Third month of that job completed nicely . Next day was first day of new month and i had to receive my third salary along with other staff.
I was happy with my obligations related to job and my bosses seemed also satisfied with my work as they declared some increment in my new salary in the fourth month of the job.
The day came when i set off for office which was 45 minutes drive away from my mom's house (where i was staying) .Islamabad was n is my favorite city because it's environment is much educated and less crowded with mesmerizing hilly views and dramatic weather .
Vans ran inside the city with separate seats for ladies which made journey easy and enjoyable as city is surrounded by beautiful margalla hills and weather is mostly beautiful .Both sides of roads are decorated by tall green trees and traffic flow smoothly .
One can find hardly anyone walk on the main roads of city because most of the people own cars and other travel through neat vans or cream and uber (private taxi services which work online (now)
So i Left house at 8 am for the office ,came to the van station and found so many people waiting for vans but there were hardly few who were roaming around with huge voice on speaker that "it is strike of transportation today and they will pick up no one .
I got worried as others , who looked desperate and anxious because they were getting LATE for their destinations ,some were waving for the taxi (which were hardly few ) which tripled the fare to take advantage of the situation .
I had not much money in my bag as i was not aware i will face such problem . I could walk back to home and inform them next day that
" it was strike so i could not come" but problem was that from next day the national holidays were starting for five days due to Eid festival . I wanted to get my salary same day more due to my sixth sense was alerting me about the bosses who belonged to another city .
I used read and hear in news about many fraudulent men who go to different cities and establish their business temporarily ,collect money from people with tricky talks and demonstrations and then just disappear .
I may be mentioned it sometimes that if i had supportive environment i would be an ethilet and that day that instinct of mine grew stronger .
Weather was cloudy . chilly and breezy so i decided to walk towards my office .I thought though i will be late but atleast i will get my salary and deep inside i knew i will be loving, walking (though) with an excuse because who knows when i will get such chance again .
I did not know any shortcut so decided to follow the same van route which could be so tiring because i was fasting that day due to fasting month of Ramadan .( since few years i don't fast anymore)
just to give you idea of road (image source)
I started walking swiftly on main road where mostly private cars were running . I looked at my watch ,it was almost 8:30 am .I guessed that it will take almost two hours if i keep walking as fast.
After 30 minutes walk i saw a taxi moving near me ,driver horned and waved to stop me but i was not interested so i nodded my head to say NO yet he kept following me and drove nearer ,he said he will charge reasonable fare but i said No thanks .
Weather was getting more poetic ,clouds got thicker and there started slight pouring . In mechanical way of living such days come rarely when we feel a true inner joy , a true sense of freedom a pure deep breath where no worry comes along.
But i had one worry that if rains gets heavier i will get wet which was so bad as being eastern lady i could not afford such embarrassment .Walking on open wide road while it is raining and people driving in cars peeking through glasses at the lady with wet dress was really shameful for me.
(I know i am coward but if taking care of the honor of man you belong is cowardness i would love to be one ) It was almost hour to my walk when rain got little faster . My clothes were getting slightly wet and my big shawl was quite a protector from being more visible though . i held my hand bag as umbrella.
There was a car that stopped ,a young man removed the window glass and said he can give me lift but i said no because he was alone ,he looked nice man he insisted but on my refusal he said " are you sure" i said yes and he left quietly .
I was walking faster now and was little worried as if rain gets so fast . Scenario was splendid , trembling tree rows beside the road , grey wet long curved road and slightly blurred views of hills were calling me to write some poetry but my feet were following the reality so quickly .
Suddenly i saw a car coming front of me and i waved for lift because i saw two ladies inside it .The boy who was driving he noticed my sign and slowed down the car ,both girls who were chatting may be asked him why he is stopping and i saw the loud laughter of girls between the sound of music in their car .
One girl who seemed more fashionable gave me a weird look , her coloured lips moved and i saw that car going away , i still remember the slight sense of pity in the eyes of boy who wanted to help may be .
I felt bad and regretted for my wave for help .They were not lucky enough to earn this goodness i thought .
I looked at the sky , took deep breath and walked more fast ,there negative behaviour added more strength to my being i realized.
After almost 25 minutes when i reached the curve of main road i found same car standing there ,music was off ,girls were standing near the car and the boy was may be trying to find out the fault in the vehicle .
I felt bad for them though somewhere inside inevitably i realized that i was little happy that they were in trouble which is bad thing to think though i know but i swear it was unconsciously .
Somehow God helped me and i reached office .it was almost 12 pm noon . When i entered in the office i felt something weird .The whole set up of office was changed many decoration stuff was disappeared . Most surprising was the behavior of my three bosses who seemed in rush .
When they looked at me they were so shocked as they were not expecting me .They told that no one from staff came due to strike and then rain. They looked as i caught them red handed .Their smiles seemed so fake .
First thing they said to me was " why i came to office while facing so much difficulty ? I replied that i came to receive my salary as it is 1st and from tomorrow there will be holidays for almost a week.
I had strong feeling that there was something wrong ,what , i did not know .
Anyway they tried to give many excuses that they cannot give me my salary today and i should wait for reopening the office . I could not agree because they were being suspicious , it was not about only money it was the hard work of my whole month , my daily traveling fares and most above my absence in home with my child meanwhile .
Anyhow they finally gave me my salary and i felt sense of achievement that moment .
I returned home on taxi with more confidence and satisfaction. That day i walked for almost three hours constantly and with empty stomach ,without any single drop of water .Such misery made me suffer with fever and cold for few days but i was at peace that i got my salary before holidays .
My doubts proved right when after holidays i went to the office .The office was closed and a young boy who used to bring tea in office from hotel near informed that according to owner of this building the bosses hand over the keys of office and left ( same day when i came to get my salary )
i met another staff girl there who told she lives in area near the office so she came (same day before holidays) to office but bosses said that they are leaving for home right now and she can collect her salary after holidays .
She ,like other two could not get her salary and it was heart breaking for her as after long month she was excited to get her salary at the end of the month which is natural .
I was the lucky .I followed my instinct and heard my sixth sense which gave me success. by the Grace of God!
My life is full of such incidents when my sixth sense saved me from harm and damage that is why i feel strongly and deeply connected to my Creator whom i never forget and who never forgot me also!
God Bless You All!!!
What a story but I believe also on min 6 sence...
ReplyDeleteYour perseverance and willingness to walk all the way paid off! I'm glad you insisted on getting your salary! What a terrible bunch of bosses, just ripping off their workers like that.
ReplyDeleteBaili, there is a story about the Prophet Elijah where he is waiting for the Lord to speak to him. There is wind, but God is not in the wind. There is an earthquake, but He is not in the earthquake. There is a fire, but He is not in the fire. Then there is a gentle whisper. That's where God is. :) I think He whispered to you just like that.
ReplyDeleteHere is the story:
11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
(1 Kings 19:11-13)
Elijah was hiding because he was afraid, which is why God is asking him what he is doing there. God had told him not to be afraid.
Baili - this was quite a story...read your first half. God was certainly blessing you friend. I would say this had a happy ending. Hope you have a lovely day.
ReplyDeleteYour intuition and persistence paid off. Those managers should be ashamed of themselves! I am glad this ended well for you. I believe we should all listen to that little voice inside us more of the time.
ReplyDeleteHello, Dear Baili, I enjoyed reading about your experiences with your early marriage and job and how you overcame all the difficulties that you experienced. Listening to your inner voice has kept you safe and helped you to avoid bad situations. I believe in following that sixth sense and it has saved me more times than I can remember, too. Your walk alone along the road took determination and you were so fortunate to arrive at your destination safely and recover the salary that you rightly earned. I sometimes feel that as women we must rely on our sixth sense more than men, as we are vulnerable in many ways. I am happy to know that you were watched over by a higher power and arrived safely there and home, with money in your pocket. I loved seeing your precious photos, too. Blessings for your week, my dear. xo Karen
ReplyDeleteI am glad to hear that at least you got your salery. It is too bad that the company did not work out as it sounds like you were doing well. It also sounds like it was an interesting job.
ReplyDeleteBrain actually the purpose of company was to collect the high feeses from clients so they did it for sometime and when it was time for people to realize that this whole thing is not giving any result ,
Deletefraudulent escaped .it was very common in that time and was up in news ,
it was my first time and i was doing my duties honestly . i was not aware of insidious dark side of such businesses
Goodness, what a story.
ReplyDeleteBut so pleased your perseverance paid off.
All the best Jan
Glad you got your salary.
ReplyDeleteA strong women you are. You endured hardship on that day but you kept going..your 6 the sense paid off. Well done.
ReplyDeleteWe have five senses alert.
ReplyDeleteAnd others that sometimes come to life.
I truly Believe this.
Quite a story! You are a strong woman!
ReplyDeleteIf someone walks into a bank and robs it there is a good chance he will end up in jail but to rip off the little people is not chased up did your bosses suffer for their actions I hope they did.
ReplyDeleteMerle............
Oh, Baili, what awful people these were doing that! I'm so glad you pushed hard and got what was owed to you!
ReplyDeleteThat's so sad you had to walk in the rain, but you were so strong and brave! Glad you got your salary as well, well done! Shame about the job.
ReplyDeleteRaindrops of Sapphire
Baili that was so good to read! You kept me enticed, I wanted to know if you would firstly make it to the office, how long it would take you, and if they would still be there! What thieves...our sixth sense is there for a reason, most people doubt it, thinking it's "nothing"...but it's ALWAYS something! What a long trek! Congratulations to you! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this powerful story, Baili. You have your mother's strength and determination. I can feel the shame you would have felt at getting soaked and thus being disrespectful to your husband. I don't believe in hell, but sometimes my first reaction to a story like this is that I hope there is a special place in hell for men like your bosses.
ReplyDeleteInjustice fuels a rage in me. I can't always change things, but I have spoken out against injustice all my life, and sometimes I've had success. Each day I go through life trying to be kind to people. I can't always change injustice, but I can treat people with dignity, respect, and kindness.
Not only is your story powerful, but so is your writing. For example, in the first part of your story you wrote, "Now i realize that i was more responsible for such conditions because my anger worked like exhaust fan for all the frustration i got from in laws during whole day." Comparing your anger to an exhaust fan that cooled your frustration was a strong, original, and delightful simile (delightful from a writer's style perspective). Don't stop writing, my friend; your prose is as fresh and insightful as your poetry.
Good for you, getting your salary!!! You are a strong, beautiful woman! I'm sorry about the other people who didn't get paid! Horrible thieves!
ReplyDeleteTake Care, Big Hugs!
What a story, Baili! I can only echo the writers above: I'm happy you got your well-deserved salary and sorry about the other people who didn't get paid.
ReplyDeleteThe sixth sense... if we call it "intuition", the concept is accepted much more easily. :)
Blessings and hugs!
Dear Baili, I enjoyed this post and thank you for sharing. The idea of the exhaust fan taking out the frustration is wonderful. Going to use that concept next time I feel myself getting angry. Blessings to you and kind regards! John
ReplyDeleteI believe we all have sixth sense but some are more developed than in others...
ReplyDeleteNice post, nice read, thanks for sharing.
Ann
https://roomsofinspiration.blogspot.com/
Gosh! What a horrible man/boss. How cam he be like this? May he rot in hell😠ðŸ˜
ReplyDeleteIt is not right for him to cheat the staffs like this!!
Você é muito corajosa, minha Amiga. E ainda bem que o seu sexto sentido funcionou, pois pôde receber o seu salário. Gostei muito de ler o seu texto.
ReplyDeleteUma boa semana.
Um beijo.
Someone was definitely watching over you that day, Baili, I have had some unexplained life events too where things happen for a reason and I felt I was being guided along. We must always trust our intution/sixth sense :)
ReplyDeleteDear Baili, your sixth sense is truly a blessing in your life. I'm eager to learn more about your early years. Peace.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! That was quite an adventure. I'm so glad you listened to your own intuition and kept going, determined to get the money that was owed to you. I'm glad it worked out for the best for you.
ReplyDeleteAn inspiring story from an inspiring lady :-)
ReplyDelete