In the morning I woke up to the annoying sound of the mobile phone. Currently I am living a bachelor and unemployed life. A few days ago I was fired from a restaurant job. I can't even sleep because of various worries throughout the night. But I can't open my eyes from morning to noon. Does this happen to everyone? Or only with me? Never verified.
When I picked up the mobile phone and saw an unknown number on the screen, I cut the call as usual and tried to sleep again. But the owner of the number is like a scumbag. He keeps calling one after another. At one point I accepted the call and accepted the defeat. I asked in a sleepy voice,
"Who's talking?"
"Good morning," an older male voice said with a clear accent.
I felt a little shy hearing the unknown person's reply. The unidentified man cleared his throat.
'Are you Dominic Sherwood?'
I sat up after hearing my name in a stranger's voice . Although he is unknown to me, I am somewhat familiar with him. I understood that much.
I replied, 'Yes, you have called the right person. But your identity?
I am Chandrasekhar Dastidar. You don't know me.'
'Chand, sorry. What…?' I couldn't pronounce his name.
'Just say Mr. Shekhar.'
"Okay, Mr. Shekhar."
I managed to pronounce his shortened name correctly.
' Are you employed? Or unemployed?
'Yes, unemployed.'
I was unprepared for such a question from the gentleman. Although I was a little shy to answer, I gave the answer. But my voice sounded weak.
The gentleman said in a happy voice, ``Good.'' I will give you a job.'
After hearing the sentence, a hot current ran through my body. I didn't understand what it felt like. Iam happy and Scared again.
'What work?' I asked him in a trembling voice.
' I am giving you the address. You meet me this afternoon. I will explain everything and make a deal.'
That's all the gentleman said. Then a sound came from my mobile. I realized he cut the call. I was quite surprised and horrified. I turned twenty-five last February. Unemployed youths my age know how heavy this age is. Job offer in this case. Of course I should be happy. But a stranger. It is not that if I work in a company or a restaurant, the people there will be my relatives. But I will have some idea about them. I am skeptical about the gentleman called 'Mr Shekhar'.
In the afternoon I went from fixing the collar of the shirt to the small mirror. Do I owe? I began to remember. For the past few days I have starved myself. However, I did not borrow money from anyone. Because I am unemployed and I may not pay it. I have no girlfriend in my life since last few years. So there is no room for beating on these two issues.
'He who has nothing to lose is so afraid! It's inappropriate.' I told myself.
I left the small apartment with the key in hand. Some time ago Mr. Shekhar sent me the address. I walked out of the slum building and down the alley. The colorful afternoon sun fails to illuminate this street. I saw a piece of stone on the way. My baby mind was suddenly awakened. I kicked the stone away. When I approached it again I did the same thing. This work made me happy. I continued kicking the stone in the same way until I got close to the main road.
At the mouth of the street I saw a black car standing. I was a little surprised. So expensive cars in the face of this street? Never seen before. Which woman did not hang the son of a big man?
As I approached the car a man in formal clothes got out. No doubt he is a bodyguard. I tried to avoid him.
'Dominic?'
I stood up hearing my name being called in a serious voice. I looked at the man's face. He is expressionless. But he is looking at me.
'Dominic Sherwood?' he asked again.
'Yes, it's me.' I replied.
He didn't say a second word. He opened the car door. I was quite surprised. For the miner, I thought myself a very rich person. Imagination thought . I sat quietly in the car. The man slammed the door shut. Then he sat in the driving seat and started driving.
He didn't say a word all the way. Like he's just a robot. Then we arrived at our destination. And it is a huge building. I am looking at the huge building in amazement.
I followed the man. As we approached the main grand gate, people dressed in the same formal attire blocked my way. Two of them started searching my entire body I realized I was about to fall into a good trap of job greed.
I have nothing but a key and mobile. Not even a wallet. But they also left these two things. I didn't object. When I was allowed in a different man said,
'Follow me forward. And there is a strict ban on touching anything without permission.'
'Calling death!' I whispered back.
"Did you say something?"
'No.'
"This way," the man directed me and continued ahead of me.
I didn't get a chance to go inside the huge building. But I was taken along its outer walls. I saw a wall made of glass. I saw a girl. He is an adult. But it did not seem that the quota of twenty was exceeded.
I remember I came here looking for a job. Not to look like a girl. I looked at the path facing me. We came to a swimming pool.
The guide approached a half-naked middle-aged man. He said, 'Sir, Dominic has arrived.'
Is the middle-aged man Mr. Shekhar? He leaned over and tried to see me. I got a good look at the man. Impression of South Asians in appearance. That's the name. But I'm not sure. I stay away from them.
The middle-aged man approached me. He is quite obese which is harmful for his age. He extended a hand to me. He said with a smile.
"Mr. Shekhar."
My hunch proved correct. I smiled hand in hand with him.
"Nice to meet you."
'You can go, Alex,' said Mr. Shekhar to the man guiding me.
The exit of the man named Alex took place. Mr. Shekhar motioned me to go ahead. I stood waiting for him to go. When he started walking I tried to keep up with him.
The gentleman asked me at the beginning of the conversation, 'What happened to your restaurant job?'
'Evicted for accidentally spilling coffee on someone's body.'
'He did quite a cruel thing,' he lamented. I waited for his next question
'Heard you know how to act?'
I was shocked by Mr. Shekhar's question. All the memories of high school started to flood my mind. I didn't even think about it after high school. I have continued my studies.
I tried to politely reply, 'I was good at it in the past.'
'The past?'
"In high school."
'Why don't you continue in college?'
My mind was depressed by such a question of Mr. Shekhar. I sighed before replying.
to be continued…