"FOREVER AMEN - CHUI..."

THE GODS' SETTLEMENT.

Robert got to Plutex Global Organization. He was preparing to get to a meeting which was to start in twenty minutes' time. Headed for the elevator, Robert noticed a queue of people, seated in the corridor carrying envelopes. “ Good morning, what are we having today?” He asked the receptionist. “We are hiring for a supervisor position considering the company has decided to introduce a new model of the Alfix CCS3” She responded. "Oh, of course. Thank you." The Alfix CCS3 was the name they gave the project that would bring electric buses into Kenya. This was a new idea in the region and from Kenya, it would be spread to other African countries. Interviews were to be conducted in batches. There were about fifteen positions open. “ Francisca, please call Norbert for me..” Norbert was the Human Resources manager and was obviously in charge of the recruitment, Robert needed a meeting with him.

“ Yes Bwana Norbert, how are you?” Robert greeted the HRM.

“Bwana Robert, I’m good. Hope you are too.” Norbert answered.

“ How many positions are open for the Alfix CCS3? “

“ We have plenty from the regional manager, we will need the assembling team, we will need the activation team for public awareness, and very many more, since it is a huge project, probably fifteen people.”

"I want a position booked for me. Please, let it be an office position with nothing to do with going to the field. Asante." ' Asante 'is Swahili for thank you.

“ Okay sir. We will have two positions, one for Marketing Coordinator and the other for Financial Analyst.”

“ The marketing Coordinator one, keep it for me. I got someone for it.”

Norbert left. Robert then remembered he had forgotten to call Nilla the previous night. Immediately he got home, his sister Lilibeth had called him. She had been battling cancer and calling her brother to vent was a great idea to help her get her mind off her situation. He decided to call Nilla.

“Good morning short Nilla, it’s me. I am sorry I forgot to call last night. I had a very long video call and by the time I was done, it was already late. How’re you?”

“ Good morning,” Nilla said in a sleepy voice. Robert had woken her up.

“ How about you go back to sleep? I’ll call you once I’m done with my meeting.” Robert said as Nilla uttered inaudible words and hung up.

After getting out of bed, Nilla went straight to her bathroom to take a shower. It was her lucky day, since they had water. She loved taking long baths, and that on day, she was exhilarated. Even though the world was ‘looking at her with bad eyes’, that was not the day to sulk. While in the shower, she suddenly had a recollection that Robert had asked her to reach out to him. What could it be? She most definitely was not going to hang out with him again. A girl must know when to make herself scarce. Once out of the shower, she gave Robert a call.

"Good afternoon dear friend, I’m here now, this your call, you told me to get back." She said in her bad every day English.

“ Hello Nilla, or should I say good morning? I want to meet up with you today. We could have found a place for you….” Robert said.

“ A place for me? This place, you say, is where?”

“ A job, big head”

Nilla laughed that Robert was the one using ‘ big head’ on her.

" Oooh! Really? I don’t know what to say…. Thank you? So much, sanasana "

“ When do we meet? Do you know of a place called Camp Steel next to the Eastlands hotel?”

“ I could ask ask no shauri, no problem. "

“Okay, see you at three o’clock“

Nilla only had an hour to prepare. Good thing, she has already taken a shower. The few clothes she had were always clean and well taken care of. She decided to go in palazzo pants, a vest and a leather coat. She picked up her only pair of high-heeled shoes and put them on. Nilla had bought those shoes when she first came to Nairobi. She had seen most Nairobian girls walk in them effortlessly and she wished she would do the same, so she bought a pair. She mastered the art of walking gracefully overtime. That which the heart wants, they say, is medicine. Nilla hailed a taxi to Camp Steel. Robert arrived fifteen minutes later. He was with company. It was Norbert from the office.

Nilla stood up after seeing them.

“ Hello Nilla, you’re already here! Norbert, this is Nilla, my good friend ," Robert said as he stretched out his hands, reaching for a handshake. Nilla shook his hand and Norbert’s too. The three had a long talk. Nilla had some sort of hard time considering her English. She could also not speak in Swahili as Robert could not understand her. "I'll need you to hold her hand. She’s hardworking, otherwise I wouldn’t have considered her,"Robert said.

" I will do my best sir. I will not disappoint you " Norbert said, and made his leave after their long discussion.

“ Robert, this work, it seems challenging, friend. What to do?” Nilla said. She doubted herself considering her exposure and level of education.

“ In this life, dear Nilla, never doubt yourself. Also, just so you know, there is a reason I chose this job for you. You go hard, you’re also good at talking to people, build on those. I do not want you to focus on what you aren’t good at, okay? You got this, this will be something on which you could build something bigger.” Nilla nodded her head, her trust in every word Robert said showing on her face. She then remembered Sarah’s words, it’s true, allowing people to help her fight would still be as worthy as when she fought alone and won, provided the enemy was eliminated. Her enemy then was poverty and endless bills. This opportunity would help eliminate them.

They had dinner together and Robert offered to drop her off. “ Won’t you come inside?” Nilla asked Robert . “ No, not really, I have friends who came to Kenya, we need to catch up. I’m also sure we’ll meet at work tomorrow, dear friend. How about you have your rest? See you tomorrow.” Robert said.

Nilla sat in silence at the corner of her tiny house. She could not believe the type of day she just had. Indeed, the gods did not leave her to the dogs. This day meant a lot to her. One thing she was not going to gamble with was her ticket to a comfortable life. The heavens had sent her Robert and Sarah as a compensation for when tears were her companion and pain, pain was that which she went to sleep with, it knew her with all of her names. She kept questioning if all these were real. You see, when lack and rejection have hugged you for a long time, even when luck and acceptance stand in front of you, your spirit still stands on the platform of doubt. That was what Nilla was going through. She feared life was enjoying fooling her. Poor thing.