“Why do you think we should hire you? “
This point-blank question from the interviewer shook her. According to what she could think at that time, she said abruptly, a little fidgeted and nervous “Teaching is my passion and I think I am the best fit for the job”. With this answer she could foresee this opportunity slipping out of her hand too. After a few minutes of discussions, the interview was over and she was on her way home. This was her third interview and subconsciously she had prepared herself for the fourth one.
She was a little disappointed with the way the interview went, however, a wave of excitement arose in her veins and she felt motivated and empowered for her next interview.
This wasn’t the case a few months earlier. Vrinda was satisfied and living happily as a housewife with her husband. She had no complaints about life, not much concerned with the outside world, her world confined to her family and home. She did everything that it took to make her family happy and going. But her life changed when the shocking news came her way knocking her fate.
Sun had sunk lower in the sky. Harsh daylight had begun to fade giving way to evening twilight. The slanting rays of the fading sun gave a warm orange tinge to the sky. Evening bustle created by frenetic commuters had come to a lull to the street. She had set herself to work to prepare dinner before her husband comes home after two days of an official trip to another city, so that duo can enjoy and chat over dinner. In the breezy evening, the sound of wind chime was quite relaxing for Vrinda. She was humming her favorite song completely engrossed in what she was doing. The phone rings suddenly tearing through the silence of the breezy evening. She picks it up, hearing what a familiar and hesitant voice on the other side said, she was shocked. It was her husband, stammered out” I can’t live with you anymore and want a divorce from you. Before she could comprehend anything the phone was cut. She tried his number back but to no avail. It directly went to his voicemail. She sat next to the phone kept dialing or waiting for him to call back. She was in complete consternation. Her heart and mind went numb, not knowing what to do. A couple of days passed and there was no movement and sound in the room other than her sobbing and groaning. Unsettling thoughts and questions were coming to her mind. Except for small arguments and quarrels that commonly happen in any household, things were good between them. And if there was something more than that couldn’t it be dealt with by talking? What went wrong, why divorce… what is my fault? There were only questions but no answers. Her vision blurred with tears and she just couldn’t think of doing anything.
Her in-laws arrived when the news reached them. She was a little skeptical and scared to face them because she knew they will have tons of questions to which she has no answers. But soon she realized that her in-laws were there to support her, to be her strength not to stress her. If needed they were ready to break all ties from their son and be on their daughter-in-law’s side in every decision she made. This mitigated her stress and anxiety. At the same time, she felt strengthened and relieved also. Days passed on and gradually she adjusted herself to a new norm. Meanwhile, her in-laws strengthened and encouraged her to go out and look for a job. This will not only keep her busy but also make her financially independent and self-reliant. It was difficult for her to think about what she can do to but not impossible. She had an interest in teaching and thus began the process of giving interviews.
photo from google image
