I got a call from Victor, my Colleague. He gives the information, that he received the mail, regarding the interview for the post of a guest faculty in the department of English, University College. Every year we have to apply for the same post for re-appointment. I opened my mail, but I had not received the mail. This mail was so important to me, as I was dependent on this job. I told Victor, I had not received the mail. He convinced me, that I will receive the mail and not to worry.
When I got the call, I was near the ATM machine. I had tried to draw the amount as usual, but was not successful because of some technical problem.
As each minute passed by, I could feel the tension grow. The whole evening, I was numb and disturbed. My colleague Shalini too called and informed me about the mail. I told her, “I have not received the mail”. She convinced me that I will receive the mail. I was constantly checking my mail.
My husband came home from work. He got to know, I had not received the mail. The numbness continued. The same night I decided to leave to the University the next day by bus. Travelling by bus makes me giddy. I had no other option, I had to travel. “Tonight I will not get sleep”. To my surprise I slept well, it was a miracle. I thought of our almighty Father in Heaven, the provider. Hubby was tensed. Due to the tension building in me, I lagged in fulfilling the household chores. My teenage daughter helped me. I watched KBC, my favourite game show, who wants to be a millionaire? I could not concentrate on the show. I went to sleep by 10.45pm. I slept well, the Angels guarded me.
My hubby woke me up at 6.30 am. I woke up immediately, brushed my teeth, drank two glass of warm water, ran the washing machine, ate a few slices papaya and washed the vessels. I prepared the morning breakfast. My Hubby left to work by 7.40 am. I Prepared breakfast for my daughter, as her online Karate class was going on. Quickly had a warm water bath, read the Bible and prayed. By 9 am I left to the University. It was 45 minutes journey by bus. I caught 51A bus, after waiting patiently. I carried my original certificates, thinking that my application must have been misplaced.
Earlier that morning, after my household chores, I called my friend Sasha, to ask whether she had received the mail. “I will call you back”, was her reply. I was curious about Sasha’s mail. Later I came to know, her mobile phone had stopped working and she had to give her mobile for service. I had also called Goldin my colleague, who had also applied for the post, He too had not received the mail.
I reached the University, the bus stopped at the main entrance, at the highway. I had to walk through the College campus to the administrative office. While I walked I could feel my knees shaking. I met a young lady, who had come to apply for the convocation certificate. I guided her, as she was new to the campus. The whole journey, I prayed reciting the holy verses. As I reached the administrative block, the receptionist guided me to section 103.
I spoke to the concerned staff, “I did not receive the mail”. She replied “Yet to send the mail”. I replied, “My colleagues have received”. She goes to enquire with the case worker. The case worker asked the other staff to search my file. The case worker replies, “You must have given the wrong email Id”, I said, “I have given the correct email id”. My file was found, my email Id was accurate. At the end they realized that there was a typing error and my email ID had a new name ‘MALEEN’. There was sheer tension and chaos. I politely requested “Please mail to my correct Id”. He mailed and finally, I received the mail which was my passport to the interview. To my surprise the name ‘Maleen’ matched one of my favourite, ever smiling English lecturer Malini, whom I admired. Ironically I was not her student.
The Previous night I had informed my mother-in-law of my bad luck of not receiving the mail. She convinced me, that our Lord will definitely be on our side.
While walking in the campus, I was thinking of my mother and wished she had kept my name a bit simple. Finally it was not the name kept by my mother which created the problem, but it was my hubby’s surname which created the problem. Evening I spoke to my hubby, “Your surname created the problem”. The caseworker was not familiar with my surname, which led to a spelling error. It was a rare surname one is unheard of the surname. It was a huge mystery, till it was solved.
Day after tomorrow is the interview I pray and hope all goes well.
Being a human, I was so pensive. A hundred negative thoughts came to my mind. Why me? It is always me who has to face so many obstacles. I am human, that’s why I think this way. Another friend of mine faced the same problem. In my mail there was a list of the Email Id’s of all the candidates, who had applied for the job. An idea struck me. I clicked the screenshot of the mail and sent it to my friend. My friend spoke to me, “My email Id is wrongly typed”. He was fuming with anger. I told him to be cool. He too was facing the same tension.
Finally, on the day of the interview, all had to login by 9.45am. The Interview began at 10.30 am. It was an online interview due to Covid 19. The interview was through Zoom. My number was 18 out of twenty five candidates. Finally, it was my turn. I received a WhatsApp message to be ready. I was waiting to be let into the meeting room through the Zoom, finally I was admitted. I could see the interviewers. The chairman asked me about P B Shelley’s Rose Mantis. I said, “I am sorry madam”. Initially, madam asked me to introduce myself. I was asked which class I taught. Finally I was disconnected. I thought my interview came to an end. I logged out. A thought came to my mind, could it be the case worker who messed my interview.
I informed Victor, my interview was a failure. Victor’s interview went on well.
Finally after a long wait, I came to know, I was selected. In the evening I spoke to our Principal. He told, “We could not hear your voice”. My face could be seen. My nose was highlighted, which was hilarious. I was surprised, as I was unaware that my voice could not be heard. I was detested. He said, “Why didn’t you do a demonstration before attending the interview”? In reality I had given tips to three of my colleagues, on how to set the zoom app. Finally my interview was a disaster. I couldn’t digest what I had heard from the Principal. I shall call my technical blunder, an overconfidence.
