Forbidden Desire, Ritesh Prasad [chrysanthemum read aloud .TXT] 📗

this was an opportunity so I had to give my best shot. I made all the arrangements in advance. I called my home and gave this news to my Mom.

 

The next morning I hired a taxi so that I could reach in time. The interview venue was one hour journey from my place. While in taxi I message my boss that I am going to hospital and would not be coming to office today. Next I called Nisha and told her about my interview. She was well aware what I was going through. She asked me to give call once the interview was over and prayed for my selection.

 

I reached the venue well 15 minutes before time. I entered and saw around 40-50 candidates waiting curiously inside the reception area. I went inside and took seat by side of a candidate wearing white shirt and black trouser. He was busy talking to someone over phone “Abey ha be …. Bahat candidates hai, pata chala hai 10 vacancy hai…dekhte hai kya hota hai, chal abhi rakhta hu aake bolta hu kya hua” He said and disconnected the call. He looked at me and smiled. I responded back with a smile too.

 

“Hi I am Ankit Sharma…. I am from Orissa and you?” He said looking at me.

 

“Hello myself Rohit. I am from Kolkata basically belonging from Silchar, Assam.”

 

“Good… Are you working somewhere?” Ankit enquired me while we both took seat on the corner chairs.

 

“Yes in a financial consultancy firm for the last 6 months. I have an overall experience of about three years. And you?”

 

“Yes I am working in an audit firm for the last two years and preparing for my CA as well.”

 

“Great. I am sure this interview is baby’s game for you. You will crack this easily.”

 

“No Man, I am really scared. Let’s see what happens.”

 

We continued discussing on various subject matter related to the interview.

There were four rounds each with elimination.

The first round was written test, second the GD, third telephonic round to check communicative skills and finally the panel interview. Thankfully we both cleared three rounds and were waiting impatiently for the final round. His name was announced before mine. I wished him all the best as he entered the Manager’s cabin. I was getting very nervous. Though my written round was excellent and Anurag the person from the hiring team was quite impressed with my score.

 

Ankit came out after around half and hours, he looked tensed and said that he didn’t score well in the panel interview; they are asking really tough questions and said he had little chance of getting selected. Before I could ask more my name was announced. I stood and moved towards the cabin, there was this fat man with spectacles. I looked at him and got nervous, though I smiled and greeted. But he just responded with his head while engulfed in my CV. He asked me to take seat. As soon I seated he started shooting question right from family to my hobbies and then with education and all stuffs. I tried to be poised as possible I could. But the way he was asking question it seemed it was not an interview but more of an interrogation.

I had to give explanation and justification for each and every sentence I said. Finally he came to main topic and asked me around 20-30 question on my knowledge and job profile. The interview lasted really long around an hour. I came out exhausted but I was happy I could answer most of his questions correctly.

 

We were asked to wait outside till the final result was announced. There were 6 candidates left including me and Ankit after elimination. We were waiting eagerly and I looked at my watch it was 8:20 pm. I just kept my fingers crossed and started chanting some sacred mantra inside my mind.

Finally, Anurag came with a paper in his hand. First he announced four names which included Amit and put them aside. Then he called two names which included mine too and said we could not clear the final round. This news was like a big blow on my face, I became numb and just sat on sofa with almost tears in my eyes but somehow controlled it.

Ankit was there looking at me. He got selected along with three other guys. They were asked to come with others documents tomorrow for on boarding. The other candidate who got rejected left and I was still there.

 

Ankit asked me if I wanted to leave, but I gestured him with my hands to leave, which he clearly understood. I was very upset I could not accept my rejection so I went straight to Anurag’s cabin and enquired him, what went wrong? He too was surprised how I could not clear the final round when I was the only candidate who scored 100% in the written test. I said I want to meet the interviewer and need to know what went wrong from my side.

He said, “Sorry…we do not allow this.” The interviewer has the final word whether to select or reject a candidate and is not answerable to anyone. But I kept on requesting him that how important is this job for me. I requested him twice and thrice but no use. He said, “I have sympathy with you… but for now please leave. I will try my best to schedule a second round interview for you. It will take some time. “

 

I came out from the building with a very heavy heart and I don’t how I reached home. I got inside my room and went straight near Lord Krishna idol and started crying profusely. “Why the hell this happens to me all the time? Don’t I have the right to live happy ever? Why do I have so much of pain, misery and all sorts of sufferings? Hey Krishna tell me, I seek an answer from you. How will I manage things? How will I pay my EMI? How will I support my family? Everyone says…God helps those are sincere and dedicated. Did I ever lack those? I have been struggling since childhood. You have given me thousands of reason to suffer but not a single reason to be happy. How can you be so partial to me? If am yours so bad child then please discard me from this world. I don’t feel like living anymore.

 

I kept on crying and shooting questions one after another. I was sitting there with moisten eyes but was soon distracted by incoming ringtone. I looked at the mobile screen it was Nisha, I ignored her call but she kept on calling me. Finally I stood from there wiping my eyes and came to my room and answered her call.

 

“Hey Rohit! Where are you? Not answering my call? How mean??” She quipped.

 

“Sorry I was in kitchen doing something.” I replied in crisp.

 

“Okay…So how was your interview? I was so anxious to know the result but you didn’t call me back??”

 

“I got rejected” I replied with heavy tone and my voice choked.

“Hey Hey…are you crying???” Please stop! Don’t be upset. It happens, not a big deal.” She said trying to comfort me.

 

“No Nisha! It is a big deal for me. My current job is in jeopardy I don’t how long I could sustain there. I have huge financial burdens. If I lost my job I am finished.”

 

“Don’t worry nothing of that sort will happen. God is there to take care of your troubles. He never does injustice to nice people.”

 

“I don’t buy this notion anymore. All my miseries are because of his discretion. How can God be so unfair to me?” I grumbled.

 

“Please don’t speak negative. I have prayed for you sincerely and God has always listened to me. May be there might be some motive of his behind this. Have faith in God and do believe in yourself. I am sure things will work out soon.” I was bowing my head and listening to her words over phone in servile manner.

 

“Please don’t lose your heart. Have dinner and go to bed, good sleep might alleviate your agony. I will call you in the morning. And believe me, you will get a new job soon mark my word it will happen soon.” She assured me.

 

“Thanks Nisha for all your support, I know I can always rely on you. You are one of the rare people who understand me so well…your words work like wonders. Okay you go to sleep as well. You have a family to take care.”

 

“Yeah sure. I will call you in the morning…Bye and take care.” She said and disconnected the call.

 

I felt a bit better after her call and it reminded me of Sakshi, I wished she could be as supportive as Nisha. She had her own family life; she had a husband and a two year old kid. But still she is always concerned about me even after so many years. We have not met since i left Silchar and it’s almost 4 years. Still she cares for me. I really respect her a lot as women and as friend.

 

In the morning she called me again and enquired about my well-being. By this time I had overcome my yesterday’s trauma. Today was Sunday so I decided to meet Sanjeev. It was almost a week and don’t know when Sakshi will be back. I didn’t call her though but I was missing her badly.

 

Days kept on passing by in similar manner and one day while returning from Office I got a call from Ankit. He had joined the new office and told me about how it was like there. Though he felt bad that I didn’t get selected and assured me he will try his best to get me there. I thanked him for that. Anyways I was happy that he was selected. Life kept on moving this way.

 

It was almost a month Sakshi had gone we talked few times in these days over phone. She said she will back in couple of weeks. This time I didn’t argue, I knew there is no point of doing so. Tomorrow was Janamasthmi (the birth day celebration of Lord Krishna). I have following this practice of celebrating this day every year. So after office I directly went to market to do the necessary shopping. While in market I received a call and it was Anurag again, and he asked me to come for interview on Monday.

 

I came from the market went straight to Lord Krishna and thanked him. I had a new hope. I said, “God tomorrow is your birthday, Are you gifting me a present of new job?” “Please God make this happen and don’t let me down this time” I bowed in front of him and somehow I was confident that this time I would get selected. I celebrated Janamsathmi the other day whole heartedly in my home and prayed to God to support me this time.

 

After Puja I called Shewta and said everything about my interview call. “What shall I do? Boss will never allow me leave tomorrow plus there is an urgent meeting with client?”

She said, “Rohit go ahead with the interview and keep your mobile off. You need to take risk and I know there is not much left for you here in this Office. Mr. Roy is trying his best to kick you out of this office…you are well aware of this situation. So go ahead who knows if the interview clicks then everything will be fine. And if not you can have excuse of some other kind. I personally feel you need to take this risk Man.”

I thought she was right… I mean God has given me this second opportunity I should not let it go. So finally I decided to skip office and go for interview without informing anyone in the office. Though it was a big risk and might even cost my job but I was ready to take this risk.

 

Next morning I reached