Parte Una - Umairah
There was a knock on my door, followed by the gentle creak of it opening.
"Miss Umairah, the new staff is here." Without looking up from my work, I knew that Colin had stuck his head in, like he always had, even before I gave permission to.
"Give me a sec Colin." I typed in a few more words and finally got up, adjusted my headscarf, dusted off imaginary dust from my top and walked towards the door. I pulled the door towards me to welcome the new staff.
"Good morning . . . . . ." My voice dropped, just as my heart did.
The man who had caused this sensation had a stupefied look on his face. Colin interrupted, "Miss Umairah, this is Mr Rajesh."
Gathering my composure, I said, "Yes thank you Colin. I'll take it from here." Colin shuffled off, dragging his shoes but it failed to annoy me like it always did. I had more pressing things to deal with at the moment.
Once Colin had left, I turned my attention to Mr Rajesh, gave him a rehearsed smile and promptly put my hand out. (We were in a professional setting anyway.)
We shook hands briefly and before he could speak, I started. "Well, as you might have known, this school is barely 2 years old. We have a staff of about 30 and close to 120 kids." I paused while I led him out of the main office. "Here is the speech therapy room. Currently we have 4 speech therapists. I'll introduce you to them at a later date, at a staff lunch."
This went on as I showed him around the school, never once letting my guard down, while he followed silently, not asking any questions, or perhaps. . . I never gave him the chance to.
Finally we were back at my office. "Well, I hope you would enjoy working here as much as I do. If you face any problems, you can always ask Colin or you can look for me. Colin has all your documents ready and he'll help you get started."
I opened my mouth again to call Colin when he broke his silence. "Mairah. ."
I froze. That voice . . the voice I hadn't heard in 7 years. Has it really been 7 years? The same voice I had fallen asleep to, found strength and comfort in. . it made me weak now. I sat down and stared at my desk.
"Mairah, how are you?"
I looked at him. "I'm fine Raj."
When he didn't speak, I felt I had to say something."How bout you?"
"I'm fine"
"That's good"
"Yeah"
pause.
"Well, you have to start working. Colin would be waiting."
He looked as if he meant to say something but changed his mind & then gave the slightest of nods and went out the door. I sank into my seat, my heart racing and my head throbbing. How could I not have known? His file, which contained his resume and portfolio, had been lying on my desk for 2 weeks! But I didn't take a look at it because I trusted Colin's judgement & I was too busy anyway. He was here! After 7 years struggling to keep his image at the back of my mind, with no news of him and . . he's working with me now!
I took a gulp of water to push back the lump in my throat and looked to the ceiling to prevent the tears from falling.
The first man in my life was back.
(to be continued . . .)
"Miss Umairah, the new staff is here." Without looking up from my work, I knew that Colin had stuck his head in, like he always had, even before I gave permission to.
"Give me a sec Colin." I typed in a few more words and finally got up, adjusted my headscarf, dusted off imaginary dust from my top and walked towards the door. I pulled the door towards me to welcome the new staff.
"Good morning . . . . . ." My voice dropped, just as my heart did.
The man who had caused this sensation had a stupefied look on his face. Colin interrupted, "Miss Umairah, this is Mr Rajesh."
Gathering my composure, I said, "Yes thank you Colin. I'll take it from here." Colin shuffled off, dragging his shoes but it failed to annoy me like it always did. I had more pressing things to deal with at the moment.
Once Colin had left, I turned my attention to Mr Rajesh, gave him a rehearsed smile and promptly put my hand out. (We were in a professional setting anyway.)
We shook hands briefly and before he could speak, I started. "Well, as you might have known, this school is barely 2 years old. We have a staff of about 30 and close to 120 kids." I paused while I led him out of the main office. "Here is the speech therapy room. Currently we have 4 speech therapists. I'll introduce you to them at a later date, at a staff lunch."
This went on as I showed him around the school, never once letting my guard down, while he followed silently, not asking any questions, or perhaps. . . I never gave him the chance to.
Finally we were back at my office. "Well, I hope you would enjoy working here as much as I do. If you face any problems, you can always ask Colin or you can look for me. Colin has all your documents ready and he'll help you get started."
I opened my mouth again to call Colin when he broke his silence. "Mairah. ."
I froze. That voice . . the voice I hadn't heard in 7 years. Has it really been 7 years? The same voice I had fallen asleep to, found strength and comfort in. . it made me weak now. I sat down and stared at my desk.
"Mairah, how are you?"
I looked at him. "I'm fine Raj."
When he didn't speak, I felt I had to say something."How bout you?"
"I'm fine"
"That's good"
"Yeah"
pause.
"Well, you have to start working. Colin would be waiting."
He looked as if he meant to say something but changed his mind & then gave the slightest of nods and went out the door. I sank into my seat, my heart racing and my head throbbing. How could I not have known? His file, which contained his resume and portfolio, had been lying on my desk for 2 weeks! But I didn't take a look at it because I trusted Colin's judgement & I was too busy anyway. He was here! After 7 years struggling to keep his image at the back of my mind, with no news of him and . . he's working with me now!
I took a gulp of water to push back the lump in my throat and looked to the ceiling to prevent the tears from falling.
The first man in my life was back.
(to be continued . . .)
vomitted at 9:56 PM
