Chapter 16

"Hi!" Jamal greeted the editor of Warqah. "I am here, to apply for the photographer vacancy."

The creepy editor did not turn towards Jamal, but instead he said, "Oh, an applicant."

"Yes."

"What makes you think you are capable of the job?"

"Well, I take pictures."

"Hmm…"

"Mostly of the surroundings, monuments and other stuff."

"Interesting…", the editor said again. He then turned his chair to face Jamal.

He said, "I am the editor in this company."

"I know…"

"Good thing that you know," said the editor. He went on to introduce himself as Ed. Just Ed.

Jamal insisted on calling the editor by his surname, so Ed gave his full name: Ed Rajul.

"Happy now?" asked the creepy but rather interesting character known as Ed.

Jamal replied, "Err…yes, Mr. Rajul."

"Whatever, as long as you do your job well, you can stay here longer," Ed said.

"Sir," Jamal asked. "About my application…how is it?"

The editor stopped for a moment, and his hands were placed underneath his chin, as if in deep thought. Jamal was left standing, and sweating a little as his legs started to feel restless. Then, after much thought, Ed lowered his hands to the table, and looked straight to the applicant.

"Jamal Hashim…", he said. Jamal was confused as to why the editor kept pausing for some time. Eventually, the editor said, "…welcome aboard!"

Jamal smiled, and he thanked the editor for accepting him as a photographer for Warqah Newspaper. But before the young man attempted to leave the office, Ed stopped him. "I am not finished yet, young man," he said with his clear voice.

"You forgot that I have not told you about this company, our goals, our challengers, competition and so on."

Jamal realised that he was not given an in-depth look at the company. "Indeed," he replied. "Sorry about that."

So, Jamal was given as much information about the company as the editor wanted to give. The editor went on and talked about Warqah's attempt to win the Creamland people, and it would be a long process but still possible. However, Warqah is lacking a little behind the most read and favourite newspaper of people, Metronomic Newspaper. Metronomic had, over the past decade or so, dominated the newspaper competition, beating the competition on merit, fair and square.

Something interesting is that Ed was a product of Metronomic Newspaper's company.

"I was there," Ed said to the young Jamal, "for a few years. You see, after I graduated with a degree in journalism, I went straight to work with Metronomic, since they make the best newspapers."

What happened? Why is Ed no longer there? He carried on by saying that, Metronomic was under stiff competition from a rival company, and some changes were needed to help elevate Metronomic's status, to be the top ranking newspaper by a big margin. Ed, who was young but bright, came up with an idea he thought was brilliant.

He decided that the design of their papers were, back then, getting old and outdated. In fact, people favoured the Daily Paper, their strongest competition, because their design looked unique and colourful, thus easing the eyes of readers. After much thought on his behalf, and mostly on his own, the young and opportunistic Ed came up with his design.

"I was then a young journalist," he said, pointing out that he started as a journalist. "Even though I had little experience in graphic design, I gave my idea anyway. Who knows if my reputation might be improved in an instant?"

But Ed was young and inexperienced. He thought that his brilliant design would be accepted by the company's board of directors; unfortunately it did not. The editor was not convinced, for reasons unknown to Ed. However, a week after that, someone from a high ranking position in the company came up with a design which, by Ed's words, looked worse than his initial design. To his surprise, that design, which consist of rows and columns of varying colours, was accepted by the editor, and the board of directors. Ed was definitely not amused.

His dismissal might have been because of his youth and inexperience in working with a top newspaper company, but Ed kept his head down and worked, for a while, that is, until the time was right for him to go on his own. Through good and bad times working in Metronomic, he gained experience. Experience, which he put to good use, when he saw a clear opportunity in Warqah.

"Almost 10 years ago," the editor of Warqah went on, as the youthful Jamal looked on, tirelessly, but he was still standing there, with his legs bent, signalling tiredness. Luckily, Ed noticed, and he said, "Before I continue, what are you doing still standing there? Sit on the chair!"

"Okay," Jamal spoke softly, and slowly he sat on the chair in front of the table. Ed carried on.

"Almost 10 years ago," he said, "this very company was formed. Not formed here, in this little village, but in the big city."

"I saw a flyer about the company when I was in the city," Jamal said.

"I see," Ed replied. "Now, even though I worked with Metronomic for a while, but now I do not like them. Actually, I despised them, ever since my talents were overlooked. Warqah is my place now, and I am the editor. Have been the editor for almost 10 years. Metronomic is going to fall."

Jamal interfered again. He said, "But, sir, Metronomic released the best newspaper in this country. In fact, their content is okay. No offence…and I think that it is best you move on and see them as friends again."

"What do you mea by 'them'?" Ed asked, with his eyebrows slightly raised.

"Metronomic," Jamal replied.

Ed's face lit up. "Young man," he said, "you have no idea what I went through there. And why are you rating them highly?"

"I am just saying," Jamal said, "their papers are okay. I am sure you read them a lot."

"No…I mean, I did…but not again! Not since I became editor."

Ed stopped for a moment again, before continuing. "Jamal," he said, "there is some truth to what you said, but I am fully focused."

"Focused on what?"

"Please do not interrupt."

"Okay…"

"I am fully focused…on building Warqah Newspaper Company from strength to strength. To do this, I need the cooperation of everyone, and also some brilliance, creativity on behalf of everyone. I want to make sure Warqah makes the best papers. We are the best! Not Metronomic."

Ed paused again, and shook his head. "Maybe…we are not the best, but we will, one day. Your responsibility, should you choose to accept it, is to take beautiful pictures that are not just beautiful, but can silence the critics."

"Sir," Jamal replied, "I accept the responsibility. If I do something wrong, you have the power to cut my payment, and so on."

"Good," Ed said with a smile. "At least we have a replacement for our retired photographer, who was quite okay, but a little unorganised."

"What happened to him? How many photographers do you have here?"

"No one," Ed said, "until now. We had no photographers for quite some time."

Jamal's eyes widened. "But how…?"

"No need to worry," the editor tried to keep his new employer silent. "Focus on the present time…"

Suddenly, the windows in the office were broken to pieces, when two ninjas appeared out of nowhere, literally. They were wearing black ninja clothes, but with different belt colours. Jamal ducked to avoid injuries, and was able to snap a picture.

The ninja wearing a blue belt pointed to young Jamal and said, "You! Stop taking photos!"

Jamal immediately stopped.

However, Ed was standing up in silence, but he gripped his fists tightly, as if he was angry or upset.

The ninja in red belt said, "Stop where you are! Have anyone seen the evil mummies? We thought we saw them enter this place."

Ed opened his mouth. "No," he said, "but you just broke down the windows! No way am I going to pay for that damage."

When the co-editor of Warqah set foot in the editor's office, he was undoubtedly surprised.

"The windows cost a lot of money," Ed said, "and I suggest you pay!"

The ninjas realised the angered state that the editor was in. They freaked out when they encountered an editor with a red face.

The ninja in blue belt apologised for the trouble. "I am so sorry…mister," he said. "We will pay for the damages…in cheque…really sorry."

"Good…" Ed said, while his hands became a little relaxed when Jamal told him to. His face, which was bright red, calmed after what was a terrible moment. Not least because the co-editor was also there, but he could not explain what happened anyway. The ninjas would leave, and they were required to pay some amount of money to cover the costs of two windows.

However, there appeared to be a lost mummy, or maybe people dressed in mummy costumes, or something else. Those ninjas who stormed into the office were no impostors; they are professional ninjas, graduates of the Ninja School, which is located in the famous Ninja Village, also the location of Warqah's new headquarters.

"It looks like," Jamal said, "something urgent to them."

"Who can you be?" the co-editor asked the young chap who was in the office with the editor.

"I am Jamal," he replied.

"The new photographer," Ed said, referring to the new employee. "He better do his work, or he will get the sack. So will everyone else?"

"Nice to meet you," the co-editor said to the young man. "Do not worry, he will be fine later on."

Figuring that there was no need to stick around, Jamal left the headquarters and headed home, where he would join his family, including his cousin, Baraq. Together, they would have delicious side dishes, as fries and sushi were cooked and the aroma relived. The side dishes were good, too. It felt good to have a good lunch.