Suspense Short Story – The Wish
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PART I
Jay: [Finishing his smoke]
So. What are you going to do with it?
Aman: Do you think that I have any idea? I am still wondering whether all of this is a dream.
Jay: Hmm. Why does it feel like I am the one smoking and you’re the one getting high?
[Lighting another smoke]
But I have always believed you. So I find no reason to start disbelieving now. So, tell me what you would wish for.
Aman: What would you wish for?
Jay: [Grins with the cigarette tucked to the corner of his lip]
Well. You know. An endless supply of weed. A lifetime worth of alcohol. And money. Loads of money.
There you go. Three wishes. Three perfect wishes.
[Taking a longer puff]
Or at least, according to me.
Aman: Hmm. The first two sounds fine. But the last one is going to end up being a waste.
Jay: You think asking for money is waste?
Aman: No. Absolutely not. But nonetheless, it’s a waste.
Jay: Do explain.
Aman: The genie, if that’s what we are calling it, would certainly grant three wishes. But it has some rules.
Jay: [Finishing another smoke]
Ooohh. Now that’s interesting.
Aman: You cannot wish to make someone fall in love with you.
Jay: There goes your Priya.
Aman: Just shut up and listen. You cannot wish someone dead or bring someone back to life.
Jay: Poof. And there goes her boyfriend.
[Lighting another smoke]
So far, I can’t see your messed up life getting any better.
Aman: And the last rule caters to what you just said. You cannot ask for money. Not at least directly.
Jay: Wow. He is like my step father. Powerful, but worthless to me.
Aman: Well, there are other things that I could ask for.
Jay: What?
Aman: I am still thinking. One of the reasons I came to meet you this late is in fact this.
But I should have guessed your charred head won’t be able to come up with anything good.
Jay: Hey. Don’t blame me for keeping it simple. I don’t like putting too much pressure on my precious head.
Aman: Yeah. Of course. Just on your lungs and kidneys, right.
[After a moment of pause]
So, tell me something. Are you jealous? Don’t you want it for yourself?
Jay: I should be. But we all know that there’s a hidden conditions applied written somewhere. I’d rather face my dad, whom I could deal with than that Genie.
Aman: You sound like it’s ominous.
Jay: Not to discourage you. But be careful.
[Waving him goodbye]
Well. You know what they say. Careful what you wish for. It might just come true.
Aman: Huh. Yes indeed.
PART II
10 hours later, the next morning.
Maa: Could you do the chores today, again? I don’t feel that good.
Aman: Yes, it’s fine maa. I’ll do it.
Maa: It pains me to watch you doing everything on your own whereas I sit and sleep throughout the entire day.
Aman: It’s not like you do so every day.
Maa: No. Lately it’s been more frequent. I am really becoming a burden. I hope I don’t have to bother you for too long.
Aman: [Scolding her] I am going to imagine that I didn’t hear that from you. And I don’t want to hear anything like that from you ever again.
Maa: [Putting a heavenly smile on her face]
Come here.
Aman: What?
Maa: [Kisses on his forehead]
You’re doing great. And you’ll do great. And everything will be fine. Now go and quickly bring some food. I’m hungry.
Aman: Roger that.
[Salutes her and moves out of her room]
PART III
A few hours later.
[Rubbing the jar]
Aman: Here goes nothing.
Genie: Yes, master. How may I assist you? Have you decided?
Aman: I think I finally know what I am going to wish for.
Genie: Okay sir.
[Stands still for few moments. Eyes shut. Lips moving with a seemingly inaudible chant]
I am ready. Make your wish and it shall be granted.
Aman: Make sure that I never have to see Maa lying on bed, feeling pathetic and sad. Fix her.
Genie: [Silent and still]
Your wish is granted. Go and see for yourself.
Aman: [Running out of the room]
I can’t believe this is happening. Everything will be back to as it was, before she fell sick.
[Slams open his maa’s bedroom door]
Maa. Are you feeling ok?
Maa. You are not here. All ready out and about. That was quick.
[Rushes to the kitchen]
Maa. Where are you?
[Quickly paces from one room to another]
Maa. Maa. Where are you?
[Bursts into tears]
Oh my god. What did I do? Did I mess it up? No. No. everything is going to be ok.
[Calls out the genie again]
[Shouts]
What the hell did you do to my mom?
Genie: Only that which you asked me to. Anyways I should…..
Aman: [Screams]
I asked you to fix her. Why didn’t you fix her? Tell me where she is.
Genie: Tell me this. When you entered her room, did you see her lying in the bed, feeling pathetic and sad?
Aman: She was not there. She is nowhere.
Genie: Yes. That was the simplest fix to your problem. So, that is what I did.
Aman: No. No.
[Falls to his knees]
What have I done?
Wait. Wait. I still have two more wishes.
Bring her back. Goddamnit. Bring her back.
Genie: I am sorry. I ……
Aman: But you killed.
Genie: I didn’t. She simply disappeared. I made her disappear.
Aman: Okay then.
[Aside] Think, think.
Okay, take me back to the time when I made the first wish.
[Aside] That way, I could make a different wish. Yes, I am a genius.
Genie: I am sorry. All your three wishes have already been granted. If you would have just let me finish, I would have told you that before.
Aman: What kind of sick joke is this? I have only made one wish.
Genie: It’s only natural that you wouldn’t remember. Let me jog your memory.
Your first wish was – Make sure that I never have to see Maa lying on bed, feeling pathetic and sad. Fix her.
Your second wish was – Take me back to the time when I made the first wish.
And your third and final wish was – Make sure that I never have to see Maa lying on bed, feeling pathetic and sad. Fix her.
Aman: What are you saying?
Genie: You just made the same wish twice. You never asked me to retain your past memory.
Aman: [Trembling in fear]
HEHEHEHEHEHEHE……………..
Looks like Jay was right. I just killed my mom. Twice.
[Breaks down into tears and hysteria]
Genie: I should be going to my 300 year sleep now. I am glad to have served you.
[Slowly fades out and with it so does the jar]
–END–
