The moment I opened my eyes, my mom was beside me. "You all right, Anika?" she asked, concern in her voice. Sitting up, I said, "Yes, Mom, just a bad dream." She nodded and left the room.
I slumped onto the bed again, and my thoughts wandered to the dream I had. It felt too real. The place was super sketchy, like I was in the middle of a black hole. The fog was thick and heavy. And the woman she seemed like an angel without wings.
At the same time, now I remember clearly, her smile was wicked. She looked divine and scary at the same time.
My phone started ringing, bringing me back to reality. I got up and answered my phone.
"Hello?" My friend Lalitha spoke from the other side.
My voice groggy with sleep, I said without any interest, "Yeah, tell me what it is." It was unusual for her to call this early.
"A company just announced walk-in interviews. I'm going. Will you come?" she asked me. "Why not? Let's go today at 10 a.m.," I said with no interest. It's not a big deal. I can handle an interview, and it's interesting to attend.
"Okay, I'll call you. Let's meet there," she said. "Okay, bye." With that, the call ended. Dropping my phone on the bed, I headed to the bathroom.
When I came out, my mom called me. "Anika, I am heading to work." I went to her. "I just got a call from Lalitha.
We are going to attend an interview." My mom's eyes lit with hope at my words.
She hugged me and said in a cheerful voice, "That's great, dear." Letting me go, she looked at me with affection and a hint of concern and said, "Be careful. Don't go anywhere alone. Don't trust anyone." I exhaled loudly and said, "I know, Mom. I'm not a kid. Now go to your work."
She smiled at me. "I know you're an adult, but it's my responsibility to remind you." Then she waved at me and said, "Okay, bye, Anika." Waving back, I said, "Bye, Mom."
I went inside and opened my wardrobe. Looking through my dresses, I picked an outfit that looked professional and made me appear a little older because people always assume I'm a kid due to my baby face and small frame.
All dressed, I stood before the long mirror on the wall. I'm a petite girl, 150 cm tall, and lean. By Indian standards, I'm considered fair-skinned with typical Indian brown eyes and dark, long hair that almost looks brown in the light.
Stepping out of my room and engaging with people is a big task for me. Inhaling deeply, I straightened my posture and stepped out, locking the door.
Here come the aunties. "Going somewhere, Anika?" asked one of my neighbors. "Yes, for an interview," I said and started walking without waiting for their reaction. On my way, I stopped at my grandma's house and gave her the keys. "Good luck, Anika, dear," she said with happiness.
Today, I seemed to be everyone's favorite just because I might get a job. Everyone looked happy because if I earn, I "deserve" everything. Why is everything measured and calculated in this world?
People value money, fame, and education not knowledge. Until a person proves themselves with all these values, they're useless and a burden.
Once you're successful, everyone looks at you like a hero, but no one cares when you're struggling. Why? For all these questions, the only answer I've found is: that's how humans are.
I walked toward the main road and took a rickshaw. Every time I take a rickshaw or a cab, my heart starts beating fast because, as my mom said, we can't trust anyone in this world.
We humans don't need monsters, werewolves, zombies, or any other supernatural beings to make this world scary. We are the monsters, and monsters are always among us and within us.
My mind is always running like this, no matter what. That's why I can't feel peaceful anywhere. Within 10 minutes, I reached the company.
I paid the driver and headed toward the entrance. Lalitha came running to me, breathing heavily.
"Let's go; the interviews are about to begin," she said. We went in and sat. After three hours, we completed our interviews and headed out to eat lunch in a small restaurant.
Lalitha, looking at me with curiosity, asked, "How did your interview go?" Tired and wanting to go home as soon as possible, I said, "Not bad. What about you?" I asked her because that's what people expect.
Excited, she started talking about her interview. I listened halfheartedly, pretending to be interested, and asked more questions where she expected. We finished our lunch, and with that, we parted ways.
I reached my house at 3 p.m., exhausted from all the socializing. I unlocked my door, and suddenly, a figure appeared in front of me. I fell back. Looking up at her, she smiled at me.
"Hey, I already told you I'm recruiting you. Why did you go for another job?"
Looking at her, my eyes went wide with shock, and my heart pounded. She was the same woman from my dreams.
"What the… Are you real?" I said, unable to believe it. She folded her arms, tilting her head to the side. "Of course I am. And first, stop talking and get up; otherwise, your neighbors might think you've gone crazy."
I got up and looked around to see if anyone saw me, but no one was there. I went into the house. She followed me.
I turned toward her and asked, "Is this some kind of joke or what?" This had to be a prank or something. "Do I look like someone who plays pranks?" she snapped at me, her voice sharp but with some softness edging it.
"Okay, first tell me, who are you?" At my question, she beamed at me and said, "A god."
My eyes widened so much that they might have popped out of their sockets. If this was a cartoon, they would have. Staring at her, a disbelieving smile spread across my lips as I said, "What?"