So there it was. A miracle. An undeniable proof that magic and beings that human science has yet to establish as natural phenomena do exist. And the funny thing was this one was quite as surprised as we were. This strange person was thinking the same about us cause as soon as she regained a physical form solidified among the smokes, "Jeez, humans have become even more stranger since the last time I was a put in a bottle."
She was quite chirpy. The only person in the room who was smiling from ear to ear. It almost seemed infectious and as if like she was inviting us to join in her merriment. I almost wanted to. Just when a smile was reaching my face, the duty bound brother of mine spout out quite annoyingly, "Who are you? ".
Thats when it hit me, he wasn't thinking like I was. I was so quick to decide she was a genie from a vase. But some people who dont just live in their head knew what reality was and asked her who she was. Yea, thats how a normal person is supposed to react. And thats what reality is and this thought stopped the faint smile I mustered to show.
But magic does happen and this was my turn now. I had so many questions but I kept silent as I watched the amazing story happening in front of me.
"Thats exactly the question you should be asking. now Please dont interrupt while I narrate my story and purpose, I have been practicing it for years for this exact moment, my master. "
"Master? How come he is your master?" I blurted despite my decision to keep silent. I kept forgetting that this was not just my story.
"Wait. what? There are two people here?"
Now the guy was getting more confused and flustered. He was probably one of those people who did not need magic to turn their life around. "Answer the question. Why call me master? Who are you?", he shouted in an intimidating tone.
"Oh no! What am I going to do? Why does this always happen to me? I did not even mess up anything and still it gets complicated", the lady was crying out in a frenzy. Now that she was quite human looking, I could see she was a little chubby and looked quite young. She had beautiful curly hair reaching upto her waist. Her hair was almost like feathers floating in a breeze. She was beautiful.
"Who broke the vase?" She asked him first and turned towards me and asked again "who broke it?"
"Can both of you see me?". "of course you both could, you both talked to me, oh no. Im in trouble".
I somewhat guessed what was going on. So it kinda felt foolish when he asked the obvious once again. "Who are you?"
Thats when I jumped in and talked with him normally despite telling him something so abnormal. "Can't you see she is a genie? she just literally came out of a broken vase and wants to know who her master is. Of course, its me ," turning to her I said, " I broke the vase". "I probably freed you and I hope you are not the type of djinn that eats people. " I said so confidently smiling from ear to ear.
Same cannot be said for the other two in the room. "Genie? seriously? I was told you were weird but I didn't realise you were crazy. Now ask your friend to stop this trickery and get packed. we need to leave. I m not going to babysit a lunatic". His annoyance was clear but I think he pitied me because he was not shouting and I couldn't feel his annoyance anymore.
"She is right. I am a genie. Now both of you just stop making assumptions. You totally ruined my re entry speech. Now dont interrupt me. " somehow I couldn't say anything even when I wanted to. she had done her maguc already. And thus continued explaining. " I am a Genie. I was trapped inside the vase for maybe hudreds of years or more. I can understand you because I can. you can understand because you can. Its magic. And only the person who helps me out of my imprisonment, is supposed to be able to see me or hear me. And I am indebted to them for 3 wishes and once I fulfill the 3 wishes I am free. And until then I got to keep my master safe. And there are limitations to my powers. I cant do everything. I ain't got that much spirit power. And I have rules to follow, I can't kill directly or do anything that would lead to death of a person. If I do, I go back to a bottle. you guys die before the wishes are fulfilled, I go back into the bottle. I dont really remember why I was in the bottle in the first place, but then I was quite a good djinn. And lady, I dont eat people, they are just not tasty enough. And I just gave out a lot of information than intended"
"So chop chop, make your wishes and I will be on my way".
We were still silent. "Come on people, wish for anything, except for more wishes. I dont entertain cheating. "
We were still stunned. No words could be uttered. That was such an information overload.
"Dont be shy. Just swish your hands once and say I wish, and I will try my best to make it happen"
hmm...why so silent? she turned to me again.
She noticed only now that I was shaking my head in all sides to let her know we were barred from talking. The guy simply stood still
like he had nothing to say at all.
She undid the magic. And I for a moment was stuck and at loss of words. Few minutes ago, I had no wish. but now, I wished for a lot of things, I didn't know what to ask.
But he spoke first, " I am Jake. so you are a genie. What is your name?".
I was anxious he was going to take up all of the wishes.
The genie answered. "I dont really remember my name. so call me what you wish".
"what do you want to call her?" he asked me.
I realised he wanted us both in the same page. We were both masters and 3 wishes arent going to be split even.
I introduced myself to the magic in front of me, "Im Anna, well call you jenna. "
She looked at me for a few seconds with an expression I couldn't classify as elation or sadness.
"I like it. Jenna likes it. So tell me your wishes masters"
"Not so quick now Jenna. Anna here is not even major yet and I havent decided how best to make use of you. so we will defer the wish making for a while."
" But I want to make my wish now" I asserted just for the sake of it even when I was not sure what to ask.
"Then lets make a deal. One wish for you, one wish for him and the last one has to be a shared wish you both should agree on. Does it sound okay? now take all time you want and tell your wishes now so I can fly away to freedom finally. "
"So ms. Genie ," he started. His demeanour was almost like a businessperson now. No more annoyance or pity. " what happens once the wish comes true? whats the catch? There is always something that goes wrong after a wish is made"
I felt he was right. It is mostly the case. No free ride leads to a good destination.
"I already told I dont eat people. And what comes after comes after. I just do my job and leave. you wont be able to see me once the wishes are fulfilled. "
" So it takes some time for wishes to be fulfilled?"
"depends on what you wish for. I am not powerful enough to defy reality itself to bring you mountains of gold or turn you into a giant. And I advise you ask wishes you can handle".
"Then I need time to think over". he said.
That felt appropriate to me as well. And I agreed. " I need time too".
"Guys I can't leave you until you make the wishes."
"one minute". he took his phone and called someone on video call. " Hey buddy, can you see me? "
"yea. so whatsup? " said another guy on the phone. "
"What do you see in the room?"
" Is that your sister? say hi from me. The house actually looks nice. You sure you want to..." he cut the call abruptly and told the genie,
" you can live with us. others cant see you anyway".
"Live with us? I am not living with you people". I shouted at him.
" Oh you are. Don't be silly. you have got one wish, use it what way you want. but be wise about the other one as we have to make it together. And what will you even wish for? Give it some time. Move in to our home. we will figure it out"
He was right. Now I had an insurance at hand, I can hold back until I know when to use it.
"I will pack. But my wish will be mine. Dont try to manipulate out of me."
He did not reply back to that.
Jenna was still cheerful. Maybe she shoped that the greed of humans will sooner or later push them into making a choice to wish. For now though, we chose to defer choosing any wish. I thought it was wise.