Butter was a beautiful butterfly. She had a pair of sparkling rainbow wings that were indeed a sight for sore eyes. She lived in Faisal’s garden and drank the nectar of the flowers that grew there.

There were many others bugs living in the garden along with Butter, each caring and kind. So life in the garden was quite peaceful and happy. But all that changed when the bully bees took over.

You see the bully bees were a group of honeybees who were known for making trouble. Wherever they went, they bullied other creatures living there, making them do whatever they wanted and taking over the place. The bugs, whom they bullied, were afraid of their mighty sting and so, without saying a word, obeyed the bees’ orders

A few days ago some humans had devoured the bully bees’ honeycomb. Now they were looking for a new place to settle down because they were afraid of remaking a new honeycomb in the same place as the humans might return and destroy their new home too. The bugs in their old garden were all rejoicing that the rule of the mean honeybees in their land had come to an end.

All the bugs belonging to Faisal’s garden welcomed the bully bees with open wings, but they did not know what they were about to encounter. At first, the bees played along with the kindness of the other bugs, but as soon their honeycomb was ready, they began to show their true colours.

They first started bullying the leaf-eating bugs. They took over the trees and the grass and, as they were large in number, it was not hard for them to always be on guard. Next, they took command of the flowers and then controlled the nectar-drinking bugs. What they would do was to gather all the bugs and give them a very small portion to dine from, like giving a small patch of grass and few leaves.

Thus it was every bug for itself. All the kindness, love, care and affection for each other was lost in the fight of getting as much food as the bugs could get for themselves. The bugs would shove and push, and pull each other’s wings and legs. Hatred spread through the garden and the happy and peaceful life the bugs knew once seemed liked a distant memory.

You see there was a strategy the bees used — the power of unity. They knew that if all the bugs united against them, they would lose everything and that was why they spread so much hatred among the bugs to keep them from coming together while they themselves stuck together like glue, using the power of unity to control everything.

But even in such dark times, there is always a light and in this case the light was Butter the butterfly. Apart from being kind and caring, our young butterfly was also brave and courageous. She would somehow always manage to drink the nectar of the flowers without ever getting caught. She wanted to show all other bugs that the bees are not so powerful and that they are taking undue advantage of them.

But the bugs would answer that they had no intention of getting stung by the bees, so she could risk it but they would not.

Butter felt sad seeing the new state of her beloved garden; the garden where all the bugs used to live in peace and harmony, always caring for one another. She wanted to do something, but what could she do? She alone was no match for those thousands and thousands of bully bees. She fell in despair and lost all hope of things ever becoming better again, but fate had other plans.

One day, Butter was drinking nectar from the flowers and while she thought the bees were patrolling on the other side of the garden, they were actually returning to the side where Butter was. The bees heard the flutter of her wings and when they saw Butter, they were furious. Butter was a fast flyer, but she was no match for the huge swarm of bees. They chased her and finally one bee stung her on the back. Butter screamed with pain, but still she did not give up.

She tried to keep her balance and keep on flying, but the bees caught her and pulled her wings with such might that she screamed once more and fainted. The bees threw her in a thick bush and left.

Butter woke up a few hours later. She was in a really bad state. Her back was hurting and her wings were also not in the state to help her in flying. She felt really weak. She crawled to the part of the bush where the bush was not so thick. What she saw made her jump.

In this bush were so many other bugs that she knew from the garden. They told her that they too had tried to intrude on the bees’ so called grounds and had been caught. The bees had stung them and threw them here. None of them had tried to return to the main garden out of fear. They had been feeding on the bush and the flowers growing on it.

After hearing what the bugs in the bush had to say, Butter replied, “My dearest friends! Please, you need to understand that the bees are no one to tell us where we should live and what we should eat. It is this behaviour of listening and obeying them without hesitation that has brought things to this point, but enough is enough! No more shall we fear those bullies! We shall unite and fight the bees to gain our freedom. Who is with me?” All the bugs yelled in agreement with Butter.

The bugs treated Butter’s wounds and soon she was upright and ready. They planned on how to carry out their next move. Butter also asked the nice lizards, who lived nearby, to help them in their fight of freedom and, of course, they agreed. Together as one, they marched on, with Butter leading the way.

The bees were enjoying the power they had gained over the last few days. They heard a voice calling out to them: “Oh you meanies! Come fight us. The days of your cruelty, treachery and ruler ship are over.”

“Well brothers! It seems like a perfect chance to find out who is the bravest among us. Whoever beats these pests will be known to all as the best of the bees,” said one bee. All the bees agreed and the war began.

When all the bugs in the garden saw Butter and the rest fighting against the bees, they too joined them and their army grew. However, on the bees’ side things weren’t looking good. You see they had always looked out for one another, but this time each one of them was only focused on proving themselves the best among all. They had broken their strategy of unity.

The bees lost more quickly than expected. They begged the bugs to let them stay. The bugs said that this decision should be taken by Butter, as she was the one who had united them and helped them gain their freedom back.

Butter said that if the bees promised to live in peace and harmony instead of making everyone do what they wanted, they could stay. The bees were grateful for her kindness towards them. They apologised for their mean behaviour and promised to live in peace and harmony.

Thus from that day onwards, the garden is full of happiness and joy. No one has tried to take over, but yes, Butter is still given the most importance. Poor Faisal, he does not even know what kind of things take place in his beautiful garden.

Published in Dawn, Young World, November 20th, 2021