Career Options Anyone?

It was my 54th year, and the restless feeling in the pit of my stomach was now a nagging irritant. No, it wasn’t indigestion because of the pizza I had gorged on. nor was it menopausal. That much I figured out.

Now that the nest was getting empty and my duties were confined to the bare minimum,(I was literally relegated to the minimum status)! I had some time to kill. So my friend told me this is the time to go do yoga and attend some shloka classes to sort of pave my way to heaven. To eat healthy because my salad days were over and to go for the quinoa and the what have you diets to stay fit. Well... not really interesting I thought. I've been doing all those things for most of my life and time for some change. So the mulling over options started. 

Well, as the saying goes, when the student is ready, the teacher appears! One fine morning I had an interesting email. The Air Force is Recruiting, It said in BIG BOLD LETTERS. Dont you want to conquer the skies? Go where nobody in your family has gone before. Do you have the hunger in your belly to Reach for the STARS? The thirst for adventure?” I was hooked!

My eyes turned upward, a dreamy look in them, I pictured myself in a smart white uniform, helmet in hand, smartly striding toward the aircraft, getting into a single-seater, cruising down the runway, and taking off to see the world from above. I finally had the chance to serve my country!

Feeling full of good intentions and patriotism, I got my resume ready. My Daughter was aghast. “You are going to fly a plane? Remind me not to board that flight.”

“You do know this is some flight of fancy, I hope? Have you run it by dad?

“It may seem so, but I’m tired of being earthbound. And yes I have told him and he seemed ok about it. “ I replied.”Though he did wonder if I was feeling alright!’

“Not Headed heavenward I hope, I need to get married and my children would need the grandma around.”

“Oh, it's just the new me. Am sure you‘ll get used to it. “ I was excited. 

So I called the people who sent me the email and they asked me to come for an interview on Sunday at ten am Pronto!

When I got there, there were people from various parts of the country, of different ages. Interesting I thought, Everybody, wants a change. After a long wait, I was called into the interview room.

Just keep hoping that the butterflies in my stomach were a sign that I would fly like them!

“So,’ said a General who was seated along with a few others, and had a smutt on his cheek. God, why did Army and Air Force guys have to be drop-dead gorgeous? 

’ What post have you applied for Ma am?

Well, I am a Postgraduate in English Litt and am a writer, so can you fit me in anywhere? I ventured.

General Smutt on his face smothered a giggle. “Is that so? And do you have any flying experience? 

Just as a passenger to Mumbai and back for my daughter's interview. “

Ma ‘am, why have you come to attend this interview? May I ask? Is it a mid-life crisis? Sighs and softly inquired.

 I had a feeling he was being sarcastic. But never mind. I boldly told him. I want to learn to fly the Mig 47, It's never too late to learn, and it's always been a dream to fly like Jonathan Seagull. 

The rush of patriotism came to the rescue and I plowed ahead, “I would like to give back to society sir, and to serve my country." That came out as pompous!

The glint in the General's eyes became shiny as he burst out laughing and tears streamed down his face. He mopped his face and when he finally stopped laughing, he gasped, I’m sorry my dear, Its too funny, Jonathan was a seagull, he knew about flying”. 

I was watching him with alarm. Was it the age factor, or was it the lack of qualification that would go against me? What was so funny? 

“Ma am I salute your noble thoughts, ( was he being sarcastic?) But unfortunately, I cant recruit you for the air force today because you are overqualified. We don’t need pilots today, We are looking for a clerk administrator and draughtsman for which I only need a 12th standard pass guy ! But we need cooks too, so if you are a mom you'll definitely whip up some food for thought and Us too. Care to give it a shot? You can “SERVE” us, your best curries and rotis. “ Plus you get the air force uniform. 

Cook? I stood up. Sir, I said, I've kept the home fires burning all these years, and no way will I burn the skies, at least not this way! And your mail said you needed someone to conquer the skies. Your advertisement said in BIG BOLD LETTERS. Dont you want to conquer the skies? Go where nobody in your family has gone before. Do you have the hunger in your belly to Reach for the STARS? The thirst for adventure?” 

“Hunger in our belly and thirst we do have Ma am, hahaha. But we salute your noble intentions. “ 

I gathered up whatever was left of my dignity and my certificates, and swept out of the room. When I got home, my daughter asked me,” How did it go?’

“Fasten your seat belts, missy, This flight is ready for take-off, not in the air force but to new horizons. “ 

I thought heard a relieved whisper between father and daughter,” Can we unsubscribe those job emails from her email id? “

I heard that!!!