Prejudiced

Amidst the hubbub of gentlemen and women discussing their worldly affairs, beguiling maidens pirouetted and swirled with broad smiles and coy smirks in the extravagantly illuminated ballroom; handsome men in tuxedoes requested dainty damsels to join them for a dance under the opulent chandelier!

“Oh, look at Mr. Atkinson enter with his entourage! A man so striking, agreeable and to crown the whole, an inheritor of a large estate in Chesterfield. How my nerves wish that he finds my darling Cecilia as an agreeable partner,” cried Lady Isabella.

“Mother look! He has a companion with him! The audience calls him Mr. Theodore of Derbyshire. His quaint cerulean eyes show wind-stirred waves bringing a storm; his silvery voice and countenance only speaks of self-importance! What a contrasting companion!” I suggested.

Mr. Theodore was haughty, reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well-bred, were not inviting. When forced, he encouraged me to join him at the dance and acted extremely ignorant during the ball!

“Theodore! What a pleasure to see you escort the most winsome lady in the hall!” exclaimed Mr. Atkinson. Unaware that I was eavesdropping the conversation, Theodore replied, “Well, no doubt she’s tolerable but Cecilia is not appealing enough to tempt me!”

Not only did this exasperate me, it hurt my pride; I would now develop a strong prejudice against him!

“Sir, sorry to interrupt, but your skills at conversing and establishing new acquaintances are even less tolerable than my company at dancing. You may seem to have the perfect profile but you lack affability. Thank you for the dance tonight.”, I stormed out, giving Theodore a scorn glance.

Later that evening…

“Cecilia! Your father has had a fit! Get some help!” screamed mother.

I ran from here and there the whole night in search for a doctor but when I became back empty handed, I thought it was too late…

“Mr. Theodore what are you doing here?” I enquired in awe when I found him sitting beside my father!

“Lady Cecilia, I may not have the skills at establishing a conversation, but I am proficient at curing patients. As a doctor, it was my duty to serve your father. Allow him to rest and he shall be hale and hearty in a couple of days.”, retorted Theodore sarcastically.

Looking at him depart through the balcony, I now retrospect the harsh words that spilled out of my mouth. Only if I had the power to go back in time and revoke them, for my pride has no value against my father’s life. His benevolence was a nuance of his stolid mien which was overshadowed by my discriminations; with hindsight, I too wish for a power that prevents me from developing erroneous assumptions about people…

Prejudiced

Beguiling women pirouette and swirl,

Accompanied by handsome men,

Under the opulent chandelier.

He enters with quaint cerulean eyes,

Resembling wind-stirred waves bringing a storm.

A silvery voice and countenance of self-importance,

Judging his every move,

All of them, I deny to approve!

Haughty, reserved and fastidious,

His manners, though well-bred,

Are not inviting!

Forcibly, he encourages me to join him at the ball,

However, acts totally withdrawn!

He finds a winsome woman like me tolerable,

But not appealing enough to tempt him,

Exasperating me, he hurts my pride,

How would I not develop a strong prejudice against his side?

Storming out I give a scorn glance,

My ego gets the better of me,

I become biased without giving him a chance.

Only to regret in the future wedding dance!