Blog Fiction Story No. 43
DATING
A Cheeky Romance
By
VIKRAM KARVE
Pune. 10:30
AM. Wednesday. 22 May 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 the phone to my mother-in-law
right now. 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?”
“Date? What
nonsense are you talking?”
“Nonsense? Are
you clueless? You do not know what is dating? Don’t tell me you have never gone
on a date. How about that dinner date you have planned with your husband
tonight? Amod, that’s his name, isn’t it? So you and Amod will be enjoying a
romantic candlelight dinner and your mother-in-law will be looking after your
kids at home like a nanny,” the man says.
“Please.
Listen.”
“No. You
listen. 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 4:30 sharp. 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 date 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 yourself. 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 PVR. 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, “Okay, Swati. Have a Nice 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 the rest of the 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.
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.
NB:
All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2013. All Rights Reserved
Did you like reading this story?
I am sure you will like all the 27 stories in my book COCKTAIL an anthology of Short Fiction.
To order your COCKTAIL please click any of the links below:
http://www.flipkart.com/cocktail-vikram-karve-short-stories-book-81910
http://www.indiaplaza.in/cocktail-vikram-karve/books/9788191091847.htm
http://www.apkpublishers.com/books/short-stories/cocktail-by-vikram-ka
COCKTAIL ebook
If you prefer reading ebooks on Kindle or your ebook reader, please order Cocktail E-book by clicking the links below:
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
SMASHWORDS
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87925
I am sure you will like all the 27 stories in my book COCKTAIL an anthology of Short Fiction.
To order your COCKTAIL please click any of the links below:
http://www.flipkart.com/cocktail-vikram-karve-short-stories-book-81910
http://www.indiaplaza.in/cocktail-vikram-karve/books/9788191091847.htm
http://www.apkpublishers.com/books/short-stories/cocktail-by-vikram-ka
COCKTAIL ebook
If you prefer reading ebooks on Kindle or your ebook reader, please order Cocktail E-book by clicking the links below:
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
SMASHWORDS
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87925
Foodie Book: Appetite for a Stroll
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
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
Twitter: @vikramkarve
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Great work! Would this be a sequel to "Best of both worlds"? I think granparents rights are assuming more importance than ever before. It is exploitation in a way.
ReplyDeleteGreat work! Is this a sequel to "best of both worlds" story. Probabaly grandparents need more rights than they needed at any other point in their lives. It is exploitation in another way. Ver well written, the style is nice and racy, and one could almost imagine the man talking down the phone earpiece.
ReplyDeleteWhy do I think I have already read this once earlier on your blog?
ReplyDelete@ Deepa - Yes, you have :)
ReplyDelete@ DJ - Yes, this looks like a sequel to "Best of Both Worlds" - I am glad you liked the story. Just one thing: "Best of Both Worlds" is happening now, but this story may happen in future
ReplyDelete