Whispers of the Lullaby(Part-5)

You can read out Episode 4 link in below...

Episode 5: The First Wish

The world, unchanged, the next day would bring about a new dawn.

The birds were singing, the sun was spilling gold across the garden, and the smell of jasmine and fresh bread from the bakery next door wafted through the air.

Everything seemed abnormal in Mira's mind.

She kept replaying the music box in her mind. The song was on her mind, too. The words in the book tore at her. The girl who had forgotten her name.

Ella had gone quiet. She was thinking now, always too, watching Mira as if the box might once again whisper to her.

Mira, after school, was alone in her room, with the box in the confines of the wooden chest under her bed, but it could be felt like it was breathing, like it was waiting.

She was bound to think of her dream. The one that never went anywhere. She wanted to meet her grandmother again.

Nani had passed away two winters ago, and Mira would still spend nights crying into her pillow, wishing for some way to ask her how to braid her hair again or hear her soft voice calling her, "my moonlight."

Just one dream. Just one night.

With that, she opened the trunk.

And there it was. Cold yet beautiful.

Slowly turning the key.

The lullaby played softly, warm, like a memory wrapped in music.

Mira lay back on her bed and closed her eyes. It was a night of dreaming.

Back to the old kitchen again, where the sun poured in through the windows and cardamom tea perfumed the air.

"Nani?" Mira called.

And there she was. Smiling. Just as always, kneading dough.

"Mira," Nani replied, "You're still my moonlight."

Mira ran to her and hugged her tight. She felt warm, real. Grandmother's sari smelled of cinnamon and safety.

They talked, they laughed, they made tea together; it was like coming home.

Then Nani said something strange.

"Be careful, little one. There are songs to be sung, not to be trapped. Some dreams are not meant for the waking world."

Before Mira could ask what she meant, the dream faded away.

Mira woke up with tears on her face and a peculiar sensation in her chest. Bliss. And something else. Like a piece had been taken away.

Slowly she propped herself up and noticed a curious thing.

Something was off about her wall photos. One was missing.

A photo of her, Ella, and Nani. A favorite.

She opened the drawer. The scrapbook. The album.

That photo was gone.

Her heart was thudding. She rushed to Ella's room.

"Ella! I-I played it."

Ella was sitting now. "Played what?"

"The music box. I had to. I saw Nani. It was... it was real."

Ella's face fell.

"Mira... no."

"I know. I know. But something's wrong. That picture-the one with her-it's gone. Like it never existed."

Ella got out of bed and started looking too. Nothing. Just...gone.

"She warned us," Ella muttered. "Every wish takes something." Mira, looking down, felt tears welling up. "But I just wanted to see her once more."

Ella squeezed her tightly. "I know, I understand. But we need to be careful now. We cannot play again."

However, deep down, both girls knew that the music box was not done with them.

And it never gave anything for free.