December 30. “Button, shall we continue with the story we were writing?”

“Didn’t you want to re-write it?”

“I think we can continue from where we stopped.”

“Let’s continue.”

One day, as she sat on the beach sunbathing, she saw a white stub come floating by. What do you think it is? She asked her trusted aide.

I don’t have a clue but don’t you think it resembles that thing called a cigarette we see in television commercials. It’s that thing people smoke. It contains tobacco and can be really harmful to one’s health. B

What harm can it do? Asked the Princess of Ishika. Do you think you can get a pack organised? I feel like side-stepping the warning and giving it a try.

Why do you want to do that? I am told it is very injurious to one’s health. B

There’s no harm in trying it out. If I don’t like it, I’ll give it up. Giving up a bad habit isn’t that difficult.

Her aide had no option but organise and get a pack of cigarettes for her mistress. B

On the first drag, Ishika almost choked to death but she continued to smoke and, after a point, began to actually enjoy the experience.

The people in her kingdom thought there was something seriously wrong with their princess. How could their princess get hooked on to something as evil as smoking, they wondered. B

“Let’s go to sleep, Button. I can see that you are sleepy.”

“Goodnight. At this rate our story will get completed next year!”