Chapter2:Where Did He Go Wrong
When he arrived at the municipal post office complex he was already gasping for breath and sweating like a pig.
His wife that used to assist him with transport fare had divorced him and life seemed to be throwing at him now.
About drifting to the dress room to change into his uniform and resume cleaning, his boss’s beaming voice caught him. “Jamole! You are late again.”
Dean Bur was his boss, a tall, strong featured man who humiliated him at any slightest chance.
“What do you have to say about this Jamole?” he pointed around the dirty complex, “The whole place is messed up over the weekend. I expected you to resume on time and clean up before customers would start coming.” He was almost raising his voice. “I need explanations, Jamole.”
Jamole raised his gaze and raised a pitiable, sullen brow. “Apologies, boss. I shouldn’t have come late. It …it,” he stuttered, “It is just that I have unsolved problems with my wife, who deprived me my transport fare that is the reason I am late.”
Dean bur winked to a sort, and yelled at him, “I don’t know why you poor people always have excuse. I believe that is the reason you are poor. I think you don’t deserve this job. It is high time you quit, hit the road and start begging,” he pointed at him from head to toes. “Just take a look at yourself. You have always lagged behind in your work that is why you look horrible and can never be rich!” he yelled radically at him.
Jamole shivered and flinched at his words. He held a grinned face and sniffed. Would a day ever come when Dean Bur would regret all he had ever told him?
“Take your filthy self out of my sight!” he snapped at him, expecting him to walk away but he stood his ground and went on his knees instead.
Recently heavy thought had overshadowed him; he had always loved Stella. She was the wife of his youth. He could recall how he had pleaded with his boss to give him an extra job so he could earn enough money and make her happy.
“So where did I go wrong?” he queried within himself.
“Apologies boss please I need a favor of you,” he had said, molded his arms and demanded intensely with his sorry face.
He shot his quarrelsome gaze at him. “And what could that be? I hope it is not money because I don’t have any penny to give your broke ass.”
He tossed his head in disapproval. “No boss. I need an extra duty so that I can earn more money and have enough savings. I have an urgent need,” he had explained to Dean.
Dean’s brow thickened as the ridges in sand, “But why do you need an extra duty? You have never made such demands since you became a janitor.”
He swallowed hard, sniffed hugely and lowered his gaze in shame, “My…my wife needs Arabic Coral Gold Ring for a birthday gift and she is ready to pour hell’s soup on me if I don’t get her one. I adore my wife so much. I don’t want to get her walked up for any reason. She is very dear to me.”
Dean Bur had interrupted him with an outburst of laugh. “You are insane. Arabic Coral Gold Ring is too expensive for you. I don’t think you can afford it now or in the life after.”
He protested, “at least we have affordable ones. Please boss. I need extra duty so that I can have enough savings and buy her the one that is selling for one thousand dollars. Yes, I just did a market survey. There is one that sells for one thousand dollars.”
Done mocking him and choking on his laugh, Dean said, “Well if you insist, the municipal town hall urgently needs a cleaner and maintenance personnel. You can start with immediate effect, and you must be diligent and take it seriously! None of the jobs must suffer at the expense of the other,” he had warned Jamole.
“Thank you boss. Thank you so much, boss.” He appreciated and fell on the ground in gratitude while Dean walked away.
Jamole had fondled his pocket, brought out his sizeable wallet and took out photo of his wife and smiled at it cheerfully, “I promise to work hard and get you the gold ring sweetie. I promise,” he had placed the photo on his chest, as he got down to work.
Jamole wondered where he went wrong and what inspired Stella to have the nerves to cheat on him with her boss in the matrimonial bed and still order him to apologize to them for distracting them.
“Oh, I can’t take this anymore! This is the worst thing that has ever happened to any man.” he raised his gaze and affirmed within himself, “I must succeed. I must become rich and will strike back.” He raised his gaze at the sky and beamed, “Oh Lord, this is too much for me to bear.”