The Quest OF DESEO

Bushra's:

'It's payment time.' The Supervisor announced, rubbing his dirty hands all over his chin. A few of his pimples have popped open and the trickle of blood with some fluid is smudged over the place. I grimaced in disgust at the sight of the frowning man. His moustache itched from the two sides of his upper lips as a permanent displeased expression is plastered on his ugly face.

Mad-Manish, as my co-workers like to call him, is a pain in the ass for an employer. He is a crook who likes to shout profanities like he is chanting a mantra, is never satisfied no matter how hard one works, and is a pro at finding defects. But, he is extremely successful in managing the inherited bar: The Delicacy's, and helping the enemies in disguise, like myself, unconsciously.

The noise of the cutleries clashing immediately came to a halt. There are rounds of happy chatter. No wonder Saturday is everyone's favourite. It has to be. It provides us with everything other days in the week are incapable of: freedom, happiness, and money.

'Starting with Sony.' He flashes me a disgustingly lustful smirk and points at the back cottage where his 'office for official purposes is. 'Be quick!' He nods and walks to the back of the hall before he disappears behind two shabby wooden doors.

Sony SR. has been my identity for three years. For three years, I have been an orphan, a hobo, putting up on the streets and living at the werewolf's mercy.

From riches to rags. From castle to tavern. From soft, fluffy beds to hard cold floors. From Queen Bushra to Waitress Sony SR. From The Sarp-Serpancy to Cape Comorin, I have come a long way, yet it feels strange every time someone addresses me with that. I am still not used to the harshness in people's tones. Being royalty, I am used to people treating me with the utmost respect.

It takes me a moment to comprehend that he is expecting me to follow him. The piercing eyes are on me. Had I been in the castle, I would have ordered that brat's execution in a snap. If only he had not ruined my life, killed my protector...I would not be subject to such lustful gazes.

'If,'

'What are you going to buy this week, Bush?' Diksha asks with a smile on her face. She speaks 'Bush' in whispers, looking around to check if anyone is eavesdropping. No one does. No one would. No one cares. It is always like this in Appy Lane.

I frowned at her, taking the maid's whole being in my head. Diksha is still charming, happy, and compassionate as she used to be three years back before...the final war. No wonder Mad-Manish has a soft spot for her and...I.

His ugliness has soft spots for every single living creature with a vagina. After all, he has got a reputation to maintain, a family to cherish.

Well, quite a few on that note!

Mad Montu is passionate about only two things in his life-the Delicacy, my workplace, and making as many babies as he can. The bald guy with a pouch for a tummy is already serving twenty of his pups back home and another one is due by the end of the month with his third wife.

Population explosion, anyone?

It has been more than a year since I have been working in the Delicacy's and not a single day has passed by since he did not suggest doing 'something' to enhance my prospects.

The audacity! The tolerance!

Dignity is my first precious commodity that was sold before I stepped foot in Cape Comorin. I just wish I could kill even a single one of them. I cannot. Not now. I don't want to be spotted. I would not do anything that'd make the Alpha suspicious that I am alive. I want to take him on the way he did to us: surprise.

To divert my anger towards a more sophisticated being who would not report me right away, I look at Diksha's face hotly, hating the chirp in her voice.

She is getting way too comfortable in this pathetic life as a waitress amongst the dogs. Has she already forgotten our days of hardship? Has she forgotten the nights on the streets? Has she forgotten the vengeful oath?

'Pages!' I muse in a stern voice, giving her a harsh look that makes her smile fall immediately. Better!

'You will buy pages? Again?' She raises her perfectly shaped eyebrows in disappointment. Her composure changes and her shoulder falls. Maybe she was expecting another reply but I have none of it.

'Yes.' I nod, suddenly out of breath. I have been buying tons of pages every week-around eleven. I can only afford that much. Pages are extremely expensive in Cape Comorin, especially after the launch of those sleek devices with flat touch screens and an accompanying pencil with changeable nibs-they call them, tablets.

I like to scribble my plans, my days of misery, and the schedules on pages alongside some stories that get published at weekly and help me earn fifty rupees or a hundred. It offers me peace and perfect anonymity.

The production of paper is out of fashion nowadays. There are only a handful of companies that still make it and they charge handsomely for the painful efforts. I, very obviously, cannot afford it with this pathetic job as a waitress. The life I used to have!

As I untie my apron and make my way to the back of the room, I am reminded of the big day approaching.

Luna on the visit! The big poster read. I roll my eyes at the beautiful smiling face of Luna Gracy-faithful companion of my nemesis. My hatred towards him is unspeakable. If only I can reach him and kill him in the most painful way possible.

'Very soon!' I sigh.

As I open the backdoor, I am gritted by slight drizzles. I look up to spot heavy gray clouds looming over the place. It is going to be the first rain of the monsoon as it was on the day...

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