Authors Note

This is Chapter 2 of the Chronicles of A Blind Lawyer series.  If you haven’t had a chance to read Chapter 1, you can find it here.

Disclaimer: Please note that while this series is inspired by real-life experiences shared by lawyers, it is a work of fiction. All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The stories shared are a culmination of various experiences and are not meant to represent the experience of any one individual or organization.

Chapter 2: Uncertainties & Hopes

Morning streamed in, gently touching Humaid’s face. Without the need for sight, he had developed an acute sense of his surroundings. Getting ready, he felt the fabric and contours of his clothing. Each piece told a story; memories of when he last wore them, or the description someone once gave.

He approached the office building with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Sarah, his friend and mentor figure in the team was already there, her excitement audible in her voice. “Humaid! It’s your first day as an associate! Ready to make waves?”

“With you guiding the ship, absolutely,” he chuckled.

Their bond was palpable. Working together previously had given them a shared understanding, a camaraderie built on mutual respect and ambition.

Before Humaid could settle into his new office, Mr. Hinderson’s commanding voice resonated, “Humaid, a moment in the conference room?” The atmosphere inside was dense with tension. “There’s something you should be aware of,” Mr. Hinderson began. “You’re here on a probationary period.”

The news felt like a gut punch to Humaid. Internally, he wrestled with feelings of betrayal and disappointment. Is this another challenge thrown at me because of my blindness and why the hell didn’t Mr Hinderson mention this on the the phone to me yesterday? But he kept his exterior calm, responding, “Understood. I appreciate the transparency. I intend to make the most of this opportunity.”

Returning to his desk, Humaid pondered whether to share the news with Sarah. The two had built a solid bond during his traineeship, but he didn’t want to cast a shadow over their fresh start. As she approached, offering a cup of tea, he decided against sharing. “Thanks, Sarah. Let’s make this first day count.” Throughout the day, despite the underlying pressure, Humaid remained steadfast. He was determined, not just to secure his position, but to shatter any preconceived notions anyone might have about his capabilities.

Later at lunchtime, and a couple of hours after his disheartening meeting with Mr. Hinderson, Humaid tried to shake off his concerns by mingling with his peers. He ventured to the break room and bumped into one of his fellow newly minted associates, Fajay, with whom he had developed a very strong friendship over the course of their traineeship.

“Hey, Humaid,” greeted Fajay, clapping him lightly on the back. “First day nerves?”

Humaid chuckled, “Always. How’ve you been settling into the litigation team Fajay?” 

“I’m good,” replied Fajay , pouring himself a cup of coffee. “Exciting to see familiar faces from the trainee days.”

Seeking a better understanding of his position, Humaid ventured cautiously, “Did you have a… probationary period mentioned about your job role??”

Fajay paused for a couple of seconds before responding  in surprise. “Probation? No, I wasn’t told anything about that….why, have you, that seems… unusual.”

The weight of Fajay’s words pressed heavily on Humaid. A sinking feeling settled in his chest. His fears of being singled out because of his blindness seemed to be confirming. He swallowed hard, attempting to keep the conversation light. “Well, every journey is unique, right? I’ll just have to prove myself; do you know if anyone else has been put on probation?”.

“Not that I’m aware of” responded Fajay somewhat awkwardly.

Fajay stayed silent for a further few seconds, it was clear that he felt for Humaid but was unsure as to how to respond. Finally, Fajay touched Humaid’s arm gently, “You’re an asset to the tax team, Humaid. Probation or not, you’ll shine. I’ve seen your work.”

Humaid nodded, offering a small smile. He was grateful for Fajay’s support, but the revelation was undeniably a blow to his confidence. The next few hours passed in a blur, with Humaid’s thoughts constantly circling back to the probation and why he seemed to be the only one burdened with it.  

Later, in the second half of the afternoon, the IT department had scheduled a session to set up Humaid’s tech for his new role. As he entered the IT room, a cheerful voice greeted him. “Hey there, Humaid! Ready to get tech-ed up?”

It was Martin, a guy from the IT team he’d met during his trainee days. Martin had always been particularly helpful, ensuring that Humaid’s software and hardware were accessible.

“I’m glad you’re here, Martin. I’ve heard setting up tech for associates is a whole different ballgame,” Humaid said, a hint of apprehension in his voice.

Martin smirked. “It usually is, but we’ve got you covered. Now, first order of business, here’s your new Blackberry.”

Humaid’s brow furrowed. “Blackberry? I thought I’d get an iPhone. The accessibility features are far superior for someone like me, I’ve told the firm that the Blackberry, with its tiny keys and screen are completely inaccessible for sight impaired users.”

Martin sighed, “I know, and I’ve pushed for it. But there’s been a block from the partners. Apparently, no partners have iPhones, and there’s a bit of… resistance.”

Given the events of earlier that day, Humaid  found it difficult to contain his frustration, “That’s not acceptable, Martin. I need to perform at my best, and the iPhone would greatly help with that.”

Martin scratched the back of his head, “I understand, Humaid. I’ve heard whispers that Robert might be the one opposing it. But I have an idea. What if you used your personal iPhone for now?”

Humaid hesitated, “That doesn’t sound secure. And why should I have to compromise my personal device for professional needs?”

Martin nodded in agreement, “I had a feeling you’d say that. But I had to suggest it because some others were pushing for that ‘solution.’”

Humaid sighed heavily, “I appreciate you trying, Martin. But this isn’t right. If the firm can’t, or in this case, won’t,  provide me with the tools I need, how am I expected to succeed?”

Martin placed a reassuring hand on Humaid’s shoulder. “Look, I’m on your side. Let me talk to some higher-ups. We’ll sort this out.”

Feeling a mix of gratitude and frustration, Humaid replied, “Thanks, Martin. It’s not about wanting an iPhone for the sake of it. It’s about being given a fair chance to succeed and putting into place my legal entitlements to have appropriate accessibility adjustments in place.”

Martin smiled, determination in his eyes, “I get it. Leave it to me.”

Humaid went back to his desk a little while later, praying for the day to end and hoping everyday wouldn’t be like his first….