My Own Fairy Tales

Tanuya and the Genie

Tanuja and the Genie

Once upon a time, a young girl by the name of Tanuja was sitting sadly in a prison cell. She had been accused of a crime she did not commit and she had to suffer for it. Her life had always been a hard and depressing life.

First she had lost both of her parents at the age of six months. The Tahan family, who adopted her first, loved and cared for her like she was their daughter. Even though they had six children of their own, they still treated her like family. Sadly, when Tanuja turned eleven, Mr and Mrs Tahan died from a terrible fever. The children were taken in by relatives, but none of the relatives wanted her. So Tanuja was put up for adoption again.

The second family, who adopted her, was the Sayegh family. They were a rich family, but they were not nice. Mr and Mrs Sayegh were greedy, proud and only cared about their riches. The reason they adopted her was that she would do the housework, without being paid. Their daughter Amirah was not better. She was spoilt, selfish and proud like her parents and liked giving Tanuja orders all the time. Amirah was the reason Tanuja was in a prison cell. After Tanuja turned sixteen she became more beautiful than Amirah. Men admired her all the time and Amirah hated her for that. So she decided to do something that would make Tanuja be sent away. She stole a diamond ring from her mother's room then hid it in Tanuja's room. When Mrs Sayegh noticed it was missing she ordered everyone to search for it. Amirah quickly found it in Tanuja's room and told her mother. Mrs Sayegh was furious with Tanuja and accused her for being a thief. Tanuja had tried to tell her that she didn't do it, but she wouldn't listen. So Tanuja was arrested for theft and disowned from the Sayegh family.

Tanuja was just about to cry when a voice called out to her. "Tanuja" it said. "Who's there?" asked Tanuja. "Don't be afraid I'm not here to harm you" the voice said. Then a spirit appeared in front of Tanuja. "Are you the genie who helps those who are unhappy to find happiness?" asked Tanuja, surprised. "Yes" said the genie "and I sense that you are unhappy. Why are you unhappy?"

Tanuja told the genie all about her tragic past. "I see" said the genie "I can help you, but you will have to do something for me". The genie told Tanuja that an acquaintance of hers is looking for a woman to become his new wife and his son's new mother. His wife had recently died and he wants to remarry. "I believe that you will be perfect for him". "This man isn't mean, greedy and selfish is he?" asked Tanuja worriedly. "Oh no you will like him" replied the genie "he is kind and gentle. But he is unhappy because of his wife's death". Tanuja understood that and agreed to the deal; even though she was going to be married to a man she didn't know. The genie clicked her fingers and she and Tanuja disappeared into a puff of smoke.

They appeared, in a puff of smoke, at an oasis. Tanuja noticed that she was wearing different clothes. Before she was wearing a torn brown dress, but now she wore a beautiful dress of white and light blue. That was part of genie's magic. Then some men, riding camels, arrived. One of them noticed Tanuja, got off his camel and walked over to her. Tanuja bowed down to him; this man was Rajan, the sultan of Arabia.

"You don't need to bow down to me" said Rajan "please stand up and show me your face". Tanuja did that and Rajan smiled. "You're the most beautiful girl I have ever met. You shall become my new wife and queen". Tanuja couldn't believe it; it was the sultan that the genie wanted her to marry.