Chereads / An Ordinary Girl's extraordinary life / Chapter 4 - A Job Like No Other

Chapter 4 - A Job Like No Other

After showing me the website, she just vanished. I can't believe this is all true. The woman is always avoiding my questions and saying, "You'll find out soon."

But am I really going to do this? Am I even capable of helping others? What if I can't solve people's problems? Worse, what if I get them into even bigger trouble? Maybe I'm overthinking, but I can't help it.

I always wanted a job that wouldn't make me feel bored. I get bored easily and constantly need something interesting to keep my mind active. I'm scared what if I get bored again? This isn't some silly work, it's about people's lives. Can I take on such a big responsibility?

"Anika, dinner is ready. Come!" my mom shouted from the kitchen."Yeah, coming," I said and went to her. Today is Saturday, so it's sambar. We ate sambar and rice.

"I got a job," I said, looking at her. She looked at me. "Really? I thought your interview didn't go well," she asked, her tone laced with doubt.

"Not that one, Mom. Another one. It's a remote job, so I can work from home."

My mom's eyes lit up with happiness. "What is the job role and the company?"

Now, what can I say? Hating myself for lying to her, I said, "It's something like customer service, Mom. The company is… um, I forgot," I said, smiling. Forgetting names isn't unusual for me, so she didn't say anything about it.

"What about the salary?" she asked. "Oh, that? It depends on the clients' problems I solve. Maybe I'll start from tomorrow."

"All the best, my dear," she said, hugging me. "Thanks, Mom." With that, we went to sleep.

But I couldn't sleep. How could I when I'm about to start something like this? After a long time, I finally fell asleep, though my mind was still half-working.

I woke up early this morning because I couldn't sleep and started cleaning up the bedroom to turn it into an office.

My mom said she would sleep in the living room so I could work without any disturbances. And since today is Sunday and my mom is at home, I'm feeling nervous.

The woman, Trishala, never appeared, and I started thinking this was all a joke. Now I question myself: are gods even real?

I believe in God, but only because my mom once said, "Believing in God doesn't do any harm. Maybe it can give you a little hope and positivity." That's when I started believing in God. Ahh, I'm done for now. While waiting for her, I fell asleep.

"Hi, Anika," Trishala said, smiling.

"Don't come into my dreams! And where have you been all day?" I asked, anger creeping into my voice.

"Oh, sorry. I had some work to do. Maybe tomorrow," she said, smiling sheepishly.

Now, I hate her even more. Without saying anything else, she left.

The next morning

At 10 a.m., all ready to go, I opened my laptop, my heart pounding like a drum.

Trishala was already here today with a weird-looking guy dressed in a leathery green jumpsuit and a jacket that resembled military style but looked different.

He did something to my laptop, like uploading software or something, and then left—no, just vanished.

The website loaded, opening to the homepage. "How do the clients contact us?" I asked curiously.

"We have our own contact system, which is super hard to track, and a payment system that's impossible to trace where the money is going," she replied.

I stared at her, unable to believe what she just said. Scratching my head, I asked, "How can you do that? I know there are ways to do these things, but how did you get your hands on something like this?"

She smirked proudly. "Haven't I told you? I'm a god. And where I live, these kinds of things are a piece of cake."

Whatever that place is, it must be super advanced. Then a question hit me. "Wait, that means you're either an alien or a person from the future," I asked.

She took a deep breath, looking at me. "If you had put this much effort into studying, you would already have a job."

"Well, I have a job now too. And stop avoiding my questions," I said.

She went silent for a moment, as if carefully thinking about her answer, and said, "Technically, you can call us aliens, but…" At that moment, a message pinged on my system, stopping her from continuing.

"You can continue what you were saying," I said, checking the message. "Not now. Our first priority is the clients," she said.

Shaking my head, I opened the message.

Client: Hello

Anika/Judicator: How can I help you?

I typed, my heart pounding.

Client: Can you really solve any problem?

Judicator: We will first know about your problem. If we confirm that what you're saying is true and not something illegal, we will help you wherever you are on Earth.

I typed what I thought without Trishala's approval and looked at her. Smiling, she nodded, approving of what I said.

Client: Okay, I am being followed by a man for a week now, but no one believes me. He always knows when I'm going to be alone and follows me at those times only. I am scared.

The moment I read the message, anger bubbled inside me. I knew the client was a girl the moment she mentioned stalking. It's always girls. Why? Do we look weak, or do they think we can't do anything?

Judicator: Do you know the man following you, or can you at least recognize him?

I asked her because if he knows her schedule, he might know her as well. That's how it always works.

Client: He is always covering his face with a cap, and I don't think I can recognize him without looking.

When people panic, they often miss details and forget about their surroundings. All they do is try to get to safety. Sometimes it's the best option, but you should always be aware of your surroundings.

Judicator: Okay, can you give us your details and briefly explain the situation you are in right now?

Client: I am Chloe MacGregor, 23 years old. I live in Edinburgh, UK. I am an artist, working part-time at a café in Old Town. I live in a small flat near Grassmarket. I noticed someone following me a week ago, but I never took it seriously. It's been a week, and he is still stalking me. Recently, he is always near my house. Whenever I need to go out, I can see him outside. I usually go to places like Arthur's Seat and Princes Street Gardens to sketch, and he is following me there too. Today, a letter was placed at my doorstep. I still haven't opened it. I am scared. Please help me.

"It seems like he is making his move. If this goes on, she will be in danger," I said, focusing on the message. "Yes, it's best to start our work as soon as possible," Trishala said, nodding at me.

Judicator: Okay, we will accept your case.

I typed, and before sending it, I turned to Trishala and asked, "What about payment? And how am I going to help her when she's on the other side of the world?"

"You can charge her what you think is fair for the case," she said, smiling wickedly. "And as for how you do the job, you'll know when you click the accept button."

I took a minute to think about all this and said, "I will charge $10 per day. That way, it will be affordable for anyone, with no gender, age, race, or country discrimination," and sent the message.

Client: Thank you. Will you tell me how much it will cost?

Judicator: I will charge $10 per day. You can pay after your problem is solved.

Client: Okay, it's a deal. When will you start your work?

Judicator: Right now.

I sent the message and looked back at Trishala. Sensing my question, she smiled her wicked smile again and said, pointing at the screen, "You can click on the accept button at the top of the chat."

Feeling scared, excited, anxious, and filled with mixed emotions, I pressed ACCEPT.