14 February 2013
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY
A
Short Story
By
VIKRAM KARVE
Pune.
10:30 AM. Thursday. 14 February 2013.
A
mobile cell phone vibrates on the office table. It is on silent mode.
The
smart young woman executive looks at the display of her cell phone.
It is
her mother-in-law calling.
At
first the young woman is confused, then a bit worried.
She wonders
why her mother-in-law is calling at this hour.
So the
smart young woman picks up the mobile phone.
“Yes,
Ma,” the young woman says.
“Am I
speaking to Swati?” a male voice asks.
“Who
is this?” the puzzled woman asks.
“Am I
speaking to Swati?” the man repeats the question.
“Yes.
I am Swati. But this is my mother-in-law’s number.”
“I
know. I am speaking from Shanta’s phone. Your mother-in-law’s name is Shanta,
isn’t it?”
“Yes.
Her name is Shanta. Where is she? Please give her the phone. Is something
wrong?”
“Don’t
worry. Shanta is absolutely fine. She told me to call you up and tell you that
she won’t be picking up your son Aditya from school this afternoon so you will
have to pick him up. The school ends at 12:30 so make sure you are there in
time.”
“She
won’t be able to pick Aditya up … why … what happened … where is she …?”
“Don’t
worry. Shanta is absolutely okay. She is here with me at the ESquare Multiplex.
We are going to see a movie – the 11 o’clock show. The movie may finish by 1 or
maybe even 1:30. That’s why she won’t be able to make it to the school by
12:30.”
“Esquare?
Movie? What’s all this? Who are you? You please give my mother-in-law the
phone. I want to talk to her.”
“She
has gone to the ladies toilet to freshen up. Anyway I have passed on her
message to you. Bye.”
“No,
wait. Who are you?”
“I am
Shanta’s boyfriend.”
“Is
this some kind of sick joke? I will report …”
“Go
ahead and report to whoever you want. I have nothing to fear. I have not
kidnapped your mother-in-law. We are just watching a movie together. Can’t a
girlfriend and boyfriend have a date on Valentine’s Day?”
“Date?
Valentine’s Day? What nonsense are you talking?”
“Nonsense? Today is the 14th of February, isn’t it? And don’t tell me you have forgotten about that Valentine’s Day date you have planned with your husband? Amod, that’s his name, isn’t it? So you and Amod will be celebrating Valentine’s Day with a romantic candlelight dinner and your mother-in-law will be looking after your kids at home like a nanny,” the man says, and then, as if remembering something, he adds, “Ah. I almost forgot. There is one more thing Shanta told me to tell you.”
“Nonsense? Today is the 14th of February, isn’t it? And don’t tell me you have forgotten about that Valentine’s Day date you have planned with your husband? Amod, that’s his name, isn’t it? So you and Amod will be celebrating Valentine’s Day with a romantic candlelight dinner and your mother-in-law will be looking after your kids at home like a nanny,” the man says, and then, as if remembering something, he adds, “Ah. I almost forgot. There is one more thing Shanta told me to tell you.”
“What?”
“You
better be home when Anjali comes home from school. Her bus reaches at 3:30. And
don’t forget to take Anjali for her skating practice at 5. And you will have to
take Aditya for his Karate class at 4 too. I think you better take the day off.
Make sure you leave your office at 11:30 so you reach Aditya’s school in time.
It’s quite a long drive from Hinjewadi to Aundh and you know how bad the
traffic is.”
“Please
stop this. I am very busy today. I have got an important meeting with a client at
12. Then there is a project review meeting at 3 and it will continue till late
evening. I have to be in office. I just can’t come.”
“Then
maybe you can tell your husband …”
“He
works in Magarpatta. You know how far that is. And Amod told me that he has a
very tight schedule today. We are both very busy at work. By the time we reach
home in the evening it is past 7.”
“Ah, I
almost forgot.”
“What?”
“You
two better cancel that romantic candle light dinner tonight.”
“Why?”
“Because,
after the movie, we are going out for a lunch date, and then I am taking Shanta
for a long drive to Lonavala. I want to show her all the spots, a romantic
sunset and then we’ll be spending the evening at my farmhouse. I’ll drop her
back at night. And don’t panic if she doesn’t come at night – if it gets too
late we will sleepover at the farmhouse and I’ll drop her in the morning.”
“Are
you crazy? How is that possible? Please give the phone to my mother-in-law the
moment she comes. I want to talk to her.”
“No. I
don’t think that is a good idea. Shanta is scared of you. You may bully her or
emotionally blackmail her into cancelling all our plans. I don’t want Shanta to
talk to you. So I am passing on her message. You better learn to look after
your own kids. And manage your own domestic affairs. At least for one day.”
“Listen.
You please ask my mother-in-law to call me the moment she comes. I have to
speak to her.”
“No. I
am switching of the phone. So don’t keep calling. We are going in for the movie
now.”
“I
have to talk to her. If you don’t let me speak to her I will come to ESquare …”
“Maybe
we are not in ESquare. Maybe we are at Inox. Or City Pride. Or maybe we are somewhere
else. It is just a red herring, so don’t go on a wild goose chase. You just
look after your children for today – and don’t worry – your mother-in-law is in
safe hands with me and I will drop her home safe and sound.”
“Where
is she? I want to …”
“Bye.
Take Care.”
“Please
…” a desperate Swati pleads.
But
the man interrupts her and says, “Swati, have a Happy Valentine’s Day – tell your
husband also.”
And
then the man switches off the mobile phone.
He
gives the cell phone to Shanta sitting next to him in the car. She puts the
phone in her purse.
For
some time they sit in silence in the parked car.
Then
the man takes out his mobile phone from his pocket and searches for a number.
The
man gives the cell phone to Shanta and he says to her: “Now you dial that
number and speak to my daughter-in-law and tell her what I told you to say.
Then we will plan how to spend our Valentine’s Day.”
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2013
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 and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) 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 an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and 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 and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve 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: vikramwamankarve@gmail.com
If your are a Foodie you will like my book of Food Adventures APPETITE FOR A STROLL. Do order a copy from FLIPKART:
http://www.flipkart.com/appetite-stroll-vikram-karve/8190690094-gw23f9
About Vikram Karve
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) 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 an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and 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 and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve 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: vikramwamankarve@gmail.com
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Loved it! Was classic. With a serious post I might have wondered if the entire setup was only the DIL or a mutual arrangement, but with this story and the humor interlaced :D It was too good! Especially the ending!
ReplyDeletePS: If you have moderation turned on and anyway reject/approve comments, then a request to please turn of word verification. It's very bothersome to genuine commenters. If you need to, you can even turn off Anonymous commenting - that way you avoid spammers too!
ReplyDeleteThat is a sweet one. Actually right now a days the grandmoms and grandads have become nanny's for the working couple who want to be free of their duties towards their kids.
ReplyDeleteHi Deepa,
ReplyDeleteI am glad you liked the story.
I did turn off word verification but was inundated with spam (including from non-anonymous users).
I just don't know what to do.
Any tips?
Regards
Vikram
Thanks Ashwini . Yes, grandparents have become de facto nannies (but then, "nannies" have a life too)
ReplyDeleteLoved it!!! Very well narrated even... Happy Valentine's to u ! :)
ReplyDeleteWhy call just their DILs, why not their sons!
ReplyDelete@ Bhumika - Good Point. Maybe it is because women communicate better.
ReplyDeleteHi Pranita:
ReplyDeleteI am glad you liked the story. Thanks for the wishes. I hope you had a good valentine's day.
Regards
Vikram