Chapter two

The meeting had started by the time stepped into the doorway.  I could hear voices inside and instantly panic settled into my stomach. I hesitated a little at the doorstep as if to weigh my options. Finally, I summoned courage and knocked the door. 

 There was brief silence inside the hall has everyone's attention seemed be drawn to the door where the knock was coming from. Soon, I heard some footsteps approaching the doorway and within no time the door was opened. It was a man who had opened the door and as soon as the door was opened, he stepped aside to clear the way for me to enter.  The sight of men and women staring at me were sharp enough to drain my breath. 

The hall was large and precious. It was a size that could house a big conference here in Yasia town. The hall was at the center of Yieng' Ber hotel. It was constructed by the hotel management to cater for the needs of of their customers. The hall had been famous in the town as it was the preferable ground for meetings of dignitaries who frequent the hotel. Yieng Ber was one of the most expensive hotels in town. Which was why when I first heard that the meeting would take place in the hotel, I felt highly elated. It was this hotel that I was really longing to taste its food. 

My expectations grew at once the moment I was nominated to attend a meeting there. Now that I am in the hall my heart beat with joy even though I was late for the meeting.

Though I was just dressed in a simple manner that I had thought might not draw considerable attraction, Nonetheless, it had made some eyes to screen my body than I had anticipated. I noticed for the first time that men craned their heads towards me as I walked to take my seat.  Some of them twitched their noses as if to get ride of mucus from their nostrils. 

Instantly I knew that my breath had touched theirs ears with excitement. But I was least moved. The man who had opened for me the door was still a young man under thirty years. He had an upcoming tummy that was noticeable from far. He was short and sturdy and his hair seemed to have just left a barber’s shop a few moments before the meeting.  I took a sharp notice of it as the man ushered me to a vacant chair near where others were seated.

  Once the brief tension caused by my entry had settled down, the house went mute. The members' eyes settled into the papers before their table as the short man with the little belly was saying something.

“I think that everyone is now present. The one person who was missing had just stepped in and I am now happy that we are now a full house. But before we dwell on the business of the day, let me give a room for introduction. Even though we had gone half with our program of the day but for the benefit of the new member, I request the other members to bear with me."

The mention of the new member in the house made some eyes turned towards where I sat and instantly I bent my head down to avoid the piercing eyes that kept on penetrating my clothes.

 At this point I was fully aware that I was causing more chaos to the men's minds than women. Most of the women in the meeting seemed composed and bore no interest towards me. But the men were the opposite. But it did not take me long to guess why the women kept their eyes at a distance. The nervousness and jealousy which was common a thing among woman was thrusting their souls. 

When the introduction started, the men gave their names first and the roles they would play in the board. The secretariats were three men, the sturdy, short man was the secretary of the board and the two other men were supportive staff. The two support staff also bore same weight and height as the secretary.  The two support staff were busy shuffling papers here and there as their boss did the introduction. The short man mentioned his name as Sammy and his other two colleagues gave their names soon thereafter. But I got some names as Wembe, James Elizabeth and Vitoria but missed some names before their mouths had not even shut up. 

 Finally, it was my turn to pronounce my name. At this moment I felt nervous. I was least expecting an intimidating sight like the one I was experiencing here.  Almost all the six men in the room had their eyes trained on me. Even before this, I realized that upon my arrival, the secretary's eyes had not left my sight. He kept on threatening me with stolen glances that left me afraid with lingered doubts. The man tried to be shrewd and only passed his glimpse at the tail of his eyes while he seemed to pretend that his attention was on the meeting. Though I felt irritated, but I did not take any offence. 

Throughout my youth, I have realized how men normally misbehaved when they cast their eyes on a beautiful woman. In several occasions, I had to play a victim as men kept on bothering me with their ugly or unsummoned glances. Some could go out of their way to whistle at me just to attract my attention towards their direction. This had made me to imagine that I was made to be a man’s killer even though I had never gossiped about it with any other woman. 

In order to gain my strong footing at the meeting, I was pressed to assume the desperate eyes that jammed my body every second. I hunched my neck on the table to start perusing the programme. The names of the new board members were clearly spelled in the attendant list we signed. 

 At this moment I could guess the names of two support staff even though I could not relate any particular name to any of them. Suddenly the meeting was brought to order as the short man whose name was Sammy started to speak. 

‘I am happy that we have assembled here today. This is very important as this group is tasked with recruiting talented groups that should be empowered economically. The secretariat will guide where necessary but the final decision will be squarely upon the board members' shoulders. As you can see gender balance is correctly applied here. Three men and three women as board members is good mathematics. I believe that the arrangement was by design and not a coincidence. This work involves scrutiny of bulk of papers and thereafter every member is expected to append his or her recommendation on each application paper. It is my hope that you are up to the task. 

 

  "Before long let us elect the chairman who will guide the board’s subsequent meeting."

I found it a bit strange to participate in the selection of the board's chairman and yet nothing I knew about the other members apart from their faces. I always don’t believe in instincts as a way of doing things. Sometime instincts might lead to wrong judgments.  

But at this time I felt cornered. 'It must be done and the chairman must come from the six of us.'  I remained calm and let my eyes did most of the work. After an interlude of silence one man shouted a name and before his mouth could dry out of saliva, another man seconded and soon a woman joined in support of the man. I guessed at the man who was being proposed for the chairmanship and who seemed known to the majority of the board members. It appeared to me that I did not know the man who was being elected as the chairman. 

Soon the majority of the board agreed with the man to be the chairman as there was no other candidate to challenge him. It was very funny that I did not participate in the election. This fact was later echoed by the chairman elect who uttered that, 

“I will serve all of you irrespective whether you voted for me or not.” 

At once I knew that the last sentence was directed to me and I became stiff at once. My almost inactive sense came back to life at once.  I stared at the chairman whose name was James Puoyo on the face as a lump of annoyance speed across my face. Something inside me was urging my reluctant soul to react to the statement but, I coiled my temper and only let my eyes warn him instead. 

Once James had finished his victory remarks. The business of the day was called to an end with prayers. There was tea outside at the doorway, and immediately everyone rushed to the doorway to pick a cup of tea. The tea was taken in silence as everyone stood with a cup of tea moving in and out of their mouths. However, the quite moment could at times be interrupted when ill-mannered people either sneezed too loud or gobbled their tea in haste with loud boom that killed the serene atmosphere instantly. I was dismayed by the behaviors of some of them but I let my heart speak by itself. When I was still in the process of taking my tea, the secretary came to where I stood, quietly and I was surprised to hear a voices just next to me, 

“Hellow madam Saoja, my pleasure to say hey again.”

 I looked at him with a smooth eyes and forced smile. Then I said something to him to prove that I was gentle. 

 “Welcome Sammy.”  

"Fine madam for your welcome. I hope you have enjoyed our being together here.”

  “Absolutely, I looked forward to more of it,”

  “Are you from around here.” I became a bit nervous. I wondered why he was becoming inquisitive. But I became soft with words and dropped my unnecessary curiosity off my mind. 

  “I am from a very far place. It’s about twenty kilometers from here, to be precise.” 

“Where is that.”

“Keplet town."

 “I see, Keplet is a very good town but Yasia is bigger.” 

At this moment I realized that almost all the men’s eyes were glued on me. I quickly cut the story short and suddenly moved to pick my handbag ready to leave for home.

 When I was just a few meters from the meeting room, I heard a voice calling me from behind, 

"Madam Saoja please a minute." 

The voice was familiar. I curved my neck to give a glance. Sammy was hurrying towards me. I stood still to wait, all aware of eyes that were striking my body from all corners. 

"If you don't mind may I offer you a lift."

 I was shocked and almost froze. I did not know why this man had just developed interest in me. I stayed silent for a while as my heart pulsated rapidly.