A Magical Wish - Copyrighted material

A Magical Wish
                                                by Dipayan Chatterjee                                              09/04/09

Dipu stood straight, with his head facing down, at one corner of the room. Tears streamed from his eyes, as his father kept scolding him hard. It was the 3^rd consecutive time that he had failed miserably at his term exams. He was admitted at one of the best schools, had the best private tutors, his parents helped him in his studies as much as they could, still he always fell short of attaining the pass marks. This time it was too much. Both his parents were angry beyond limit. He stood there for almost 2 hours while his parents constantly yelled at him, until he was ordered to go to his room. This was a common scene in this household. Dipu’s parents were tired n frustrated of his lack of interest in studies.

           

Dipu was not like much of the other kids. He somehow was just not into studies. His mind always wandered into the delightful fairy-tale lands. He was always engulfed into the magical worlds that he used to see in the wonderful cartoons which he was obsessed with. His room was filled with books, stickers n posters of such stories n cartoons. After all he was just a little kid.

           

All night he cried n prayed to god to take him to the magical lands which he used to see in the cartoons, as he was tired of his depressing life n he just wanted to run away from all this. But he just somehow knew in his heart that it was not possible. Still he kept praying from the deepest core of his heart, hoping that his wishes just might come true. He didn’t realise when he had fallen asleep, but suddenly he woke up to a knock that was coming from his bathroom door in his room. At first he thought it was just a dream. But then he realized it was not. It was real. Someone was knocking from inside the bathroom n a very bright light was coming out of the space underneath the door n the other gaps. He couldn’t believe his eyes. He was scared n thrilled. “Who could it be?” – He thought to himself. Then again a knock came, bit harder n louder.  He slowly got up n very cautiously opened the door wondering who it could be.

Instantly a small elf came in from the other side of the room. Dipu quickly backed up as he was totally shocked. The elf closed the door n smiled at dipu. Dipu looked totally dazed. The elf was dressed very elegantly n looked exactly as one of the cartoon characters which he used to watch over-enthusiastically. He still couldn’t believe that it was all for real. The elf introduced himself as ‘Mr. Munchy’, the royal ambassador of ‘Prince Candor’; the ruler of the Kingdom of Ecstasia, a magical land where everything n anything that any kid wishes n wants, comes true. Mr. Munchy was personally sent by the Prince to invite dipu to the Kingdom of Ecstasia. Dipu thought that he was in some kind of dream. But right then Mr. Munchy, the elf, assured him that it was no dream, it was all real. Dipu was now truly excited n thrilled. So he gracefully accepted Prince Candor’s invitation n agreed to go to Ecstasia with the elf. Mr. Munchy softly held dipu’s hand n opened the bathroom door. There was a whole new world inside n a strong bright light emitted from there. They slowly went inside the light.

Now they had finally reached the magnificent kingdom of Ecstasia. It was all very astounding for dipu. His wishes had finally come true. He thanked god in his heart n went along with Mr. Munchy. He was very happy to be here. Everything was so beautiful all around. A stunning landscape accompanied by elegant mountains n hills, gorgeous rivers n streams, n a clear blue sky. There was a huge castle in the distance n they where heading right towards it. The whole kingdom was filled with amazing magical creatures, who greeted n welcomed dipu very graciously. Just as they entered the huge castle, dipu saw lots of kids, boys n girls of his age, playing around happily all over the castle. All the kids acknowledged n welcomed him to this magical kingdom. And the handsome Prince Candor was standing in the centre of a huge hall room with his arms wide open greeting dipu to the Kingdom of Ecstasia. The prince was not much older than him or the other happy kids around. Prince Candor gave dipu a warm hug n gave him a magnificent royal ring, which was a gift from the prince. The prince invited him to have breakfast with him.

They were in a huge dining room, sitting in a huge royal dinning table. All the other kids had also joined the Prince n dipu. Even eating here was fun. No one followed any table manners, not even the prince n they played with their food throwing it to each others’ faces n also eating a little bit. After breakfast was complete, the prince told dipu, that Ecstasia is a world created by all these kids who are just like him. None of them were happy with their lives. All of them were dissatisfied for some reason. n all of them just wanted to escape from their dull unhappy lives n be in place where they could live like they wanted to. So all of them, at some point or the other, had wished for a land where they could be really happy, just like he did last night. Even though it’s a magical land, it is a part of the real world; a world that kids like him had created. N Candor was made the Prince, just to make sure all of them were all right n to see that none of them got hurt in any way n to take proper care of them.

Prince Candor told him that all the kids in Ecstasia had left their sad lives n real homes n live in here permanently, live here forever. Each n everyone has vowed never to return back. The prince gently asked him that if he would be interested to leave his miserable life behind n live here forever n join all these happy kids n live a happy fulfilling life in this astonishing kingdom. But it was not possible for him to stay here forever. He just wanted to come here to play n have fun. The prince explained that was not possible. If he would come n go all the time then it would put the confidentiality of their land at risk, which could put Ecstasia in severe jeopardy from the outside world. So the Prince asked dipu one more time if he would like to stay here permanently. Dipu was now in dilemma. How could he leave his family n life forever? It was not possible for him. But he also didn’t want to go back to his sad ugly life. He really liked his new friends n this wonderful place n wanted to be here. He was just a little kid n this was a big decision for him to make. So the Prince gave him some time to think about it n then make his decision, he also advised dipu, that no matter what his decision was, he could never tell anyone about this place.

Realizing it was late n was about time to get back, dipu quickly returned home through a magical portal. When he opened his eyes, he was lying in his bed; underneath the blankets. It was dawn by then. He wondered whether it was a dream or was it for real, did he really go to Ecstasia? All these things were rotating around in his mind when he suddenly noticed the ring in his fingers, the ring which the prince had gifted him. He was stunned for a while, but then he was happy to be assured that it was all true. Soon it was time for him to go to school. Quite reluctantly he got ready, just like everyday n ate his breakfast. None of his parents spoke with him as they were still angry at him. Now he realized what he had returned to. He thought about whether he should go back to Ecstasia or not. But he just couldn’t leave his parents forever. No matter what, he still loved them. School was a drag as always. He kept wondering about Ecstasia all the time, and then suddenly, in a class, a teacher made him stood up n asked what she was teaching them at that particular point of time. He just stood still. How could he know what she was teaching? He was lost deep in his thoughts about Ecstasia. The teacher was mad at this incident. He was already doing badly in his exams; n now he was not even paying attention in class. The teacher immediately reported the principal & aggravated n exaggerated the whole incident. The principle immediately called both his parents to school n complained against dipu’s misconduct n the fact that he was being suspended for over a week so that his parents can discipline him properly.

Things became even worse when they returned home. His parents yelled, shouted, scolded n beat him till late night. Dipu just stood silently n cried profusely. He just wanted to have a little fun n be a little happy. He did not want to have excellent grades in exams. He just wanted to have a good time playing with his toys n his new friends. But no one cared.

It was quite late at night. He lied in his bed, under the blanket n cried his heart out. No one loved him in here anymore. It was then he decided what he had to do. He decided to go to Ecstasia n live there forever. He did not want to come back to this ugly life ever again. He just hated his life. So he quickly got up n opened his bathroom door. But there was only his bathroom inside. Where was the gateway to the beautiful kingdom of Ecstasia? How was he supposed to go back? He closed the door n opened it again. Still nothing! He repeated this for quite a few times but nothing happened. He went back to his bed n lied down. He wondered whether it was all just a dream. He cried n prayed to god to help him. He just wanted to go back to Ecstasia. He prayed n he prayed n he prayed without stopping. Then suddenly a very bright light started to appear on the other side of the closed bathroom door. Rays of strong white light escaped from the gap underneath the door. Dipu stared at the door with immense happiness in his heart. A lovely smile formed on his face n he just knew that it was time to go. He stood at the edge of the door for a while n then quickly went inside.

He was now finally in Ecstasia again. He was really happy n he was never going back to the real world ever again. He immediately rushed to Prince Candor n informed him that he had decided to live in Ecstasia forever n never return to his family or his real life. The Prince gave a big warm smile n so did all the other kids. They congratulated him n welcomed him once again. But then, gradually the Prince became serious n all the other kids just stood still, bowing their heads down in total silence. The Prince told him in a grave voice, that for him to stay here forever, he would have to do something to prove his commitment n loyalty to this kingdom n to show he is worth staying in this beautiful magical land. Dipu immediately agreed without giving it a second thought. The prince smiled again, but this time there was something sinister in his smile.

The next day, dipu didn’t come out of his room till late afternoon, at first his mom thought of leaving him alone n let him repent for his actions, but when he did not give any reply when she called him for lunch, she got a bit curious. She slowly went to his room to look for him, but he just wasn’t there. She was quite sure that dipu hadn’t left his room all morning neither did he go outside, but she was just unable to trace him. It was then she noticed that the bathroom door was slightly open n there was something inside. She slowly opened the bathroom door n to her horror, she screamed out loud. In the wet floor of the bathroom, laid dipu’s lifeless body & an empty bottle of poison beside his left hand, with a few drops of the poison lying on the floor. There was dried out foam along with dark blood all over his mouth. She couldn’t even imagine that something like this could have ever happened. She couldn’t stop crying n lovingly held her dear deceased child into her arms. She was still in shock. Then suddenly she noticed something. In the index finger of his dead right hand, was a stunning diamond encrusted royal ring.

THE END.

Copyright: © 2009 DIPAYAN CHATTERJEE