I Found My Genie

Manish was holding the hand of his little brother, Vineesh, who was 6 years old waiting for their mom to arrive to pick them from school. Manish, who is in the fourth standard, was really excited today and couldn't wait for his mother to arrive to tell the story.

Soon he saw his mom's car arriving which brought a huge smile on his face. His younger brother was busy watching around other kids playing. He had to drag him to the school gate to get into the car. As soon as he saw his mom, he shouted, "Hi Mom! I have to tell you something very interesting."

His mom said, "sure my love. But first, get into the car and help your brother too."

Manish opened the back door and threw his bag along with his brother's bag on the seat and guided his brother into it. Then he ran across the car and entered the front seat along with his mom. He quickly put on the seat belt and asked, "Can I tell it now mom?"

His mom laughed and said, "yes dear. even I am excited to hear it now."

Manish said smilingly, "Today our teacher told us the story of Alladin and the genie. She told us how he found the lamp and what all the genie would do for him. It is so wonderful." He didn't stop there and in the same breath, he continued, "My friends say there are more magical lamps out there with genie out there and that the genie loves kids. And they want to be found out by kinds. I want to get one magic lamp, mom."

His mom smiled on his innocence and said, "Sure, you do dear. One day you will find that lamp."

At the back, his younger brother Vineesh was busy sipping water from his bottle, least interested in his brother's discussion. All he asked was, "Mom, what is there for lunch? I want Maggi."

Later in the evening when the father returned home, Manish jumped from his seat and went to greet him at the door. Even before his father could say anything, he started telling his story of Aladdin and genie and how badly he also wants a genie.

When his father finally settled down, he again came near him and said, "Papa, I want to find the magic lamp. Will you help me?"

His father couldn't stop smiling on this demand and said, "Definitely beta, tell me where we should start?"

Manish hugged him and said, "Thank you, papa. I will tell you in the weekend."

Arrived the weekend and Manish got up at 6 am all excited. he entered his parents' room and reached near his dad and slowly whispered in his ear, "Papa, please get up. We have to go search for the magic lamp."

His father opened his eyes and was surprised to see Manish standing there so early on a holiday. He knew it was early but didn't want to disappoint his son. He said," Sure beta. Please give me an hour to get ready. And tell me where are we going?"

Manish felt so happy and immediately responded, "To the mountain near us. My friends said the lamps are hidden under the rock."

His father looked at the innocent face and said, "Sure champ, let's hit the road."

They reached the mountains and parked the car nearby. As soon as Manish got off, he ran directly towards the mountains, picking rocks on his way with a stick in one hand. every time he finds a hole, he will put the stick inside to check if there is any lamp. For almost four hours he kept searching and when the Sun becomes harsh, his father came to him and said, "Beta, it's too hot now. Looks like the lamp is not here. Let's go back."

Manish was upset. He said, "No dad, it is somewhere here. I have to find it."

His father knew how he felt but he knew it was just a story. But since he was upset he didn't want to talk about it. To calm him down he said, "What we will do is, we will come next Sunday morning. You can search the part you couldn't today. Okay?"

Manish though wasn't eager about it but he too was tired and didn't want to stay in the Sun himself. He just asked with sincerity, "Promise?"

His father replied, "Promise beta."

Came next Sunday and Manish reached to his father's bedside and whispered, "Papa, please get up. You had promised."

His father honestly wasn’t expecting him. he thought he will give it up in a week's time.

But a promise was a promise. He took him along and after another search and approaching noon, Manish got disappointed. His face all dropped down. Seeing this his father came to console him and said, "Beta, probably this is not the place. You must be misinformed. Let's go back."

Manish didn't move. He stood there with his head dropped down. His father caressed his hair and said, "It's okay champ. Let's go home."

Manish looked at him and said, "Papa, I want it. I don't want to go home unless I find it."

His father got a bit angry and said, "It was just a story and there is no magic lamp as such. I came just because I promised and thought that you will yourself realise it. Now let's go home."

This statement shattered the heart of a 10-year-old boy. His face suddenly lost all the charm and looked pale. His father immediately knew that he made a mistake. He couldn't see his son like this. He didn't know what to do but to buy some time and make him happy, he said, "Sorry beta, I was just angry. It's too hot now. Next Sunday what we will do is, we will come with your Mom and brother. We all will search so that we could cover all the place. Deal?"

Manish got some hope and looked at his father and murmured, "Deal."

When they came back home, his father went to his wife and told her what happened. She felt bad about it and said they will work out something. But since he has already promised him, they will go next Sunday.

Came next Sunday, the mother got up first and went to the kids' room and moved her hand through the hair of Manish and said, "Get up son, we have an adventure planned."

Manish got up all excited and hugged his mom. He went into the bathroom to freshen up.

Then she moved to the younger one, Vineesh, who was oblivious to things happening around him.

She slowly moved him and asked him to get up. he was interested in his sleep that getting early on a Sunday morning.

Then she said, "We all are going for a picnic. Looks like Vineesh is not interested. Let's leave him alone at home."

Listening to this Vineesh suddenly got up and almost cried, "mummy, don't leave me behind."

She hugged and laughed, "Then get ready. It will be fun."

Finally, they all reached the same spot and began the search. The parents were worried about how to handle the situation when the search would fail in the end. When around noon, they knew that they have to stop the search, they went near the car to discuss the plan to handle the situation.

Meanwhile, Manish got tired, not just physically but also emotionally. He searched all the possible places and still couldn't find it. he broke down. He sat on a rock and started crying with his head under his hands.

Vineesh who was roaming around carefree until now, saw this. When he didn't find his parents around, he went to Manish and asked, "Brother, what happened, why are you crying?"

Manish looked at him and went back to bury his head and continued crying.

Vineesh asked again, "Brother if you won't tell me how I would help you."

Manish said, "You can't help me. No one can."

Vineesh was innocently persistent, "At least tell me what it is. What were you looking for?"

Manish said, "I was looking for a magic lamp which has Genie."

Came another innocent question, "Brother what is a genie?"

Manish replied, "Genie is someone who will fulfill all your wishes."

"Like?"

"Like, if you ask for food he will get you. If you ask for juice, he will get you. If you ask him to take you someplace, it will take you. If you will ask him to do your homework, it will even do that. It will do everything for you. Got it now?" and sunk back his head.

Vineesh stood there for a second and then slowly pulled the hand of his brother so that he could lift his head. Manish angrily asked, "What is it?"

Vineesh looked at him with a smile and whispered, "Brother don't tell anyone but I have a genie."

Manish just couldn't believe what he just heard. he pulled his brother towards him and asked him, "Where is it?"

The pull was unexpected which panicked Vineesh. he immediately should out, "It's Mom."

Manish left him and looked surprised, "What?"

Vineesh said, "Yes, whenever I am hungry, I just shout am hungry and Mom comes with food. Whenever I am thirsty mom gets me water. Whenever I have to go to a sports class or to my friend's home, mom take me there. Whenever I ask for ice cream she buys me. When I have trouble with my homework, she helps me. When am sick, she takes care of me. She is my genie."

Manish was dumbstruck by his answer. He just realised what his brother said innocently. He realised that based on a story he was stubborn pulling his while family to this mountain for search. He realised that whatever his younger brother said was true and ashamed that he couldn't see it. He felt so bad he came running to his parents crying and hugged them hard. His parents thought he was upset because he couldn't find the lamp. His father lifted him up and hugged him. With all the strength left in Manish, he said, "I found my genie, I found my genie."

His parents were surprised, they asked in chorus, "Where is it?"

He smiled and raised both his hands towards each of them and said, "You both are my genie who make all my wishes true. I love you."

His mom couldn't hold her emotions back and hugged him and said, "We love you and will always do."

Manish looked at his little brother who came running towards them and said, "I too found my genie."