chapter 12

ALLEN POV

One was to be a waitress for a coffee shop. It had good pay and work shifts. Another was to be a PA for a small company 5km from here, although the pay was high, transportation was an issue. The last one was to be a kindergarten teacher for a school. It had a peace livelihood and was a 10 min walk from my house.

I went to the living hall to ask my father’s opinion about this. My father was sitting there watching Tom and Jerry show.

‘Never gets old, right?’

‘Never’ he replied with a smile.

‘Dad I wanted to discuss something with you’ I said handing over the printed copies of the jobs.

‘which one do you think I should go to’ I asked uncertain of his reply.

‘Allen u don’t need to worry about bringing money to the family, I have already applied for a job in Starel company, I’m just waiting for confirmation. You don’t need to burden yourself with this, do whatever you like’.

I was happy to hear how my dad had changed but still, I wanted to work.

‘It's not about that dad, I have decided that I’m not going to major in anything so I would like to pass my time working, I’d feel bored staying here the whole day’.

My dad smiled and said ‘ if that’s the case then chose wherever you want to work, I will completely support you’

‘Thanks dad’ I hugged him. Now, this was the dad I was proud of.

I started reading novels of Veronica Roth, till I could get permission from my brother. He came around 3:00 pm, banging my door open to see if I had gone out or not. I was still under house arrest!!!!

‘what are you doing?’ he asked

‘ I was reading a novel, leaving that ……. Hmmm…..hmmmm’

‘ Just say it’

‘ iwaslookingforajobandhopeyouwouldletmego’ I said with a single breath.

‘What? say it again? God Allen what is with you!!!’

‘ I was looking for a job as I felt bored sitting here, I have narrowed it down to 3, so would you be kind enough to let me work in any of these jobs’ I said politely asking him.

‘show me’ he said with a stern look. I happily went near my drawer and pulled out the sheets and gave to him. I was having a nervous breakdown.

‘ hmmm .......PA rejected’

‘Why’ I whined

‘ you will not be able to do it, what if your boss asks you to do something perverted, you are still a child to differentiate between good and bad’ well I couldn’t argue to that

‘ Waitress rejected’

‘Again …..why’

‘you don’t know who might come, and the majority of people who come to the café are boys, I know them…..what would you do if they end up stalking you’. I clearly do not understand what goes on in that mind of his.

‘Kindergarten accepted’

‘ I thought you would reject this’

‘ the children can’t hit on you because they are small, the parents can’t eye on you because they are married, that will leave with the last choice of teachers, but since they are appointing only women, I guess there will be no boy co-worker’

‘ do u want me to remain unmarried throughout my life?’ I know that my brother is overprotective but this is too much.

‘I will drop and pick you up every day, hand me over the schedule when they give you’ he said.

‘ I liked it when you never bothered about my life’ I said hitting him with a pillow

‘ sorry sis, but its fate’

We had a small pillow fight after which he lifted the house arrest.

The application I had applied yesterday was approved, so they had called in for an interview. I woke up early and was getting ready. I wanted this job. Kids are always fun to be around with.

‘hurry up Allen, I’m running late for class’ my brother screamed. Why can’t he just go if that’s the case? I can’t understand boys. Well, I rarely talked to boys as I always had a guard ….. yes, that’s right my brother. He was protective since a guy proposed me in 3 rd grade, and I got bullied. Because the guy who proposed me was like an idol for the girls, and when I rejected him, they all thought I had an attitude problem.

Since then Kavin has made it his life promise to never let me close to other guys. I know he is sweet but sometimes it’s too tiring.

I hoped inside the truck. The truck was rusted and old, it wasn’t even working when we first used it. My brother took a whole week to fix and remodel it. He is obsessed with vehicles and engines, sometimes he talks about the models and power of some cars that I just can’t seem to comprehend as my knowledge about them is very bad.

I was wearing jeans pant with a t-shirt, more like casual wear, to not make it look too professional as they wear for corporate companies. We arrived at the location after going 5 rounds in the same place.

‘ I never knew that your sense of direction was this bad’ I said laughing.

‘ It was your phone which wasn’t showing the exact location’ he retorted.

‘keep giving excuses…good day’ I said.

‘rock it Allen’ he said giving the Japanese fighting hand.

I laughed and waved back. I loved this life which is far away from the depressing days we led in the city. I walked for another 5 mins before I found the entrance.

I reached the gate which was about 2 meter high….too much a kindergarten school needed I thought. The watchmen showed me another entry to the premise. And what do I say, the beauty of the place? It had huge lawns mowed which were crisscrossing the pavements. The pathways were flanked by colorful plants and maple trees… it was beautiful to look at. This led to the kindergarten which you had to enter through a pond and the architecture was fascinating. It was built in Neoclassical style.

Rather than a kindergarten, it looked like a bungalow. I never imagined such a place in the countryside. Man were these parents rich to send their students to this school.

A row of steps led to the foyer which opened up to a huge hall, which was richly decorated with gold plated sculptures and carving. This place is like a place. I would loveeeeeeeeeeee working here.

Admiring the beauty I was lost, I dint know where the interview was held, just as I was looking around to ask for help. I saw a figure climbing down the staircase, I went near to the stairs to see if he could show me the directions. But,it wasn't just any ordinary person. I could feel the power and authority oozing out of him, every time he stepped down I could feel a tingling sensation in me.

He looked like a king descending from his throne. My legs were growing weak. I was unable to withstand the power he held in himself. The inferiority in me, made be bow down to his presence. I felt like a peasant in front of him.