The step mother (Fatima)

With a determined look, Zara walked over to Fatima, who was now finishing her workout with a series of controlled stretches. Fatima’s concentration was intense, and she barely acknowledged Zara’s approach.

Zara gently but deliberately placed the black sticker on Fatima’s forehead. The contact was brief, but the effect was immediate. Fatima’s body tensed as if jolted by an electric shock. Her movements halted abruptly, and her eyes glazed over, taking on a vacant, mechanical quality. Her posture straightened, her entire demeanour becoming rigid and unnatural.

“Fatima,” Zara commanded in a firm, clear voice, “clean the living room.”

The change in Fatima was striking. Her once fluid, human movements became precise and mechanical. She moved with a stilted, robotic gait, her limbs operating with a lack of natural fluidity. Each step was deliberate and measured, her body turning with angular, almost jerky motions.

Fatima’s voice, when she spoke, was devoid of inflection, sounding flat and artificial. “Command received. Commencing cleaning protocol,” she intoned in a monotone that echoed the robotic nature of her current state.

As Fatima moved through the living room, her actions were methodical and unerringly efficient. She dusted the shelves with an almost clinical precision, each swipe of the cloth executed with mechanical accuracy. Her movements lacked the usual signs of annoyance or impatience, replaced instead by a cold, efficient compliance.

Ayaan watched with a mix of fascination and apprehension as Fatima continued her tasks. The transformation was both thrilling and unsettling, a stark contrast to the usual tension and friction he experienced with her. The sight of Fatima, now a robotically obedient servant, offered a glimpse of the control he had longed for.

Zara, observing the transformation with a thoughtful expression, gave Ayaan a reassuring smile. “I’ll leave her to you. Just remember to be careful with how you use this.”

Ayaan nodded, his expression one of determination. “Thank you, Zara. I will.”

With a final glance at the transformed Fatima, Zara said her goodbyes and exited the house. He saw his stepmother’s phone light up on the table and went in to have a look. He felt a surge of relief as he read a text from Leila: “Won’t be home until tomorrow. Take care mom!” Ayaan always found it weird that Leila called Fatima ‘mom’ but he had come to accept that she did so to make Fatima feel better about herself and her position in their family.

The house was now quiet, save for the rhythmic sound of Fatima’s robotic cleaning. Ayaan took a deep breath, feeling a sense of liberation and anticipation. With the entire day to himself, he was free to explore the full extent of the nanobot sticker’s capabilities, unrestrained by the possibility of Leila’s return.

As Ayaan turned his attention back to Fatima, a mix of excitement and unease filled him. The quiet hum of the vacuum cleaner and the rhythmic swish of Fatima’s cleaning actions created a strangely soothing background noise in the living room. Fatima continued her robotic tasks with mechanical precision, her movements perfectly synchronised with the nanobot programming. Her face, once stern and reserved, was now an impassive mask of compliance.

Ayaan stood nearby, his curiosity piqued by the power he now held. The nanobot sticker had already demonstrated its ability to control Fatima’s behaviour, but he was eager to see how far its effects could reach. His excitement built as he prepared to test the limits of the technology.

He approached Fatima, who was in the midst of dusting the bookshelf, her movements as precise as a robot’s. “Fatima,” Ayaan said, his voice laced with both wonder and anticipation, “Reduce ‘Modesty’ slider to zero and readjust your clothing to reflect that.”

The response was immediate. Fatima’s body froze momentarily, her eyes blinking in a robotic manner before she responded in her flat, mechanical voice. “Command acknowledged. Executing clothing adjustment.”

Ayaan watched with rapt attention as Fatima’s modest workout attire began to transform. The process was mesmerising. The fabric of her long-sleeved top shimmered and reconfigured, retracting into a sleek, sleeveless bodice that clung tightly to her torso. The once loose hijab seamlessly morphed into a more revealing headband, exposing her neck and shoulders.

Her leggings shifted into a pair of short shorts, the fabric stretching and adjusting to highlight her toned legs and shapely hips. The transformation was fluid, as though the clothes were being reshaped by an invisible hand, leaving Fatima in an outfit that was both strikingly bold and provocative.

Ayaan’s eyes widened in astonishment as he took in the sight. Fatima, who had always been dressed modestly, now stood before him in an outfit that was daringly revealing. Her new attire accentuated every curve, from her slim waist to her well-defined legs. The change was so dramatic that it almost felt surreal.

Fatima’s voice, when she spoke, was utterly devoid of personal inflection. “Modesty reduction complete. Current clothing configuration: revealing.”

Ayaan could hardly contain his excitement. The nanobot sticker had not only altered Fatima’s behaviour but had also completely transformed her appearance. He marvelled at how the nanobots could so effectively alter both her attire and her demeanour, turning her into a compliant, robotic figure.