A Gift From Spirits: The Magical World Of Fantasy

Forced Family

          Jaivik was pushed outside. He was standing on a higher stage and he could see the crowd. Janhavi and Jeevan were looking at him too.
          "Start bidding for this handsome and strong boy."
          "Bidding!" exclaimed Janhavi and Jeevan.
          "Ten hundred takspids (currency of this world)!"
          "Oh my! Any one else?"
          "Ten hundred fifty takspids!"
          "Eleven hundred takspids!"
          "Twelve hundred takspids!"
          "Twelve hundred one! Twelve hundred two! Twelve hundred three! He is sold with price twelve hundred."
          Twelve hundred for me? Who the heck is buying me in that much? It's too much for a boy like me! Thought Jaivik. (After all he was like Jeevan) He descended from the stage and looked all around.
          "Hey there! Come with me."
          "Who? Me?"
          "Yes, you."
          "Hm..."
          "So I am the one who bought you."
          "Why?"
          "To make you my son."
          "Your son?"
          "Yeah."
          "I can't be. Let me go."
          "Why? What's the problem?"
          "I was someone else's son. I already have a family."
          "Forget about your family, come with me you're going to have a new one."
          "Forget? How can I forget? I love them, they love me. I trust them, they trust me."
         "Well, you can love us and we will love you. You can trust us, we will trust you. Simple."
         "Simple? It's not simple! I can't live without them. Please, let me go. I beg you, just please!"
         "No, you have to live with us so better start adapting young boy."
         "How can I adapt? Just let me go!"
         "No more argument." The man started dragging him.
         "If you want a son so badly, why don't you adopt one from the orphanage. They'll be happy, you'll be happy."
         "Adopt? Orphanage? What are you saying? If you want a child, that are not bloodly releated to you, you have to buy him or her."
          "You mean it's legal?"
          "Obviously, have you lost your mind?"
          "No, I am from a different world."
          "Hah! Very funny!"
          "I am being serious!"
          "Serious! Stop talking nonsense!"
          They sat in a white car. Jaivik kept on saying that he was from a different world, he had a family and the man should let him go but his words did him no good. The man kept on ignoring him or saying, he was speaking nonsense and he can't let him go. Jaivik was scared and worried. He wanted to be by Jeevan's and Janhavi's side, he wanted to stay with them and return to his world where he could meet his friends, his cousins (Sanjay and Gopal), his uncle and aunt (Sanjay's and Gopal's parents) and all the people who have been kind to him. He looked all around, they were passing through a street and soon they were in front of a colony. The man got out and so did the boy. He kept on looking here and there with confusion. The man entered a house and Jaivik was quietly following him. What's going on? What's gonna happen? What should I do? I'm scared! He thought.
          "See who's here." Said the man
          "What a fine young boy!" Exclaimed a middle aged woman who just came out of a room.
          "Where's she?"
          "She's in her room."
          "Call her."
          "Yeah." Saying this the woman climbed upstairs.
          "Your sister will be here." Said the man to Jaivik
          "My sister?"
          "Yeah!"
          "Don't you wanna meet your brother?" Said the woman to a young girl while walking downstairs
          "How about meeting a lame boy Papa bought!"
Said the girl and then she gave Jaivik a deadly stare.
          "Mind your speech young lady." Said the woman.
          "I am shaping it the best way I can. I can't just make anyone my brother whom Papa bought in the dark market!" She yelled at the woman
          "He's the one." Said the man
          "Hello......" said Jaivik
          "Hi dumb boy, you're lucky to be here!" She said to him with rage and went upstairs
          "Don't mind her."
          "I won't mind anything if only you will let me go."
          "Shut up! You have costed us too much!"
          "Did I ask you to buy me!"
          "Enough is enough!" The man said and slapped Jaivik.
          "I also don't wanna be your son!"
          "You have to be, so better get use to it."
          "I don't -" He became silent as he realised the argument won't do him any good.
          "Go show him his room." The man said to the woman.
          "Okay." She said "Come with me."
          "Hm...."
          Jaivik followed her quietly. They went upstairs there were two rooms facing each other.
         "That ones your sister's and this ones yours."
         "Okay."
         The woman went away. Jaivik quietly went inside his room. What should I do? I just have to convince them to leave me and stop believing that they can make me their family member. But how? He was wondering when someone suddenly opened the room. It was that girl.
          "Oh, this room is yours, I didn't realise when this street rat was given his own room."
          "I am not a street rat." Said Jaivik feeling that the girl was hitting his dignity.
          "Yeah, may be a street dog suits you better."
          "Just stop it."
          "Why should I? Just remember one thing you can never take my place." She slammed the door and went away
          "I'm not trying to." Jaivik said to himself
          The girl was very mean to Jaivik and her parents felt that they will cope up soon. Jaivik didn't like his new home. It just felt, as if he has to enact being their family member. Whenever he told, he wanted to go to his real home, they scolded him, if he kept on demanding and pleading continuelessly, the man used to beat him. Still Jaivik never gave up. Many times they beated him, once the man pushed him and his head hit the window and started bleeding, once while being beaten his hand got pierced by a flower vase and glass, this way he was treated when he showed his desire. He felt terrific and lonely. He missed his old life, being an ordinary student instead of unknown people's family member. Am I a person who could be placed anywhere? They placed me here without even thinking about me. He thought. He was really missing his brother and sister. He missed how he, Jeevan, Janhavi, his parents and his uncle and aunt used to live. If only that accident hadn't taken place we would still be living happily. Maybe, in that situation I won't be here. It would be so better. Why? Why it happened? Is that what I deserve? Maybe I deserve it but they don't! I am certain. I wish they would come back saying it was all a bad joke. Why can't we return to be that happy family! God, why did you do this to us? He was lost in his thoughts, dripping tears when someone opened the door, it was the man who claimed to be his new father.
          "Jaivik!" He called "What's the matter? Why are you crying?"
          "Please let me go! Just please!"
          "I can't."
          "Why not?"
          "Do you know how much you costed to me!"
          "Twelve hundred takspids."
          "Then how can I let you go!"
          "How can you imprison me and force me to be your son?"
          "Shut up!"
          "Oh now you are shutting me up!"
          "Don't talk back to me!"
          "I never asked you to buy me! I never asked you to open your treasure and buy me! I never asked you to make me your son!"
          The man left. Now he leaves! After ruining the little happiness I had, he leaves! How kind of him! Jaivik was full of fury.
          He tried to convince the man in many ways, he pleaded, he begged, he fought, he even cried! But all in vain. He was really depressed. He was sitting, thinking about a way to get out of that house when the lady called him for lunch. He went downstairs, had his lunch and was about to go when the lady stopped him.
          "Jaivik!" She called
          "Yes."
          "Can you do me a favor?"
          "Yeah."
          "It's about time, can you go get your sister from her school?"
          "Okay."
          "And buy some vegetables in the way. Here's the money."
           "Fine."
           Jaivik took the money quietly. The innocent looking boy had something clever in his mind. Now's my chance! I have money and I have to go out alone. Marvelous! He was overjoyed. He went out of the house and then walked down the street smiling as if he had became the great ruler of all the worlds. A little did he know what future had stored in for him.
          "Jaivik!" Came a sound Jaivik turned and realized it was the man.
          "Yes."
          "Where are you going?"
          "To get sister from school and to the market."
          "Then which way are you going?"
          "Ooppss!"
          "Come sit in the car. I'll drop you there."
"Yeah." He said. Oh no! Now I may never get away!
          They were there, Jaivik got out off the car. Class 12th - A. He was looking for it and finally found it. He saw the girl talking to her friends. He dared to go closer and ask.
          "Sister!"
          "What is it?"
          "I was - "
          "Yeah I know."
          "Is this the boy you told us about?" Said one of her friends
          "Yeah."
          "He is clearly younger than us."
          "Yup!"
          "So what's his age?" Asked another.
          "What's your age?" The girl (sister) asked Jaivik.
          "16." He said innocently
          "What! You don't know his age!"
          "I am not interested in any street rat."
          "He's so cute! If I could I would make him my brother."
          "Go ahead! Take him with you."
          "Yeah sure." Obviously she was kidding
          "So can we go?" He asked.
          "Can't you see I am talking!"
          "Sorry."
          They talked a little bit and waved goodbye.
          "So mother asked you to come to my school."
          "Yeah."
          "Ah! She thinks that way we would get along better." She said in an annoyed tune
          "How kind of her!" Jaivik said thinking about his own mother.
          "But you better know I don't like you and we will never get along. Stupid!"
         Jaivik quietly listened as the girl continued to mock him.
         "You're such a trouble!" The girl said "You're so useless! You're such a pain! Maybe your real parents sold you because of -"
        "Stop it!"
        "Truth is hard to accept."
        "That's not the truth!"
        "Then tell me the truth."
        "Ah.........."
        "Why are you quite now?"
        "You know what I have been telling your father?"
        "No. Why should I?"
        "I am..."
        "You are?"
        "From another world."
        "Ha ha! Very funny!" She said in a lame tone.
        "I am not kidding!"
        "Don't try to fool me!"
        "I am not!"
        They reached home, walked in and went to their room. That day they didn't spoke another word to each other. Their parents noticed this but said nothing thinking they would get along better in a little while but things just got worse. They fought everyday and ignored each other. Suddenly an idea came in his mind.
She doesn't like me! Maybe it's not so bad! Maybe I can use it. She don't want me around so if I tell her the truth and ask her to help me escape. Maybe it would work! But if it didn't I will be done for! I can take the risk. I have to! Jaivik prayed to the god that it would work. He gathered every ounce of courage he had left in his nerves and knocked at the door.
          "Who is it? Come in."
          "It's me."
          "What do you want?"
          "A favor."
          "What favor?"
          "Before telling that I want you have to answer some of my questions."
          "Okay."
          "Do you like me?"
          "No. I don't. "
          "Do you want me around?"
          "No."
          "Can you do anything you can to get me out of this house."
          "Yes."
          "Then, would you........"
          "Would I what?"
          "Would you help me in........."
          "In?"
          "In escaping from your house?"
          "What! Never!"
          "Why not?"
          "Do you know how much you costed to my father!"
          "Twelve hundred takspids."
          "Then, how can I let you go!"
          "Please!"
          "No means no!"
          "But you don't want me around."
          "Yeah."
          "Then why are you not helping me?"
          "I just stated my reason."
          "Please don't tell your father or mother about it."
          "Why shouldn't I?"
          "Please I beg you!"
          The girl ran downstairs ignoring him completely. I am doomed. Jaivik was shaking Maybe I should apologize.
          "Jaivik how dare you say that!"
          The poor boy was being beaten without any mercy. That night he was asleep as soon as he dragged himself into the bed, but his negative thoughts just followed him in his dream. He was again in the same dream, looking at the car leaving, his parents, uncle and aunt leaving, leaving forever. As far as the car was going Jaivik was becoming reckless and finally, the car was not in sight. Jaivik woke up screaming, if he had been at home, Janhavi and Jeevan would have noticed but here he was alone, facing his fear, all alone. He wanted to put his head into Janhavi's lap and hold Jeevan's soft hand. That was not possible, no one had even heard his scream. He felt lonely, lost and hopeless. Hopeless! He couldn't be hopeless as hope is the only boon he could have at this time. How would Janhavi feel if she got to know! His parents were watching over him from above. How would they feel! No, he couldn't let that happen. No matter, how the circumstances were, he had to make them proud, he had to struggle to get to his destination, he had to try, he had to fail, he had to stand up again. That's what life is about and one day, he would finally find the end of this dark tunnel. Till then he had to struggle