“Dr. Nihad Fottouh?”
“Yes!?”
“You have an interview today at 11 with Dr. Roland Bo…”
I couldn’t catch the man’s surname, looking at my watch, it was 10, “It is 10 already. I can’t be ready before 11.”
“This is the only available slot, otherwise you will have to wait for three months till the Dean is available again.”
“Sorry, I’m a little lost here, who are you?”
“Dr. Fottouh, please, you are losing precious time. I’m Soha, HR assistant for X University.”
“I haven’t applied there, how did you get my number?”
“We received your C.V. from Dr. Nevin, who has highly recommended you.”
“But I can’t come on time, I have a baby, which I need to feed before I leave and find a place to leave her, and it is not less than a 20-minute drive.”
“Dr. Fottouh, we are expecting you at 11. Thank you!”
The voice hung up, leaving me in an abyss, should I run to catch the interview or dismiss it?
I decided to go, why not? Let me try my luck!
I started to prepare my one year old daughter to leave home, but to where? I had no idea. Every relative and acquaintance is at least half an hour drive. I did not know what to wear? Formal? Semi-formal? I had no idea about the nature of the place and this Soha did not tell me, so I went for formal. I pulled the ready ironed suit, took the baby, its bag and left home. On my way out, I decided to leave the baby with my old neighbor, the interview probably won’t take long, as I imagined. I left her and took to the road. I was at the university’s gate at 11:20; I couldn’t have arrived earlier by any means. I reached Soha’s office – after calling her several times for on campus directions – at 11:40.
Soha received me with a face full of blame, as if she did not know why I was late. She even told all the other HR employees in the room about my tardiness. I was so embarrassed and angry; I wanted to yell at her “as if you don’t already know!” However, I silently waited in the armchair as instructed. I was given an application of four pages to fill, some other papers and then even more papers. An elegant lady entered from an attached room, announcing that Dr. Roland has left.
The urge to yell came back to me, what? After all that? I told you I’ll be late! And how come you did not call me beforehand to get ready? You HRs!
Furious, I looked up at that elegant lady. It was Shahy, a younger sister’s school-mate. How could she get that job, she was such a failure at school, she barely passed. I understood from the power in her voice that she managed the place. “Shahy how are? Do you remember me?”
She looked up with her serious face then smiled, “Of course I do, how are you, Nihad? I thought the name was familiar!” Then, “You missed your interview,” she said, wearing her serious face again.
I wanted to ask her how she got that job. I forgot all about blaming her assistant and all I was thinking about was how she had landed that job. No, really, how so, she looks very important and powerful. I felt so silly to have studied so hard for two years for a Masters and four more for a PhD. I never felt that powerful and important, let alone elegant. I’m always in a rush; doing something, studying, writing, teaching, correcting, or tending to the baby, I never look elegant -or even nice. I wonder what SHE studied!
“Dr Roland Bo…” I could not hear the name again, sucked up in my thoughts. For real, how did she get that job?
“Excuse me, what should I do now?”
I felt I had to respect her, after all, she had the man’s itinerary, with a word I may be able to meet him or go home to nurse my daughter.
“If you just wait for an hour, I can get you to meet him during his lunch time.”
“This would be very difficult, I left my baby…”
Before I got the chance to finish my sentence, she stood up in a rush, followed by her assistant, and ordering someone to bring me a Latte. I followed her procession till she disappeared. Once again, I missed asking her how she got that job.
After my first sip of Latte, the procession appeared again. She took her seat and announced, while going through some papers, “I’m sorry Nihad. I did my best, Dr. Roland Bo…” I was lost again, thinking how stupid I was to leave in such a rush and leave my baby at a stranger’s house, believing an HR employee.
Dr. Nihad Fottouh
Photography: Mahmoud Mansi
EDITORS: Mennat-Allah Yasser Zohny & Nada Adel Sobhi