Gratifying Rendezvous

The stupid alarm!! The shrill noise of it always gave her a headache. She’d fell asleep for some more time after switching it off; and of all the days in her life, she was running late today.

The roads seemed to be more crowded than usual, the buses seemed to be fewer in number. She didn’t want to crumple her spanking white shirt by getting into a crowded bus when she was to attend her first and most important interview of her life, considering that the other interview she would be attending is not that important for Asha.

Never had Asha felt the need to impress someone this desperately. While waiting for an auto, she was constantly trying to step into the shade so that her sweat wouldn’t ruin her makeup. It was very sunny outside, and Asha never carried an umbrella – her mom always gave her an earful whenever she walked home from school, her top to toe drenched in rain.

Finally, climbing into the rickshaw that pulled up, she gave the address of the office she was headed to. The minutes ticked by and she reached the venue. Handling the call letter for the interview to the smartly dressed receptionist, she sat down on the sprawling couch waiting for her turn. Soon, the receptionist called for Asha Menon and showed her way to the Editor’s cabin. Asha sent up a quick prayer to the heavens and was careful to place her auspicious foot first as she entered.

The interview was a dream come true. She was sitting face to face with the man she admired – intelligent, handsome, willful, opinionated, brave- she could think of so many more adjectives for this hero of hers. Throughout the hour long interview, she was careful not to let admiration overcome her ambition. She wanted this job, more than anything else; it would be her biggest break, the one she longed for all these years of her studies. The hour went by smoothly, the feeling of being assessed left her and she began to enjoy the conversation she had with the Editor. Finally the editor shook hands with her and asked her to expect a call from his HR.

Leaving the newspaper office, she wondered, whether she would ever have such thought provoking conversations with her fiancé. Not her fiancé, it was just a casual meeting with some guy who was interested in her, she corrected herself, and admonished herself for having thought of a guy at this crucial moment when she should have been thinking whether or not she would get the job.

Girls in India are caught in the drift when they reach a particular age. They suddenly face a dilemma as to what to focus on in their life, whether to make a career and ensure a living or to get married and secure their life. Girls who remain single after the so called marriageable age are frowned upon by the society and are considered a burden for their families.

Throughout the month of April, thanks to the AtoZ Challenge, I am trying to portray the life of Asha, a common Indian girl with dreams and aspirations. Everyday we focus on one alphabet starting from A on April 1st till Z on April 30th. Stick with me till the end of the journey and do tell me what you think of my writing and my Asha.

A - An Arranged Marriage

B - Bridal Dreams

C - Cherubs From Heaven

D - Rusty Dusty Delhi

E - Ernakulam

F - Fretting Over F.R.I.E.N.D.S & Fiancé

G - Gratifying Rendezvous

H - Hospitality Crash Course

I - I Love You??!!

J - Journalism's Joy

K - Krishna

L - Love, Longing & Life