My grandmother had some wise crack to say for any event. "Fail to congratulate a person but never fail to console" she said it when we were attending her sister's funeral. Maybe thats why our house is crowded today. But Im not sure who everyone here is consoling. I just see people moving about gossipping, talking of the old times, exchanging their opinions on what could be the hottest news of the day only lowering it to pitiful whispers when my gaze turned towards them.
I could hear two ladies talking to my distant uncle who I have seen for maybe just three times my entire life. " So he has not come to visit his own mother when she was on death bed. I hear he sent money every month though. how busy can a man get?"
" Well its just not his mother, he has not visited his own kid for a decade. He just asked me to take care of the funeral and sent me more than enough money", said the bald man who was quite happy he could take home some of the funeral money. There was not much to spend anyway. But the rich man must have given him a good amount.
Speaking thus, he saw me standing near him and lowered his voice. The ladies gave me a dutiful sympathy look and asked me "Have you had anything to eat dear?".
" I did".
" So have you talked with your mother yet? she must be worried. I heard she visited yesterday"
I could see she wanted more material for gossip and her fake concern was not enough to cover her taunting smirk.
I had enough. I couldn't hold it in anymore. Couldn't pretend like I cared for the twenty something people who were never there when granny was actually suffering. Couldn't pretend like a good little girl anymore. I wanted them all gone.
"All of just get out. "
The lady was startled. No one has ever seen me speak more than a few words and here I was shouting.
"Get out and leave me alone". I yelled again while everyone just looked at me shocked.
It only made me angrier.
I turned to the guy, "I know that man must have given you a lot of money for granny's funeral. So you had what you wanted. now leave. ".
"you think I am a beggar. I have a decent earning and family to take care. Shouldn't have had pity and meddled with this cursed family in first place. you disrespect me for your age". He shouted and left the place with his wife. Along with him went the crowd mumbling that I too must have gotten the crazy genes from my mother. After all, I was the reason everything went south for this cursed family. Their sharp glances reminded me of what my grandmother who reluctantly took care of me made me feel every single day.
And now she is gone too. All that is left is broken pieces of myself I don't know what to do with.
I could see just one person standing after everyone left. He just looked at me and went into grandmother's room. He was my brother. Just landed yesterday after eloping 5 years ago. He has not talked a word to me yet. I dont care anyway.
I am not sure who called him up. I sure did not call anyone after she died. The old hag herself had made quite some arrangements if she died. Maybe she made someone contact him.
I was totally waiting for the day I would become an adult. I was juggled for a while between so called parents and guardians each passing me off as a burden.
The granny took me in finally. She was not pleasant to live with. She never even considered me her grandchild. But atleast she had the decency to put up with a kid and raise her or she thought that was the only way for her to get money from the rich man.
I was going to leave the place once I turned 18. But she fell ill and died a year before that. Now the juggling will once again start and I wont even have a say.
And there is no one person who will take me willingly. They all know but still pretend like I am blessed to atleast have someone paying money to take care of me. And the rich man pays only because he is bound to by law.
I had nothing to do but cry. I wanted out. out of everything here and just disappear somewhere.
somewhere where none of my family would find me. I am sure they would not even bother when I am man adult. And that is just an year away. Im sure no one would bat an eye if I disappeared even now. They would probably jeer and cheer that a pathetic loser like me is better off gone where no has to bother about me.
There was but just one standing in the room. My step brother who I have probably seen twice in my whole life. I could see the awkwardness he had to endure through the day. But I dared not talk to him, not that I liked to or was shy. I just felt pity for the young man. He was older than me. He was the legitimate heir and son after all. But I knew he hated me just like everyone else.
Somehow my innocent birth was the reason why everyone else's world became a lot worser than it was.
" The car arrives in am hour. we need to leave". he spoke finally. Right now, he was just there to pick me up like an errand boy. I could see the distaste he had for the job from the way he spoke. Its not like I wanted to live with them. I never did. It is them , the rich man, who think that they are doing me a favour by letting me live with them. I was already angry. I could never fake politeness especially not now.
"then you should just go back in the car and tell your daddy to be content with a loser like you. im not coming anywhere. you can leave".
I could see his frustration. " well then, do what you want".
I was surprised he did not care that i caled him a loser. he just seemed annoyed by the whole thing.
But that annoyed me more. I wanted to shout and hell. he was treating me like an annoyance. everyone did. i did not know what to do. maybe it was a mistake I was born, but it was not my mistake.
I just grabbed a vase on the shelf and threw it at him. he sure was startled. He barely grabbed it and it slipped from his fingers and smashed on the floor.
I did not intend to hurt him and was a little relived he didnt get hurt.
"Are you mad?". he shouted.
I was sorry but I was not going to apologise. Before I knew I was already crying.
"what is that?" I heard him say. And for a moment I realised our room was filled with smoke and a mild humming noise rang through my ears.
And thats when I saw her, the genie or djinn as they are usually called. A beautiful lady of smoke stood in between us just as bewildered as we both were