“ IN FLAGRANTE DELICTO ” : My entry for the Get Published contest

“This is my entry for the HarperCollins–IndiBlogger Get Published contest, which is run with inputs from Yashodhara Lal and HarperCollins India.

“ IN FLAGRANTE DELICTO ” :  My entry for the Get Published contest

THE STORY IDEA

Lieutenant Anand assumes that he will be applauded and commended for being a “knight in shining armour” who has rescued a “damsel in distress”.

Instead he is castigated and condemned to a court martial, accused of “stealing the affections of a brother officer’s wife” and charged with “conduct to the prejudice of good order and naval discipline” and “moral turpitude due to conduct unbecoming of an officer”.

Lieutenant Anand is devastated. His dreams of a successful naval career are shattered. His chivalry has cost him dear. If he is not able to prove his innocence at the court martial he will surely be thrown out of the navy – dismissed with disgrace.  

Things look grim for Lieutenant Anand.

The evidence is stacked against him – after all, he was caught “red-handed” in flagrante delicto with Natasha, the Navigator’s wife.

The lecherous Captain is out to destroy him – the Captain is furious at Lieutenant Anand for daring to thwart his lascivious desires.

And to make matters worse, the prosecutor in his Court Martial is his ex-flame, the green-eyed beauty Lieutenant Tanya, a Lady Naval Officer in the JAG Branch, who had vowed to seek revenge when he had unceremoniously dumped her six months ago.

As Lieutenant Anand lies on his bunk in self commiseration his thoughts go into a tizzy.

Will Natasha save him even if it jeopardizes her marriage and her husband’s career?

Or should he make a deal with Tanya?

What Makes This Story ‘Real’

India’s Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force) have modernized technologically with great fanfare. Yet the archaic mores and morals of the services continue to remain outdated and antiquated as if trapped in a time warp of the colonial past. In an age when women serve alongside men and society has become liberal, why are relics of the Raj like the rigid social system and Victorian culture still prevalent in today’s armed forces?  Is it not time to change this outdated thinking and be more progressive in tune with modern times?

This story is “an inspired from real-life love story” that explores changing dynamics of relationships in the modern-day navy.

EXTRACT

“Stealing the affections of a brother officer’s wife?” the Admiral thundered.

“I am innocent, Sir,” Lieutenant Anand pleaded.

“Shut up! You were caught red-handed – in flagrante delicto. It is an open and shut case. You are accused of stealing the affections of Lieutenant Kumar’s wife.”

“That’s not true, Sir. In fact, it was she who tried to steal my affections.”

“Are you some sort of crazy bugger? How can she steal your affections? Tomorrow you will say that women rape men. You are up the shit creek, so listen to me and plead guilty and we will let you resign and leave quietly. I don’t want a bloody tamasha of a court martial which will tarnish the entire image of the navy.”

“I am innocent, Sir. Please hear my out. Let me tell you the full story.”

“The full story? Well, that you can tell the court martial.”

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.

This is my entry for the HarperCollins–IndiBlogger Get Published contest, which is run with inputs fromYashodhara Lal and HarperCollins India.

“This is my entry for the HarperCollins–IndiBlogger Get Published contest, which is run with inputs from Yashodhara Lal and HarperCollins India.