Dear Reader: Have you read my latest book COCKTAIL - a collection of 27 short stories about relationships?
If you haven't please click the link below and order a copy:
In COCKTAIL there is a story called A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A DIVORCED MAN. This story highlights the negative aspects of divorce on relationships, especially the adverse effect divorce has on children who are supposed to be innocent victims in divorce situations and who suffer for no fault of their own.
Are children really innocent victims and do they actually suffer when their parents divorce?
Well, here is a divorce story from a different perspective -- a “happy ending” divorce story where the child is certainly not an “innocent victim” of a divorce situation
Read on and tell me if you like this story:
“INNOCENT VICTIM”
A Divorce Story with a Difference
Short Fiction
By
VIKRAM KARVE
I am going to tell you about a very intriguing conversation I had with a naughty boy while travelling from Mumbai to Pune on the Deccan Queen last evening.
As I walk towards my seat in the Ladies’ Coach of the Deccan Queen I find a smart boy sitting on my window seat talking to a handsome man sitting on the seat beside him.
“Excuse me,” I say to the man, “this is the ladies’ compartment…”
Before the man can answer, the boy says, “I’m only seven…below 12…I can travel in the ladies compartment…”
“Don’t be rude, Rohan,” the man admonishes the boy, and then he rises from the seat, moves into the aisle, making way for me, and says, “Sorry, Ma’am, I am getting off, I just came to see off my son…is it okay if he sits in the window seat…”
“It is okay,” I say and sit down next to the boy, on the seat by the aisle.
“Actually I was waiting for you to come,” the man says.
“Me...?” I ask, flabbergasted, wondering whether tha man is trying to flirt with me.
“My son…he’s travelling alone…”
“I always travel alone…” the boy interjects.
“Of course, you are a big boy now aren’t you...?” the father says lovingly to his son, then turns towards me and says, “His mother will come to receive him in Pune…I’ve SMSed the coach and seat number to her…and Rohan’s got his cell-phone too…”
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of your son and deliver him safely to his mother,” I assure the man, not wanting to talk to him too much.
“Thanks,” the man says to me, then turns to his son and says affectionately, “Give me a call when you reach…and come next weekend…”
“Of course Papa. I’ll be here to meet you next weekend on Saturday morning…you be here to get me off the Deccan Queen…I’ve got three days holidays…we’ll go off somewhere on an adventure trip…”
“Yes. Yes. I’ll do the bookings…” the man’s words are suddenly interrupted by the guard’s whistle and the train starts moving.
“Bye, Papa,” the boy jumps across me, hugs his father who bends down, kisses his son on the cheek, disengages and quickly moves to the exit, turning once to wave out to his son. The train gradually picks up speed.
Rohan sits down in his seat, takes out his fancy mobile phone, and a pair of earplugs.
My curiosity gets the better of my discretion and I ask the boy, “That’s a real good mobile phone.”
“Yes. It’s cool…the latest…it’s got everything…touch screen…music…internet…”
“Your father gave it to you?”
“Yes. Papa gets me the best…”
“And your mother…”
“Oh, Mama is too good…she loves me so much…takes so much care of me… lets me do whatever I want…oh…before you ask I should tell you…Papa and Mama are divorced…”
“Oh dear, I am so sorry…”
“No. No. It’s okay…I am happy they are divorced…”
“You are happy your parents are divorced...?” I ask aghast, totally astonished and incredulous.
“Yes…for me it is better this way…you know my Mama and Papa now have to share me…they have divided me between them…during the week I stay with Mama in Pune…and I spend the weekends with Papa in Mumbai…”
“But wasn’t it better when you all lived together as one family...?” I ask.
“It was terrible…when we lived together they were just not bothered about me….Mama and Papa were so busy with their office and work and parties and travelling and everything…they just had no time for me…and whatever little time we were together they kept fighting…”
“And now...?”
“After they split my life is just too good…!” the boy says.
“Too good…?” I interrupt, taken aback.
“Yes…after their divorce my life has become real good…I like it this way…now they care for me so much…they never scold me now like they used to before…now both my Mama and Papa pamper me so much…just imagine…I had two birthday parties this year…one by Mama at Pune and one by Papa in Mumbai…”
“Really...? You had two birthday parties...?”
Yes…and now they let me do whatever I want…give me so much time…and presents…they give me whatever I want…they even give me whatever I don’t want…”
“They give you whatever you don’t want…?”
“Now see, Papa has given me this fantastic mobile phone…now Mama will give me even a better one…or maybe some other groovy stuff…it’s like my Mama and Papa are in competition to make me happy…”
“That’s good…you are really lucky…”
“Oh, yes. I am very lucky…but it is funny isn’t it…?
“Funny...? What's funny...?”
“About my Papa and Mama…when they were together they neglected me…and now they when live separated, they pamper me so much…so it is better isn’t it…that they are divorced… at least for me…”
I am still trying to analyze the uncanny truth in the young boy’s topsy-turvy logic.
What type of parenting is this?
First you neglect your children when you are married together, and then, you spoil your kids to glory when you are separated divorced.
Strange isn't it?
And I thought children were “innocent victims” in divorce situations...!
Dear Reader: What do you think...?
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2011
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Did you like this Story?
I am sure you will like the 27 stories in COCKTAIL
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About Vikram Karve
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures(2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories, creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional research papers in journals and edited in-house journals for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for almost 14 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing. Vikram lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramkarve@sify.com
Fiction Short Stories Book
Foodie Book: Appetite for a Stroll
Such children are really innocent victims of the lives they pass. Soon they become more arrogant as they grow old and ready to face their lives.
ReplyDeleteDivorce or a break in a relationship where children are involved is always and will always remain traumatic and leave scars if not handled correctly.Thank you for your contribution to helping some relief with advice.
ReplyDelete@ Colin - trauma - yes, that's the right word for what kids in a divorce feel.
ReplyDelete@ Naveen - arrogance? I thought must be the opposite