A lot
of things happened in a short time. I got a job which was not for me in the
first place. There was a query if I knew anybody who would be willing to work
as a counselor for an institute. I thought and re-thought and decided to apply
for the job myself. There was a call from the Bosses’ Boss one day; we spoke
for a very long time and the next day I was informed I got the job! So that “long
telephone chat” was apparently my interview!
So there
I was; back in the “work mode” after seven years. It felt good. At the same
time I was edgy, nervous and doubted if I would be able to deliver.
The day
I actually walked into the office and met my Boss, I just told him one thing, “I
need four days off. Technically it’s only two days as because 25th
is Eid and 27th is a Sunday. If this is acceptable then I am
joining. I do not like lying. I could have easily made up a story for my missed
days but let’s be clear and open from day one.”
“Where
are you going? Why do you need the leaves?” my Boss asked me, as he sipped his
cup of tea.
“Ziro.
I am going for the music fest. Everything has been planned and I don’t want to
back out at the last moment and ditch my friends”, I replied very assertively.
He thought
for a while, walked out of his room to the pantry, which is also the “smoking
zone”. He lit a cigarette and looked at me. I was standing near the door.
He
extended the packet of cigarettes to me and said, “Do you smoke? You want to
have one now”?
“No,
I don’t want one right now”, I said and also added a “Thanks”.
I
was waiting for an answer. He took such a long time for that.
“Okay!”
he said. “You can go. I appreciate your frankness. But do not switch off your
phone and internet.”
So
that was it. I was happy. No! I was super thrilled.
But
my happiness was short lived. One week on to the job and I had a major accident.
It was
the regular early morning mad rush. I was making breakfast and I don’t know why
and how it happened. I spilled some very hot water on myself, which I wanted to
throw it in the basin. Think I lost my balance and the water from the saucepan churned
like a wave and fell on me.
The pain
was bad. More than the pain I could see the skin coming out and the sight was ghastly.
I immediately took off my chain from my neck and my tee too. I had burnt myself
badly. Things were horrible from neck down. All I could wear for the next few
days was very light cotton stoles to cover me minimum.
My doctor
when examined me said, I was taking this matter too lightly. My burns were what
he termed as “second degree burns”. It wasn’t burns actually. It was scalding.
And after
working from home for a week, I had to go to office one day. It was important
and Bosses’ Boss also requested me to come to office for about an hour or so. I
was picked up from home and dropped back too.
But for the first time in my life
I stepped out of my home without wearing a bra! It felt awkward. I was wearing
a very loose top and covered myself with a sole. Yet I felt everyone knew I was
braless and that made me dreadfully uncomfortable!
I told
him the day this mishap happened, “Guess what, I spilled some hot water on myself and things are bad
neck down. Its painful. And it looks quite horrifying”.
He was
shocked.
“Please
look after yourself nicely. I wish I was there to comfort you”, he told me.
Much
later he told me, “ I don’t need the skin, I need your soul Nans”.
A few
days later he asked me, “Nans, can you make it?”
“Why
not?”, I replied.
We
still had three weeks in hand and by then my wounds would heal completely.
Its altogether
a different story that the ugly scars are still there.
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