The Uncanny Wish

Ext. Bandra Woli Bridge, Mumbai-Day

It is a bright morning day in Mumbai, with the sky playing an unabashed melody of colors. A boy standing on a bridge seeming disheartened and about to jump off from the bridge.

Cut to:

A man passing nearby notices and sets out to stop him.

"Hey boy, come down here right now! That's not a good way to die!" he added.

"I don't know who u are, but please stay away and let me die!" said the boy.

"Please! Even you don't know me, but no one deserves to kill themselves. So please come down, will help you out".

"I just feel so alone, no one cares about me. I feel pointless to live anymore." he sobbed.

(He is trying to jump again)

"Wait! Wait! Hang on, I understand but, you need to speak up. Get down now!"

"Does it any make any difference?"

"It does."

"How?"

"You have my word. I'll help you as much as I can."

(The boy gets down from the bridge)

"Now tell me, What happened that you needed to jump off from the bridge?" asked the man.

(The boy started narrating)

My name is Aarav, born in Mumbai. I was the only child born to my parents. When my eyes opened for the first time, my father's eyes had closed upon the light of this world. As I am the only child, I have been pampered by them a lot. In the name of love, they were so overprotective in my life where I did not develop the ability to do my own works. I had developed several social anxiety traits like having an intense fear of interacting or talking with strangers; Avoiding parties or social gatherings. Let me tell you about an incident where I was seven years old.

Even though I was not interested, my parents forcibly took me to a function. I wondered that was the most boring place I had ever visited at that time. I was sitting with my parents, they were enjoying the sight of the wedding so much meanwhile, I was bored to death. A random relative came to me.

"Hey, Aarav! did you recognize me?".

"Ummmmm.....sorry?".

"It's me! Remember your 3rd birthday?".

First of all, I don't even remember how many friends I have right now, the irony is this person expects me to remember my birthday whom I was three years old.

"Ah! Yeah! I guess I remember." said I.

"Okay! so you had a bad experience during your first birthday where you vomitted unfortunately all over your dress and guess what!? I was the person who cleaned all that mess haha!" he replied.

(Me whispering)

"Certainly! You have saved my ass off that day! now just please get the hell out from here."

"Huh,? what did you say."

"Umm...nothing uncle, that means a lot! Thank you for that!"

"Come with me, let me introduce you to my family."