Beyond Conditions – Adekemi Immanuela Elemuren
The beginning of a new day for me was more like the beginning of a new life, it had been a long endless night and though my anxiety wasn’t ready for the day, my expectations wanted it as fast as now. Immediately after the morning prayer, I took a quick cold bath, dressed up in one of my best clothes and ran to pick one of mum’s favourite earrings. After which I dashed out for a life changing interview
At last, the obvious ills in my life would change. My father’s hospital bills, his surgery handled as well, my younger brother would go to school again and my mother will not have to bother about how much she sells in a day. I felt so pleased with myself.
I know how risky it is skipping work at the private school I teach, I think I might have lost the job already but If that will be the case, I still will have no regrets. A friend had told me that once I was summoned for an interview, I should consider the job mine. I knew very well my documents were in place so I do not have to worry about anything. Again, my mum had not slept through the night she stayed up praying against devices of the enemy, I know very well it will please her if I get the job, I mean it will please everyone…
The journey to town was quiet a distance and it is not a place I visit often. I had gotten the link for the job online, did the application and took the online test as well… While the bus moved, many passengers discussed about fuel subsidy. Eventually, my mind had wandered away, in my mind were so many drifting thoughts, I worried about the distance. I probably will have to save up for an apartment after my first pay… I looked up and the health facility was right in front of me. I walked swiftly into the building, “they should have a staff quaters,” I said.
The receptionist welcomed me with a grin “do you have a doctor’s appointment?” No, I said; “I am here for an interview”… Come with me she said… I sat down and waited for my turn. Our files were collected and taken into the office, most of the offices were divided with glasses so we could see through all the offices around us, the exact definition of the offices I see on Tv, just classic… After my interview, I asked the woman if I would get the job, she assured me that the credentials received during the interviews are the exact number of workers they need so the interview is to verify if the applicant is still available for the job. I thanked the woman and headed out to wait for the incharge, as I stepped out, a young man had rushed into the office. The woman seemed displeased with what the man was saying and the next thing that happened puzzled me; a file was taken out of our files and replaced with another. But still wasn’t worried, I just didn’t know that a huge drama was about to unfold.
The incharge congratulated us and said we could resume work on Monday. I guess this is the most elated news I have received in a lifetime. She called our names one after the other, it was after she said “thank you” that I realized my name wasn’t mentioned. So I asked the incharge about my name and she asked “are you Raliya Asumu?” And I said no, then she asked again “where is Raliya Asumu ?” and the young man on kaftan quickly responded that she had an emergency and had to leave, I knew well that none of us had left and though I haven’t met the man before, I could tell from his expressions that he was telling a lie. The woman asked again, “what is your name?” “Miriam Abass” I responded, “are you sure you were shortlisted for this interview?” and I nodded, then she carefully picked out her best words and poured out the most painful of it all “I am sorry your name isn’t here” she left… I dibbled for a place to seat because my body had grown too large for my legs to carry. I could not place my hands on the exact part but I knew I felt pain.
Everyone was excited about the new job, no one even felt sorry, the time wasted, the previous job I might just lose, my father, my mother and her all night prayers? Did they not mean anything to God? I had almost walked half way home not realizing how far it was any longer; I was bathed in tears.
My father died six months after my mother had developed a high blood pressure , I know he had managed diabetes ever since my younger brother was born, But four years ago he got injured during the crises between our people and the opposition tribe. My father was not part of the crisis, my younger brother had not return home when the crises started so my father stepped out to fetch him. I stood quietly by the window, he walked briskly through the compound, suddenly, and a boy of about the age of thirteen ran towards him and stabbed him with a big knife. Although people said it was a sword but what I saw was a big knife, we were lucky the crises had ended immediately so the ambulance attended to him… he stayed in the clinic for about two months. After my father’s death, I decided to work at any clinic available even if it was to assist.
It is a year already, I have walked pass my troubles as my mother will always remind me to show love regardless. Of course, my family is a synonym for love. I know so much about love so often I will not sit to hear her bore me with words I already know.
But today at the private clinic where I work as a casual staff, a man on kaftan rushed in, he explained that his younger brother was outside and in a critical condition. Quickly, I ran out to call the nurses, I stopped to closely look at his face but then I realized it was the same man wearing a kaftan on the day of my interview, the same person who made me lose a life a changing job, well I let it slide and I know well that love does not keep records of evil. I summoned the nurses, the doctors on duty were already in the theater and the surgery was to last for about four hours so I was to place a call to the other doctors. While scrolling through my contacts the young boy covered with blood was rushed in, I looked in his face and Wala!!! It was the same boy who had stabbed my father with a big knife, trust me he still looks thirteen.
My eyes were bathed in tears, the nurses figured I felt bad for the boy but no!! I felt bad for myself. At that point I did not want to place the call again, I wanted to let the boy die, he should pay for the life’s lost at the crises, he should pay for everything … In a minute, I recounted all the bad events that happened to me in the past few years and how all of that could be his fault. I walked out of the door like someone trying to move away from noise and make a call but I was not calling anyone, I won’t even try it… But as I stepped out, the clouds were gathering in the sky, the week has been so hot and dry everyone awaits a downpour. So I asked myself why God will let the boy enjoy a good weather even with so much wickedness in his heart, he does not deserve it. I don’t deserve it too, my mind tells me, if I could watch someone die over a situation I can salvage; then of what difference am I with the dying boy or his brother? At that point it was God himself teaching me to love even when the condition does not warrant it.
It was a new kind of love, why must my father’s life be on the line for all these drama unfolding? Then I realized that like giving, love comes with sacrifice just as Jesus did on the cross for me, not because I had done him anything good but because he loves me.
I scrolled through my contacts, heavy tears flowing from my eyes. I placed a call to doctor Taiwo, “hello sir, there is an emergency at the clinic, can you come now?” It began to drizzle.