a marker and four of the cards to her before setting five for himself.
"This will be a simple question and answer game," said he, closing the drawer, "You'll write four questions in the cards provided for you and I'll write five in mine. We will then shuffle all nine of them and place it on the table faced down. You won't know which card has which question. You will take a card at random. If you are able to answer the question, I'll take the next card. The game continues until one of us is unable to answer the question."
"What happens when we have answered all nine questions?"
"You are recruited."
"Really?"
"Really."
"What if you are unable to answer a question?"
"Once again, you are recruited. In case you end up not answering, you fail. That doesn't mean you are banned permanently from Trixy though. The regular exams are always open and you are always welcome."
"What if I give a wrong answer?"
"Hmm," said he, scratching his chin, "There won't be any right or wrong answers, not for my questions. As long as the answer satisfies me, it is a right answer. But you get only ten seconds to answer. No extra time. The questions should not contain your name or my name. Avoid your personal questions as much as possible. Remember, I can always disqualify a question if I deem it absurd or implausible. Start writing your questions. You have five minutes."
Janvi opened her marker and began jotting her mind down. Maahir and Vikasa, who had been listening to the entire conversation were quite astonished at the developments. Maahir let out an obscure sigh.
"You think she would pass?" asked Vikasa while she let Quiroshi snatch another biscuit from her.
"Who knows. She is not that bright, you know. If he goes for general knowledge, politics or even basic science, it's over for her. But knowing him, I don't think he is going to do that. He will probably probe her thoughts, not her knowledge."
"But she can win with just one brilliant question. As long as the Chief doesn't answer, she wins, right?"
"I don't see that happening either. For her to pose a question that Chief finds impossible to answer, she must be a genius, which I know she isn't. Then, there's also the problem of random selection. Even if she manages to write down a brilliant question, there is no guarantee he will be the one to take it. She might end up taking her own question."
Janvi pushed her written cards upfront. Chief shuffled them thoroughly before arranging them in a square.
"You shall begin. Take a card."
Her fingers trembled as she upturned the top left card and showed it to the Chief.
"What was your previous occupation?" he read aloud, "A very simple question, I say."
Janvi mused if the game had already ended.
"Err… I was a vendor in Rosui beach. I used to sell toys."
Vikasa's eyes nearly popped out. "Seriously, Maahir? You've got guts, man! But the Chief looks like he was expecting it all along."
"I wonder how much he was expecting."
Chief took the center card and showed it.
"What is my dog's name?" she read.
"He warned against personal questions," said Maahir and facepalmed.
"Quiroshi," said Chief.
Janvi took her second card.
"Why," read he, "do you want to join Trixy?"
She finally realized what the Chief meant by there would no right or wrong answers for his questions. She had to give an answer that satisfies him, while she had no idea who he was.
"This is not a game at all," said Maahir, "This is merely an interview. He is just adding spice and drama for his entertainment."
But the reason she found it so hard to answer was not because she didn't know him. She didn't know her. She didn't know herself at all.
"It's payback," she replied, "Payback to Maahir. I want to join Trixy for him."
"Payback? What for?"
"Err… peanuts," said she, so suddenly like it came to her mind just then.
"Peanuts?"
"Yeah, peanuts. He gave me peanuts that night," said she, going scarlet, "It might be also because he sat and talked with me and actually heard my story. He was the first one in my life to expect something of me. If he believes there is something here for me to do, I wish I could."
The Chief scrutinized her for a few seconds and proceeded to take his next card.
"What is Udhir's full name?"
Vikasa wasn't able to stifle her chuckle. Even the chief looked a little surprised at the question. Maahir showed only one emotion – total disbelief.
"What is wrong with her?!" said he, scratching his head, "Her questions are in the level of a primary school kid. Who does she think doesn't know the name of the most famous national fighter of the country?! At this rate, she has no chance of winning."
"Salammer Gonga Udhir," answered the Chief.
Jane went on with her next card.
"What is your atrial ability?" asked the Chief.
"I am an Anima," replied she, feeling frustrated she had to answer her own question.
"She has the worst luck," commented Vikasa, "It was a question that would have secured her a win if Chief had taken it."
"It wasn't such a great question," said Maahir, shrugging his shoulders.
"No, against the Chief, it was her trump card. You don't know how secretive he is about his atrial ability. I am yet to meet a person, other than him, who knows his atrial abilities. I am positive he would have abandoned the game immediately if he had got that card."
"For real?!" exclaimed he.
The Chief took his third card.
"What kind of animals do you talk to?" asked Janvi.
"He got his own question, too," said Maahir.
"I talk to all animals that has got ears to hear, brains to comprehend and a heart to listen."
"The Chief thinks he is a poet, huh?" said Vikasa and laughed. Quiroshi too joined her like he understood.
Janvi turned her fourth card. Just one more to go.
"What do you think is Maahir's weakness?" asked he, posing an evil grin.
Janvi's presence of mind was swept off with just the mention of his name. She didn't think she knew him enough to tell what his weaknesses are. Maybe he is reckless. Or maybe motion sick. Or maybe liquor phobic. He looks rather decent with girls though. What kind of weakness is the Chief expecting ? Physical? Mental? Emotional? Atrial maybe? Speaking of which, she doesn't even know what his atrial abilities are.
"Naivety," said she, "He is naive and that's what I believe his weakness is."
The Chief raised his brows and shook his head. He might have been smiling.
"Was it-"
"No, it's okay," said he, taking his fourth card.
"What is nineteen thousands four hundred fifty five multiplied into sixteen thousands six twenty four?," read she.
The Chief was so astounded that before he could even take in the question fully, his ten seconds got over.
"What the-"
"It is 323419920."
Janvi now had two things to thank Nancy for. Maahir was so stunned that Vikasa had to close his wide open mouth a few minutes later. The Chief chuckled and sighed at the same time.
"You are recruited," said he, standing up, "The meet is scheduled for six pm in the conference hall. Be sure to be present."