SALAI'S GREATEST WISH

“Days here feels like years, doesn’t it?” she turns to Alvah as they sat in front of the huge yard looking out at Leo and his two assistants painting out the garden’s view.

Each had different styles but are required to create the same piece. And each of them took interesting strokes to a different level.

“Look at them, creating perfection. While we,” she looks at Alvah, “are frying up ourselves under this heat. When we get back to our generation, we’d already be like sunny side up eggs.”

“You worry too much. Just enjoy the sun. We don’t always get this kind of heat. Plus, its healthy to the skin.”

“Right.”

In a bit, a sudden sound of crashing things was heard. Salai’s entire canvass was no on the ground while Leo was facing him fuming with anger.

They could barely hear what they were talking about but she and Alvah began standing up, curious to know what is going on.

But just as they were on their feet, Salai hurriedly walked away from where they were just painting.

Charlie followed him as he was getting inside his own room.

She knocked on the door but tugged it open the instant that she didn’t receive any response from him.

Inside, she sees him packing up his bag, some clothes left on top of the bed.

“Where are you going?”

“Away. I don’t think he needs me here. “

“What are you talking about?”

Salai closes his eyes and lifts his head up.

“I know when I am no longer worthy to anyone.”

“He just arrived Salai. I’m sure you are more worthy than him if that’s what you want to know.”

He chuckled and proceeded on packing his clothes. As much as Charlie wanted to stop him, he managed to get all his clothes inside his leather bag.

As he got out, he stopped and looked out the window where Leo and Melzi were happily talking inaudibly. Leo was happily explaining to Melzi something.

“Look at that. He doesn’t look at me like that anymore. He’s not excited about what I can do. He sees him as someone who has the same passion as he does.”

“You must not feel that way Salai. We were born to play certain roles and I’m sure he knows how important you are to him.”

He treads down the stairs and when he was about to leave, he stops by the salon where they were spending the time painting Leo’s latest creation.

Salai steps in and looks at the reflection of the painting that was his female version. Charlie could see the pain in his eyes. She wanted to make ease the sadness he feels but she doesn’t know how.

Salai walked towards the saloon table where a pen and a paper were sitting on top of it.

He writes down something, placed it on an envelope that’s conveniently placed along with the pieces of paper.

He signs his name and places it just in front of the painting.

“My only wish is that people would remember me, not even my name, but me.”

An overwhelming feeling started to wrap around Charlie. It was as if by instinct, her hands clapped twice, and a bright light rose right from where Salai is.

The essence of his greatest wish rose to the surface. Just like that, time stood still. She turns around the moment she hears the clacking sound of Alvah’s heels.

“You did it.”

Charlie smiled as though she has just accomplished something remarkable. But then, something dawned on her.

“But I’ll have to take a memory.”

“Yes.”

“Should I ask him?”

“The time has stopped. Any wishes we gathered from the past are no ordinary wishes. We must decide on our own, which memories do we trade with their wishes.”

“But that doesn’t seem fair.”

“Life is never fair Charlie. But we have the power to help people decide which memories they can keep. The only thing I want you to remember is that every ounce of good or bad memories matter. You must choose which one will make a difference.”

Unknowingly, her tears dropped. How do you choose for someone?

Which memories do you choose to keep and to eliminate?

“Did you ever have to decide for someone?”

A long still silence filled both of them.

“Yes. For so many times. Some I didn’t even want to do, yet I had to.”

“And this is one of those moments. Isn’t it?”

She simply nodded. Charlie stared at the bright light up in the air. The essence of his wishes seemed to be teasing her. Telling her that this is no easy task.

She closed her eyes and thought of all the time she’s been in this time.

How she knows what kind of hurt he has and the happiness he’s had along the way.

Then in a quick moment, she claps her hand again, she plucks a memory out of him and opened her mouth to consume it.

The moment she opened her eyes, they were now back in Alvah’s library, in front of the scroll where she stores their wishes. Just as the scroll was tidying up the wish, she shook her head, still teary eyed with what just happened.

“Things work out for the better Charlie. The more you get to do this, the better. You’ll get used to it.”

“What happened to Salai?”

“Well,” Alvah snapped her fingers and a hologram appeared up in the air. It showed Salai and his journey as he struggled to find his way again. As the events progressed, he got married, and rekindled his association with Leo.

The envelope he left, bore the writing, MONA LISA.

She covered her mouth as she hasped upon knowing what it was that he has written.

“He did it.”

“You granted his wish. The wish to be known to many.”

“Mona Lisa.” She whispered, realizing the kind of connection he has with the painting. Indeed, until now, the same historic creation still exists in the world.

It is popular in every corner of the globe and every artist respects the beauty that is the Mona Lisa. Salai’s wish came true.

“Tell me, was it joy or pain that you took?” Alvah asked.

“Pain.”

Alvah nodded and soon turned away from her.

“Would you have taken a memory filled with joy, instead of pain?”

“I won’t tell you what option I will choose. The only thing I can tell you, is that pain has its reasons. People must go through pain so they will know what something or someone is truly worth.  Your perspective of things will say a lot about how you want to become a Jini. Or of what kind of Jini you would like to be. “

Charlie stared at the golden scroll that has just kept Salai’s wish. She smiled as her mind was starting to fill a certain kind of contentment with everything that happened.

She may not have told him of what she has done, but as Alvah said, things happen in the right time.

Soon enough, she got out of the mansion and headed to her own home. Its almost finished and all she needed now is someone who would rent it.

She grabbed a beer and found her way to the rooftop.

Lance was already there, sitting at the edge of the building.

“Thought I’d find you here.”

“Charlie. You were gone for some time.”

“Hmm it’s just a day I think?”

“Still a long time. How was your day?”

“It was quite interesting to be honest. And I guess this is getting real.”

“What do you mean?”

“My works, it’s getting more and more complicated than I have thought them to be.”

“Well, things will never be easy. There’s always something that would come out of each and every experience. You’ll have to just enjoy it.”

She smirked as she downed a few of what remained from her bottle. In her mind, she has calmed. Perhaps the only thing she can do now is to be the best with what she’s needed to become.

No matter what the cost. Greatness is a never-ending struggle for her.

She may never be able to achieve it if she decides to stick to what is predictable. So whether she likes it or not, no matter what the job entails for her to do.