Meena’s gesture

Meena had been hunting for a job for the last eight months. She badly needed one to support her family. She did her graduation in economics and had a diploma in management from a not-so-reputed private college. All she got were some offers from call centers for night shifts. After a long wait she got a call for a written test from a renowned company for a junior executive position. She was confident that she had done the test very well and waited anxiously for a fortnight before she got the call for the interview.

The interview was to commence at 10.30 am and she was required to be present by 10 am. She lived in a suburb connected to city only by road and the journey would take an hour. There was a bus at 8.45 am and she was at the stop at 8.30 itself. There were none at the bus stand. It was drizzling. Meena was worried that her dress may get crumpled if the drizzle became a rain. It was 8.55 am and there was no sign of bus.The frequency was less and erratic. It was 9 am when another young lady of her age came running. She was somewhat drenched by the drizzle that had become heavier and stood a little away sobbing.

The bus had not made its appearance till 9.20 am with both getting fidgety. A few cars were seen at intervals but Meena was afraid to request for a lift from unknown strangers especially when newspapers were full of assaults on women. She cursed her luck and was worried that she may miss the interview. She saw that girl also pacing up and down obviously in a hurry to go somewhere. It was sheer luck Meena saw a three wheeler coming and she hailed it. When it slowed down and Meena was about to enter, the other lady said “Madam, I am in a great hurry. My dad has had a road accident about two hours back and admitted in AB hospital. There was a phone call asking me to rush as his condition is very critical and deteriorating. I wish to see him alive. If you can help me, I would be indebted to you for life.”

That hospital was in a different direction. Meena was in dilemma for a minute before she decided that the lady’s need was greater than hers .It was a question of life and death.

“Okay, you take the auto though my need is equally important but no life is in danger. Take care. Your dad would be fine. God bless you” Meena said as the woman took the auto and sped away.

As if by a divine intervention, the bus came within a minute or two though crowded. Meena managed to reach the venue at 10.30 am. She explained the circumstances and was allowed to take the interview

When she stepped into the lounge where the other candidates were waiting, she was shocked to see the girl, who had grabbed the auto, emerging from the interview room and sitting on one of the chairs. What a sucker she had made of me, Meena thought. She just ignored her very presence in disgust keeping her face grim.Meena was the last candidate and was called immediately

After the interview was over, the candidates were asked to wait for a few minutes for the announcement of successful candidate. Soon an official came and called “Meena, please come in. We thank all the others for coming”

As Meena was going in, she saw the interviewer rushing out to the lady and say “Sorry Sunita, I was held up. Come on, let us rush to the hospital. How is dad now?”

It was only then Meena realized that the girl was no fake or a competitor as she mistook her to be and that she had come to this office only to take her brother along with her as an afterthought. She regretted for rushing to wrong conclusions.