dark – Avid Procrastinator

The Royal Butler

“Stop calling me Princess!”, she yelled. “I apologise my future queen”, I replied promptly. “Stop calling me that too!!”, Was her frustrated reply. I decide it was best not to argue with the princess and left her chambers with a quick bow.

Even though I have been the princess’s personal butler for a long time. Her present rebellious phase has become a little difficult to handle. Nothing I won’t be able to handle for sure! After all, I am the best in my business.

Working for the royal family had always been my dream since I was a child. Actually, it was being a royal first but then when I figured that was too much wishful thinking, I moved on to the second best option.

I love the idea of being near a royal, the grandeur, the sense of superiority, the different protocols that establish that superiority. Even though I wasn’t a royalty, I was still better than the normal civilian people. I had my luxurious quarters, I get to keep a host of royal secrets, most of all I get to be closer to the princess.

The princess was an absolute beauty with her shimmering hair that flowed like liquid gold. Her skin so soft, so supple, so youthful. Her smile displayed that perfectly aligned pearly set of teeth with a certain kindness that graced her mesmerizing eyes. She indeed was the absolute perfection.

She looked more angelic than angels to me. I was utterly, madly in love with her. I know it is wrong but her charm, her grace, everything about her had entranced me into developing this forbidden affection towards her. At times, I could tell that she felt the same about me.

As I checked into her chamber again to collect her dinner plates. I saw that she hadn’t even touched her dinner yet. She just looked at me with those dazzling eyes and I knew that she wanted me to feed her. I know this was wrong but I couldn’t resist. I moved a chair closer to her bed and started to feed her. She seemed really surprised that I understood her hint but she readily complied. And we sat there gleefully, looking into each other’s eyes as she timidly ate all her dinner.

Just as I stood up, the princess did something rather unexpected. She reached for my hand and pulled me closer towards her. Before I could even process what was happening she stabbed me on my arm with a nail I didn’t recall her possessing. I howled in pain, for it wasn’t only physical but felt like the nail had pierced through my heart instead of my arm which had already become bloody. I couldn’t understand how she had loosened her restraints as she tried to stagger towards the door.

Despite her legs being rather weak from the lack of use for more than a month, she was quicker than I thought. I felt frustration bubble inside me. How do they always get away? Everytime, I take measures to make sure they don’t get away, but somehow they do. Now that she has gone rogue, I have to catch her before she can escape. Despite the searing pain in my arm, I rushed behind her with the knife that I always kept with me.

Given how she was weak and filled with fear, she was sure to be caught by me. She ran like a panicked gazelle who was trying to outrun a hungry lion. She couldn’t beat me at my own game. As I did catch up with her, I hesitated a little. Her pleading eyes were filled with fear, panic and a bit of regret. But it had to be done, it was her fault anyway.

With this in mind, I stabbed her – multiple times. I stabbed her until my arms felt weak and I couldn’t anymore. With the fourth princess also failing to meet my expectations, I was rightfully frustrated beyond anything.

As I prepared to disassemble the girl’s body inorder to dispose of it, I became more determined than ever to pull it off right the next time. Sure, it was going to be very difficult to find a blonde girl beautiful enough to play my princess but I will find her. And this time – I won’t fail. I won’t let the next princess join this girl’s fate so soon.

After all, it has been my unattainable dream, my fantasy, my secret vice, my passion. I won’t abandon it so easily. This time around, I’ll be more careful. I’ll be better. I’ll surely pull this off. After all, who is to say that the fifth time won’t be the charm?

This one is a little shorter than usual. Do comment your thoughts on it and don’t forget to share!

Mother didn’t approve

Zohra was really nervous as she spoke to her best friend Hannah. Her mother never did like it when she talked to her. She didn’t quite understand why though. Hannah was her best friend-her only friend infact.

It had been only a year since she came here from Afghanistan, it was a little too much to handle really. Making friends was especially hard for her when she spoke ‘funny’ around others and well was different from them. Hannah was very kind to her though, she talked to her and welcomed her into her house with open arms. Yet, mother didn’t approve.

Mother always talked of how this is just temporary, they will go back to their home soon. She talked of the beautiful fields, the hills and how fun it would be once they return. Initially, Zohra believed her ardently, but as time went by she felt her faith diminishing. She wanted to accept her fate and start here again, with Hannah and more like her. Yet, mother didn’t approve.

Maybe it was because, how Hannah didn’t wear hijab like a good girl should. Or how she didn’t pray like Zohra did. Zohra always wondered. Mother always ignored Hannah when she saw them in a room playing. She never spoke to her, never even addressed her directly. It was unsettling to Zohra. She’d tried asking mother why she blatantly ignored Hannah but was fearful of the consequences. Mother had always been her support, she adored all her friends back in Afghanistan. Hannah was a nice girl too. Yet, mother didn’t approve.

She still remembers the day it all started-vividly. Zohra was on her way home from school when the school bus suddenly exploded. Before, she could even comprehend what happened everything was black. When she finally woke up next, her whole life had been turned upside down. She was in a different country, in a hospital gown, her face was heavily disfigured and one of her legs had been damaged so much, it had to be amputated. She couldn’t believe anything that was happening to her.

She was terrified. She couldn’t understand a thing these foreigners spoke. She eventually realized that she was the foreigner here in a strange land far away from home. Apparently, Zohra had been lucky to survive the attack but needed immediate medical help. Some NGO, she couldn’t quite grasp the name, flew her here for further treatment and rehabilitation.

It was all too overwhelming; she wanted her mother. She wanted to go back to the way everything was before all of this. A few days in the hospital, a woman promised she would find her mother. A few days later she still hadn’t heard from her when she saw her mother by her side sitting on the chair. She couldn’t believe herself she had gotten at least her mother back.

Mother disapproved of a lot of things, her talking to anyone about her past and now Hannah. Despite feeling guilty about disregarding her mother’s instructions, she loved playing and reading with Hannah. The more she started liking this place and making new friends, the more aggressive mother had become. Now it had come to the point where she would get scars on a weekly basis. Simply, because mother didn’t approve.

The doctors around her grew concerned. They would keep monitoring her and for some reason didn’t believe anything when she talked about her mother. Zohra’s recent visit to the counselor were the most confusing. Why wouldn’t it be? That lady spoke outrageous things!

She said her mother didn’t exist. She said her mother already passed away in Afghanistan. She said what she presumed to be her mother was just a figment of her imagination. She said that Zohra was using her imagination to deal with all the pain. She said her mother never did hurt her, she was hurting her herself. She- This was just too much for her. What she said couldn’t be true at all! How could it? When mother was standing just beside the woman glaring at her!

It just didn’t make any sense. Surely, they wanted to separate her from mother somehow! As the lady droned on and on, her mother shushed her to keep quiet. She couldn’t make a scene here now. Mother surely didn’t approve.

As the lady finished with her talking, Zohra promised to take the prescribed pills. Zohra also promised her that she would talk to someone the next time she sees mother. She didn’t like faking promises but she couldn’t just tell her that mother was standing just beside her now, could she? Finally, the lady buzzed for help and a nurse helped her out to Hannah and her mom.

Hannah helped her into the car and her mother started driving back to their place. She knew she couldn’t take the pills, mother wouldn’t approve. She also felt really guilty fake promising Hannah’s mum that she would. She had been nothing but loving and caring to her since day one. At times, she really wanted to hug her and return her affection but she knew she couldn’t. Because just like with Hannah; Mother didn’t approve.

This was a relatively difficult piece to write and it was coming really long so I had cut it short. Anywho, thanks for reading, would love to hear feedback from you. Don’t forget to share though!!