"The house looks pretty big. Do I get my own room?". Jenna was already adapting to this new world of hers.
Me on the other hand was quite torn between my various emotions. My anger and self respect made me despise the place that treated me like trash. But need to survive and have a better future made me bite my teeth and be grateful for the mercy being shown to me. Though angry, I knew they could have simply tossed me away. They despised me as much as I despised them. The reasoning for them to let me in was confusing and frustrating. I was going to be no more than a beggar with a room here.
"I don't want you to stay with us". Jake sounded firm.
"She can stay with me. and besides no one can see her anyway". I was not going to be alone in that wretched house.
"You really want to live with a ghost haunting you all the time? you saw what she can do, she could be..."
"Hey. I am not a ghost. i am a respectable Djinn and more close to divinity than you guys are" Jenna cut in pretending to be offended.
"Don't ever overheard anything we speak? and stay out of our personal conversations. Is that clear? You magical smokey thing". Jake was visibly annoyed. I could see he was not quite thrilled with the idea of a spirit living with us or haunting us as he said. well ofcouse any logical person would not feel comfortable with that.
"Is that a wish?" Jenna inquired with a smile.
" No. its an order."
"Quite well then. I will have better business to do than poke my nose into your boring lives. I do wish you make your wishes soon. I will not try to overhear anything that is not said right in front of my face, Sir". She sounded sarcasticaly respectful.
"She can stay with me. I am more scared of your family than her and thats the end of the conversation"
"Okay" was all he said.
He drove the car into the parking area and helped me carry the luggage. There was no one to receive me. I did not expect anyone to.
There was a gardener working on the lawn. There was just another lady maid in the house other than him.
Jake directed me to a room on the first floor and shoved my bag into a cornes of the room.
"This used to be my room. You can use it now. Just keep to yourself and stay out of trouble"
I started to say something back. But he motioned me to just listen and continued.
"Dont try to have the last word with the people in this house. Shanti amma is the cook here. Ask her for anything you might need. I will take you to college admissions next week. And I will be out of town for a week. Till then I wish you dont make any stupid wish or let that ghost harm you. Be careful and try to make the best out of your situation."
"You can come in now" He called out to Jenna.
"So has the siblings sorted out your master plans already?" Jenna floated into the room.
"You cannot harm a single human while you are here directly or indirectly" ordered Jake though he kind of sounded worried.
It is normal to be worried. A supernatural entity is not something everyone finds amusing. Normally people are supposed to be scared.
"I told you dumb master, if that were to happen. I would just be smoke. poof". Jenna was making a pretend sad face. "Dont be worried. Its not that I don't want to, its because I absolutely cannot harm a human being or any living soul for that matter."
" But how can I believe that?" I had to ask. I wanted a proof so Jake wouldnt pester her anymore. So I can trust her without worries.
"Just make the 3 wishes and watch me disappear. you will have no worries"
we both kept a blank face.
"Okay guys. I dont know how I can prove it but I will be very hurt even if think about hurting a human being on purpose. Thats how it works. We Djinns exist between a thin veil that covers the spirit dimension and human dimension. Its in our instinct that harming a human being will hurt us. Though there might be few djinns who eat humans, the moment they do they become monsters and will be hunted down. So dont worry unlike you people I want to live a long healthy life after all the time I spent in the cramped up vase".
"Thats still not a proof. " Jake wasnt buying it.
"Order me something then. I cannot disobey"
"Tell us how you can be destroyed"
"I cannot be unless I harm a human"
"Then go into a vase and stay there until I come back next week".
Jenna couldn't even say something back. She became a mass of vapor and went into a flower vase kept in the room.
"Dont ask her to come back. that might work since you are her master as well. Lets see if it really is true that she will totally obey us. Its better if I take the vase with me."
" No you won't. She stays here with me. She obeyed. That's proof."
"Lets see until I come back".
"What makes you the one to decide?". I was angry because the only one I thought of a friend was back in her vase house and I was going to be all alone.
"You can use her all you want but make sure it will not be dangerous to us. If not for the urgent business I would have sorted it all out today. Please understand. You may hate me but I wish you believed me better than a smoky spirit."
I could sense some earnest appeal in his voice. And no one has ever given me the amount of respect and consideration as he was giving me now. That made me happy and agreeable.
"Okay. One week. And I am letting her out the moment you reach here. so be on time."
"Shant amma" He called out the cooking lady. "This is the girl I told you about. Take care. " He was giving more instructions to the lady maid. She came into the room smiled at me and said, "Ask me for anything you want. everything will be alright. everyone else will be here by tomorrow morning. they are all on a trip". She left the room and Jake left with a nod as well.
I just crashed into the bed and waited for what was to be the longest week of my life to pass.