Letter from Genie

Silver Lamp,
Cave of Wonders,
Mysterious Sahara,
Agrabah.

16th February 2010.

Hello Everyone,

On this special day where all you happy and bright not to mention intelligent students of Jamaaluddin School are celebrating your grand twenty fifth anniversary, I just couldn’t resist myself. So I’m here to join you guys to make it an unforgettable event.

Guess what, when I contacted the school, they were pleased to know that I would be joining the fun, being a past student and all!! However, they did ask me to dress in blue. I had a panic attack instantly. You see, I haven’t gone shopping for centuries. But then, I saw my reflection and I’m BLUE!! So my true colors do show that I belong to this school.

Oh and check out my lamp, I just got a new one to match the silver jubilee you guys are celebrating. Isn’t it cool? I’m just so excited. You should see the interior, I’ve got everything in my cramped lamp blue!!!!

Finally I would like to make the most exhilarating announcement. I know that you guys have so many wishes, Oh yes, I know all about it. So I’ve decided to grant you guys’ twenty five wishes, that’s right, twenty five wishes. So if you see a humongous blue guy with a silver lamp trailing behind him, let me know your wishes. Keep in mind that I’ll select the best twenty five wishes and it has to be related to your precious school and its development.

Once again, HAPPY 25th ANNIVERSAY. Let’s have a blast together and keep on wishing because I’ll be listening!

Yours friendly,
Genie.

Inestimable Love

She was sitting at her desk and talking to someone. She looked up to see who came in and she smiled at me. Suddenly everything vanished and I saw the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. When she smiled, the whole room was filled with bright sunshine. Butterflies flew around her, playfully caressing her long silky hair. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. My new friend who was introducing me to everyone in the office gently tapped on my shoulder.

I shook her hand as Sham introduced her to me. As he went on introducing everyone in the office, I kept on staring at Naaisha. Her voice was like serene music to my ears when she spoke and I sank into an ocean of unknown feelings as the day continued. I watched her whenever she passed by my table. The way she walked reminded me of the beautiful princesses described in the stories, graceful and feminine.

As the days continued we developed a friendship that didn’t satisfy my rebellious heart. We talked and joked around but I wanted more. I wanted to know everything there was to know about her. I wanted to be there when she wakes up in the morning, tuck her in and keep her warm at night. I wanted her to smile all the time and spread the sunshine which no one else seems to see, except me.

She gave me her mobile number after one month. From then on, every night before I slept she would receive a text from me, wishing her goodnight and she would be greeted by my text in the following morning as well. She refused to go out with me. Her reply was devastating. She was in love with someone else and she didn’t want a relationship at that time. I was heartbroken but still I continued my quest to conquer her heart.

One day she was standing in the tea room when I went there myself. As I reached to open the door, someone suddenly opened the door. I felt a bit dizzy for a moment because the door slammed into my face. I touched my head and winced in pain. There was a large bump on my head like a humongous coconut. She was apologizing over and over. I don’t know what was wrong with me but when I realized that it was my Naaisha who opened the door, I didn’t feel the pain or anything else. I just waved my hand casually and told her that it didn’t hurt at all. I was mesmerized by her beauty and forgot about everything else I guess. As I watched her race towards her section, I saw the butterflies flap their little wings even faster, trying to keep up with her. I loved her so much.

I would never forget how we celebrated her birthday on 20th June 2007. We took her to artificial beach for a treat and everyone attacked her with eggs including me. She laughed and begged us not to put her into the water. I just picked her up and ran towards the water. As I ran down the steps and reached the crystal clear water, my friends kept on cheering me as if I was running towards the finishing line of a marathon.

She landed in the water like little pebble, dropping from a distance. Her tiny slim body was like a fragile flower. I didn’t want to drop her into the water. Instead I wanted to run away with her, to a place that I only knew about. It would also be a place where I would keep her safe and comfortable. Once there, I would love her forever. This would be such a special and sacred place that no one else could ever come. These were the thoughts that haunted me for many days after the incident but there was little I could do.

A year went by, I begged her to be mine forever. I promised to take care of her and love her immensely. I yearned for her day and night. However her reply left me vulnerable and weak. But I never wanted to surrender. My heart kept on telling me that one day she would be lying on a hammock and I would be there next to her. I would be looking at her lovely face and when she smiled I would touch the little butterflies that teased her all the time. We will watch the sunset together, but I would gaze at her gorgeous face. I would guard her with my life and love her till my last breath. My heart kept on dreaming and believing that this would happen one day.

However she got a scholarship from Malaysia and was getting ready to leave. I was devastated and worried. She still hasn’t given me a positive answer. By then I have even stopped telling her that I loved her. I stopped sending text messages as well. I was depressed and my hope to make her mine was like chasing a rainbow. But I continued to bug her and that was something I could never restrain myself from. She didn’t even get annoyed by my actions and she seems to enjoy it. I never understood why she enjoyed my attention and then refused to be mine.

A few days before she left, she came to my section and wanted me to take her to lunch. I was so happy thinking that she has changed her mind after all. But as we ordered and waited in the restaurant, she explained that she enjoyed being single. She even advised me to date and find another girl. I wanted evaporate into thin air and disappear, I didn’t want to live at that precise moment but I smiled at her. I made her laugh knowing that I would never get to see her like this, sitting so close to me for a long time. Every time she giggled I saw those beautiful butterflies hovering over her head and gently sitting on her soft curls. I looked at her in amazement. My heart was over flowing with pure love and I wanted to reach out and kiss her lips but I knew it would spoil everything.

My whole world collapsed when she left for Malaysia. I was lost, like a wounded animal. I knew that she didn’t love me but seeing her gorgeous face every day was enough for me to live. But when she left there was nothing for me to live for. However as I met her online a couple of times I felt better. I know I’m helpless in front her, I beg her to be mine but I’m more determined now. I will love her till my last breath and wait for her with open arms in the hope that one day she would come running to me. I would be the happiest man to be alive for sure. I pray every day and night to Allah, asking and begging to make her mine. For there is no human being alive who would love her like me.

However my friends and people who cares about me advised me to forget her. According to them she was just using me and only wanted to enjoy my attention. Instead, a girl who loves me would help me forget her and I might as well be happy. But I have my doubts. Maybe when I feel loved and secure, I might be able to do so. But will I be happy without my Naai. Can I love someone else? May be some day I might, but not right now. With time I guess the wounds in my heart would heal and I might even learn to love someone else. I know that the chances are slim but I like to believe and dream that my one and only love, my Naaisha, would be mine someday.

Pink Socks

As I stepped out of the hotel I was staying, the cool breeze of summer embraced me. I looked around at the unfamiliar environment. I decided to go for a walk, may be explore the new surroundings. I saw a big building ahead of me. There were lots of people gathered around the building. As I quickened my pace and came closer, I heard some of them even cheering. May be they were having some sort of religious ceremony.

Since it was my first trip to India and I was having a blast. I’ve visited lots museums and parks already. When I woke up that morning, I decided to just roam around without a particular destination to see what I could find. The huge house looks like as interesting place. I stood among the large crowd and I had no idea why they were so excited.

Somehow, I managed to squeeze through them and I saw cameras and lots of people busily rushing around. After a while they were ready and the legendary Hindi movie star Amitab Bachan took his place in the center. 

As the director said ‘and…..action’, he suddenly dropped down on his knees and started crying his eyes out. He looked up to the ceiling and raised his head and howled in a pained voice. 

‘My socks’, ‘my beautiful pink socks’ he sobbed. I can’t find them anywhere. He kept on crying and everyone watched the scene in progress, mesmerized.

A chill ran through my body as I continued to watch in amazement. I could boast for a month I thought feeling lucky. 

‘Cut’ commanded the director but still Amitab looked heartbroken. He is good, I thought with admiration. He still looks so sad and his emotions were so real. 

The director looked around his staff and demanded ‘bring the pink socks”. 

A timid looking girl stepped forward and stammered, 'I…er I forgot to bring them sir'. 

The director looked as if someone slapped his face. Everyone looked worried like someone died in front of them, even the crowd stood still. Everyone seems to know what was going on, except me. Since I looked puzzled, the woman standing next to me explained what was going on. 

She said in a hushed voice, Amitab has a little problem about crying scenes, you see he cannot stop crying until he gets what he wants’. I raised by eyebrows even more confused. 

She continued, ‘for example if he is doing a scene about his mother’s death, they have to give him a picture of his mother once the scene is over so he could stop crying’. 

So until he gets his pink socks he won’t be able to stop. The nearest shop to this mansion was about four miles away.Amitab continued his howling and the director looked around with pleading eyes. 

‘Is anyone at least wearing pink socks?’ he said in a hoarse voice. 

I looked down at my feet and realized that I was wearing pink socks and so did the people standing around me. 

‘She is wearing pink socks’, everyone chanted in a scary manner. 

I felt numb when everyone started to come towards me. I had a strong feeling that this won’t be very pleasant. But there was no way out, I was standing in the middle of the crowd. 

‘Get her socks!’ someone yelled from the crowd. 

‘Hold her tightly and get her socks’ commanded the director. 

I was so scared that I even forgot to scream.They started to pull my hair and clothes. Suddenly someone pushed me from behind. As a result I was lying on the ground and someone pulled out my shoes. 

‘Please don’t do that’. I begged and screamed but they didn’t listen. I opened my eyes and I saw my husband and I was so happy that I even started crying. 

‘Hey, it’s just a dream, he said in a kind voice. 

‘Oh yes, I was still in bed, thank god!’ I thought relieved.

We ordered breakfast and I quickly washed myself. He was reading the paper as I took a sip of coffee. 

“I think we should go and check out the mansion sweet heart, a very famous director is filming his latest movie there today’. 

My blood ran cold and I felt my bowels loosening. I quickly stepped out to the balcony and craned my neck towards the direction of the mansion. Oh no! I didn’t want this dream to come true!!!!!!

I ran into the room and quickly rummaged through my belongings. 'Ah, there you are', I cried happily. My husband looked at me as if I were a hooligan. I ran out to the balcony once again and threw my pink socks out.

Just wanted to.........!

She stood under the huge tree and gazed at the shimmering water. The cool breeze lightly touched her face and she inhaled the fresh air coming straight from the huge ocean in front of her. She closed her eyes and thought about her beautiful daughter at home. She thought about her husband who must be at work at that precise moment and her beloved in laws who would have been enjoying their lunch in their cozy dining room. She took a deep breath, like a warrior getting ready for a dangerous mission and quickened her pace towards the jetty.

Everyone was shocked when they heard the news. They wondered why she would do such a thing. ‘Why, she’s such a lovely girl, always happy and smiling’, they all kept on saying. Some even added, ‘she had such a good husband and not to mention all the comforts of life’.

Her mother in law called her mobile three times in a row, but she didn’t answer. Thinking that she was being kept by work as usual, she got on with her chores. Her husband came home and was greeted by his boisterous three year daughter’s hug. She smelled of baby powder and soap. Alaa was ready for bed. As usual, he dropped his socks, followed by his shirt and pants on the ground. Leaving the pile in the center of the room he headed towards the shower. When he came out, his clothes were on the very spot where he had dropped them. Where was she? As he was about to dial her number, his mother barged in with tears in her eyes, wailing like a mad woman.

He expected her to look scared, but she looked as if she was sleeping comfortably. He thought he was imagining it, but she looked blissful, like she would smile up at them at any moment. He wept for her and lingered near her grave when everyone left, asking himself, ‘why?’ ‘Why did you jump, when you knew you couldn’t swim?’ But she won’t be able to answer him now. On the way home he wondered whether she was unhappy. He even started remembering things that he should have noticed a long time ago.

He remembered seeing her lost and depressed face. Especially after the baby and when she had to go back to work after her maternity leave. He even remembered her confession and constant pleadings. She wanted to stay at home and look after their daughter. He also remembered that she had been sad, tired and stressed for quite some time. But she is such a nice and patient person that she would never complain. When she tried to talk he listened half way through, if he had listened to her seriously, his beautiful wife would now be recovering.

He thought of his needs, how tired he was after a day’s work and then how he took a nap when he came back after a heavy lunch. He needed to relieve his stress so he would watch a movie and stay up during the weekends. His mom was old, so there was no hope there for her either. During the weekend he slept till mid day and went for fishing with his pals. His wife did the laundry and ironed their clothes and took care of the house. She never got a break, never, she was always so busy. He never realized that she would also need to rest and relieve her stress.

He couldn’t sleep that night. He thought of his wife, how he met and how much he loved her back then. Did their love die after having a kid? No, of course not. He still loved her and he was lost without her. He was up all night, thinking about their happy times and their recent conversations. He regretted the fact that he hadn’t cared enough for his wife and finally burst into tears a few hours before the sun rose. He cried for a long time while everyone slept and emerged from his bedroom composed and guarded the next morning.

They all thought that Niyaasha committed suicide. They didn’t know that as a kid she used to sit at the beach and look at the crystal clear water when she was sad. She continued to spend time at the beach more often as she grew up. After the marriage she moved to the metropolitan city with her husband dreaming of a life where she would be happy and content.

As she stood under the huge tree for the last time, she thought of the clean environment back at home. Even though she was standing a few meters away from the water, she didn’t feel at ease at all. She wanted to see the crystal clear water so she walked towards the jetty. When she reached the very end, she felt a bit dizzy. She couldn’t hold on to the railing and slowly, her grip slipped away and she fell into the water. By the time they pulled her out, it was too late.

Yes, she was sad and depressed. She just wanted to feel happy so she headed towards the harbor instead home after work. She just needed sometime before she took over her duties at home after a hectic day at work. She never intended to jump, she just fainted. People talked about her for days. What no one knew was that she never intended to end her life like that.