Prestigious job
His looks scared me when I first met him in his office. How could the General Manager of Administrative Affairs deal with a new employee in this manner? He asked me: “Why did you leave Saudi Arabia?! What brought you to this company?! Are you aware of what you are doing?!”
His strange looks and suspicious words increased again that day, but at a rate of every ten minutes he would make silly comments. He annoyed me greatly. As soon as I tried to explain the reasons for my return to my country, he would return to his style full of disgust, disdain and mockery again in a barely audible voice; as a result, my head would boil and my heart would burn.
I realized that he did not want to give me the job, for no reason. Perhaps he wants his son to seize it, or give it to one of his friends’ sons, or perhaps he will sell it to someone who can afford it, or perhaps he simply does not think it is enough for someone like me, who has no support or backing, to obtain this prestigious job.
What attracted his attention the most was whenever I answered a question or responded to his comments word for word. He had never encountered anyone in his life who would argue with him argument by argument, nor did he know how to lower his head. Rather, I would defend my right and my point of view with all boldness. Whenever I answered him, he would stare at me in surprise.
Minutes passed slowly, I followed what was happening with great distress, and in astonishment at his style and manner, I realized that Faraj was abnormal, asking strange questions, and smoking voraciously without caring about the tightness in my chest caused by the smoke! I wondered in a conversation with my rebellious self: “Who called him by this name?! Why is this strange man treating me this way?! Is he giving me the job’s salary from his pocket?! Will I get his son's place?!”
I said in a calm voice: “Did you know, Mr. Faraj, that my office in Riyadh is as luxurious and elegant as ministers’ offices?! Four times the size of your office, moreover I receive eight thousand riyals, ten times what I would get if I took over the work here! I do not know the reason for not taking over the work for the past months till now!”
“You have no idea what happens to us every time a new employee is hired! Our hearts boil, and perhaps there are demonstrations that shake the company from the employees’ sons and daughters who are looking forward to this job!”
These words penetrated my heart sadly, after a minute he said: “I’m not sure, maybe we can find a solution for your problem.
Minutes passed, he uprose from his seat, walked towards me, put his right hand on my left shoulder, then said:
“Do you mind taking up the job here in Cairo, far from Upper Egypt?!”
I told him the details of my personal life, I said that I am married to a teacher and that I have a daughter with special needs and an infant son, and that despite my travel years ago, I do not have the money to buy a house in the capital, and that this solution will exhaust me financially, in addition to my inability to stay away from the family because of their great need for me.
In a warm voice, he explained his point of view to me, then said: “My son, this is just a temporary period, you are going to work at first away from the disturbance that may be caused by receiving the job if you go to the area near you directly. After a few months you can move to a place near your residence without anyone knowing about the date of your appointment! Silence surrounded me; I was think about his words. Immediately I agreed to receive the job in the capital, and said: “Transportation has made far cities and towns nearer, perhaps the only crisis is the winter that is knocking on the doors, but in any case promise me that you will transfer me to a nearer place at the first opportunity”.
He smiled and said: “Don't worry.”
I signed the work acceptance papers. Questions filled my anxious heart. I have never accepted such a situation before! Would he be honest with me? I have never worked in a place without walking with confident steps! What happened to me?! How could I accept to work in this company?! It is not like the Saudi company, the monthly salary is not even a quarter of my salary there, and I will not get any privileges like I used to enjoy there. Maybe my daughter needs me more than ever, and maybe something unbearable will happen there. In any case, every expatriate's fate is to return to his homeland.
While signing the temporary contract, I looked at my salary associated with my name; I was amazed by the big difference between the new salary that I was replacing with my old salary, whoever compares the two salaries will be sure that my mind has gone!
As soon as I returned home, I raced time to make my wife happier that I would finally put an end to my alienation. I told her what happened; she congratulated me on getting the new job, hugged me and turned me around in her arms happily. As soon as her eyes fell on the salary, she asked: “Is your contract in Saudi Arabia still valid?!”
His looks scared me when I first met him in his office. How could the General Manager of Administrative Affairs deal with a new employee in this manner? He asked me: “Why did you leave Saudi Arabia?! What brought you to this company?! Are you aware of what you are doing?!”
His strange looks and suspicious words increased again that day, but at a rate of every ten minutes he would make silly comments. He annoyed me greatly. As soon as I tried to explain the reasons for my return to my country, he would return to his style full of disgust, disdain and mockery again in a barely audible voice; as a result, my head would boil and my heart would burn.
I realized that he did not want to give me the job, for no reason. Perhaps he wants his son to seize it, or give it to one of his friends’ sons, or perhaps he will sell it to someone who can afford it, or perhaps he simply does not think it is enough for someone like me, who has no support or backing, to obtain this prestigious job.
What attracted his attention the most was whenever I answered a question or responded to his comments word for word. He had never encountered anyone in his life who would argue with him argument by argument, nor did he know how to lower his head. Rather, I would defend my right and my point of view with all boldness. Whenever I answered him, he would stare at me in surprise.
Minutes passed slowly, I followed what was happening with great distress, and in astonishment at his style and manner, I realized that Faraj was abnormal, asking strange questions, and smoking voraciously without caring about the tightness in my chest caused by the smoke! I wondered in a conversation with my rebellious self: “Who called him by this name?! Why is this strange man treating me this way?! Is he giving me the job’s salary from his pocket?! Will I get his son's place?!”
I said in a calm voice: “Did you know, Mr. Faraj, that my office in Riyadh is as luxurious and elegant as ministers’ offices?! Four times the size of your office, moreover I receive eight thousand riyals, ten times what I would get if I took over the work here! I do not know the reason for not taking over the work for the past months till now!”
“You have no idea what happens to us every time a new employee is hired! Our hearts boil, and perhaps there are demonstrations that shake the company from the employees’ sons and daughters who are looking forward to this job!”
These words penetrated my heart sadly, after a minute he said: “I’m not sure, maybe we can find a solution for your problem.
Minutes passed, he uprose from his seat, walked towards me, put his right hand on my left shoulder, then said:
“Do you mind taking up the job here in Cairo, far from Upper Egypt?!”
I told him the details of my personal life, I said that I am married to a teacher and that I have a daughter with special needs and an infant son, and that despite my travel years ago, I do not have the money to buy a house in the capital, and that this solution will exhaust me financially, in addition to my inability to stay away from the family because of their great need for me.
In a warm voice, he explained his point of view to me, then said: “My son, this is just a temporary period, you are going to work at first away from the disturbance that may be caused by receiving the job if you go to the area near you directly. After a few months you can move to a place near your residence without anyone knowing about the date of your appointment! Silence surrounded me; I was think about his words. Immediately I agreed to receive the job in the capital, and said: “Transportation has made far cities and towns nearer, perhaps the only crisis is the winter that is knocking on the doors, but in any case promise me that you will transfer me to a nearer place at the first opportunity”.
He smiled and said: “Don't worry.”
I signed the work acceptance papers. Questions filled my anxious heart. I have never accepted such a situation before! Would he be honest with me? I have never worked in a place without walking with confident steps! What happened to me?! How could I accept to work in this company?! It is not like the Saudi company, the monthly salary is not even a quarter of my salary there, and I will not get any privileges like I used to enjoy there. Maybe my daughter needs me more than ever, and maybe something unbearable will happen there. In any case, every expatriate's fate is to return to his homeland.
While signing the temporary contract, I looked at my salary associated with my name; I was amazed by the big difference between the new salary that I was replacing with my old salary, whoever compares the two salaries will be sure that my mind has gone!
As soon as I returned home, I raced time to make my wife happier that I would finally put an end to my alienation. I told her what happened; she congratulated me on getting the new job, hugged me and turned me around in her arms happily. As soon as her eyes fell on the salary, she asked: “Is your contract in Saudi Arabia still valid?!”
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أحمد أحمد عبدالله إسماعيل - وظيفة مرموقة...
تأليف وترجمة الكاتب أحمد عبدالله إسماعيل
أفزعتني نظراته عند أول لقاء لي في مكتبه؛ إذ كيف يتعامل مدير عام الشئون الإدارية مع موظف جديد بهذا الأسلوب! فيقول لي : لماذا تركت السعودية؟! وما الذي جاء بك إلى هذه الشركة ؟! هل أنت في كامل قواك العقلية؟!
تعددت نظراته الغريبة وكلماته المريبة في ذلك اليوم من جديد، لكن بمعدل كل عشر دقائق يعلق بعبارات سخيفة، ويزعجني بشدة، وما إن أحاول أن أوضح له أسباب عودتي إلى بلدي حتي يعود إلى أسلوبه المليء بالنفور والاستخفاف والاستهزاء مرة أخرى بصوت شبه مسموع ، تفور رأسي ويغلي قلبي.
انتبهت إلى أنه لا يريد تسليمي الوظيفة ولا أعلم السبب، ربما يريد أن يقتنصها ابنه، أو يهديها إلى أحد أبناء أصدقائه، أو ربما يبيعها لمن يقدر على ثمنها، أو ربما مجرد أنه يستكثر على شخص مثلي لا ظهر له ولا سند أن يحصل على هذه الوظيفة المرموقة.
أكثر ما جذب انتباهه هو قوة شخصيتي كلما أجبته عن سؤال أو بادلته التعليقات على كلامه كلمة بكلمة، فلم يصادف في حياته من يجادله الحجة بالحجة، ولا يعرف طأطأة الرأس .. بل أدافع عن حقي ووجهة نظري بكل جرأة، وكلما أجبته يحدق في وجهي مستغربا.
مرت الدقائق بطيئة أتابع بضيق شديد ما يحدث، وفي ذهول من أسلوبه وطريقته أدركت أن فرجًا غير سوي، يسأل أسئلة غريبة، ويدخن بشراهة دون اكتراث لما يسببه لي الدخان من ضيق في صدري!
تساءلت في حديث مع نفسي الثائرة: من الذي أسماه بهذا الاسم؟! لماذا يعاملني هذا الرجل الغريب بتلك الطريقة ؟! هل يعطيني من جيبه؟! هل أحصل على مكان ولده؟!
قلت بصوت هادئ : هل تعلم يا أستاذ فرج أن مكتبي في الرياض في فخامة وذوق مكاتب الوزراء؟! نعم، أربعة أضعاف مساحة مكتبك هذا، وأتقاضى ثمانية آلاف ريال، عشرة أضعاف ما سأحصل عليه إن تسلمت العمل هنا، وحتى هذه اللحظة لا أعلم السبب في عدم تسليمي العمل طوال الأشهر الماضية !
ـ أنت لا تعلم ما يُلم بنا كلما تم تعيين موظف جديد! تفور الدماء في القلوب، وربما تشتعل المظاهرات التي تهز أنحاء الشركة من أبناء العاملين الذين يتطلعون إلى هذه الوظيفة !
نزلت الكلمات في قلبي حزينة، بعد دقيقة قال: لا أعلم، ربما نجد لك حلا.
مرت الدقائق انتصب من جلسته، تقدم نحوي، وضع يده اليمنى على كتفي الأيسر، ثم قال :
هل لديك مانع أن تتسلم العمل هنا في القاهرة بعيدًا عن الصعيد ؟!
رويت له تفاصيل حياتي الخاصة، أخبرته أنني متزوج بمعلمة في إحدى المدارس وأن لي ابنة من ذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة وابنا رضيعًا، وأني رغم سفري قبل سنوات لكنني لا أملك المال لشراء سكن في العاصمة، وأن هذا الحل سوف يرهقني ماديا، بالإضافة إلى عدم قدرتي على الابتعاد عن الأسرة لحاجتهم الشديدة إلى وجودي معهم.
بصوت دافئ، شرح لي وجهة نظره، ثم قال : يا ابني، هذه مجرد فترة مؤقتة، تعمل في البداية بعيدا عن الاضطراب الذي قد يسببه استلامك للعمل إن توجهت إلى المنطقة القريبة منك بشكل مباشر، بعد بضعة أشهر تنتقل إلى مكان قريب من محل إقامتك دون أن يدري أحد عن ميعاد تعيينك!
يحيط بي الصمت؛ أفكر في كلامه، وعلى الفور وافقت على استلام العمل في العاصمة، وقلت : قربت المواصلات كل بعيد، ربما الأزمة الوحيدة هي الشتاء الذي يدق الأبواب، لكن على أي حال عدني أن تنقلني إلى مكان قريب في أول فرصة.
ابتسم ضاحكًا وقال : لا تقلق .
وقعت على أوراق استلام العمل، والتساؤلات تملأ قلبي القلِق، لم أقبل بمثل هذا الموقف من قبل! فهل يصدق معي ؟ لم أعمل من قبل في مكان دون أن أسير بخطوات واثقة! ما الذي جرى لي؟! كيف أقبل بالعمل في هذه الشركة؟! لا تشبه الشركة السعودية، فلا الراتب الشهري يساوي ربع راتبي هناك، ولن أحصل على أي امتيازات مثلما كنت أتنعم هناك، ربما تحتاج ابنتي إليّ أكثر من أي وقت مضى، وربما يحدث هناك ما لا يمكن احتماله، وعلى كل حال، كل مغترب مصيره يرجع إلى بلده.
في أثناء توقيع العقد المؤقت، نظرت إلى راتبي المقترن باسمي، دهشت من الاختلاف الكبير بين الراتب الجديد الذي أستبدله براتبي القديم، من يقارن بين الراتبين، سيتيقن بأن عقلي قد طار!
بمجرد عودتي إلى البيت، أسابق الساعات لأسعد قلب زوجتي أنني أخيرًا سأضع نهاية لغربتي، أخبرتها بما حدث، هنأتني على استلام الوظيفة الجديدة، واحتضنتني واستدارت بي بين ذراعيها في سعادة، وما إن وقعت عيناها على الراتب حتى سألت: هل ما زالت وظيفتك في السعودية سارية؟!
