VERY GOOD VERY GOOD
An Apocryphal Naval Yarn
By
VIKRAM KARVE
Humour can do wonders. Genuine humor can dissipate anger and dissolve grief.
Here is a story, maybe apocryphal, narrated to me long back by one of my course-mates.
The Executive Officer (XO) of his ship was quite a character. A cheerful, jovial, absent-minded guy who was obsessed with solving crossword-puzzles and whose favourite words were “very good, very good”.
In the Navy, when your senior gave you an order you said: “aye aye, sir” and when your junior made you a report you said: “very good” and since the XO received lots of reports he seemed to have developed the habit of saying “very good very good”.
One day an officer brought a sad faced sailor to see him. It was just after breakfast, and the XO was sitting in the wardroom busy with his Times of India Crossword Puzzle.
The officer gestured towards the sailor said: “Sir, we have just received a telegram that his mother has died.”
“Very Good Very Good,” the XO said instinctively without even looking up from the newspaper and continued with his crossword puzzle.
There was stunned silence.
Then, after a moment, the XO paused, put down the newspaper, looked up at the sailor and said: “Your mother died? Very Bad Very Bad.”
And everyone, including the bereaved sailor, burst out laughing.
Then, as always, the XO, who everyone knew was a most compassionate and genuine man, did everything possible to help out the sailor to mitigate his personal grief.
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2012
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.
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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 he is currently working on his novel. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles in magazines and journals for many years before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for almost 15 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., all rights reserved.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Multitasking can become risky sometimes !
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