LOVE IN UNIFORM
A Navy Love Story
Short Fiction
By
VIKRAM KARVE
Disclaimer:
1. Please read this apocryphal short story only if you have a sense of humour. This is a spoof, pure fiction, a fantasy, a figment of imagination. So first convince yourself that you have a sense of humour and only then read the yarn, take it with a pinch of salt, and have a laugh. And yes, this story is for adults only, so if you are a kid please skip this post and go onto something academic in nature.
2. This story is a work of fiction. The characters and settings do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
NB
1. 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 (all rights reserved)
LOVE IN UNIFORM - a short story
by Vikram Karve
The young woman naval officer, a Lieutenant,
parks her scooter and starts walking to her office in the navy shore establishment,
a stone frigate.
The moment she enters her office, she sees
her boss, the Head of the Education Department, a middle-aged Commander with a
salt and pepper beard.
Like her, he too is a “schoolie” landlubber
in white uniform, though he is 15 years her senior and the senior-most
Education Officer on the base.
The Commander (Ed) says anxiously: “Put on
your peak cap and come with me fast. The Old Man wants to see you immediately.”
The “Old Man” – their Commanding Officer, a Commodore,
looks at them sternly.
They see that the Commodore is furious – he does
not return their salute.
Also, he does not ask them to sit down.
The Commodore gets straight to the point.
He looks at the young lady naval officer and
asks her, “Where the hell were you last evening?”
“Sir…Sir…” she stutters.
“Come on, speak up – I haven’t got all day,”
the Commodore shouts.
“Sir, I had gone for a movie,” she says.
“I know – at Eros – I was sitting right
behind you,” the Commodore says.
“Sorry Sir – I didn’t see you – otherwise I
would have surely wished you,” she says.
“Don’t give me bullshit – I care two hoots
whether you wish me or not. I want to know who was that man sitting right next
to you – the bugger with whom you were indulging in a disgusting public display
of affection – they call it PDA – don’t they?” the Commodore says.
“Yes, Sir – they call it PDA - public display
of affection,” the Commander (Ed) says.
“You shut up. I didn’t ask you,” the
Commodore scowls at the Schoolie Commander, who starts trembling inside.
The Commodore looks at the young woman Lieutenant
and barks out loudly, “Speak up, will you?”
“Sir, he is a friend,” the woman naval
officer says.
“Friend? My bloody foot! The bugger is a
sailor,” the Commodore shouts.
“Sir, he is a Chief ERA …”
“I know he is a bloody ERA. He was on the
last ship I commanded.”
“Sir, he is Chief Petty Officer,” the lady
navy officer says.
“So? That doesn’t make an officer, does it?
Now you listen to me clearly – I won’t have my officers shacking up with sailors…”
the Commodore bellows – he seems livid with anger.
The Commander (Ed) is perturbed at the
Commodore’s profane language, so he says: “Sir, I will counsel her…”
“I told you to shut your bloody trap, didn’t
I?” the Commodore barks at the Commander (Ed).
Then the Commodore looks at the young lady
navy officer and asks her, “How do you know this guy?”
“Sir, we are childhood friends,” she says.
“You are childhood friends with a sailor? How
is that possible?”
“Sir, we were neighbours, we went to the same
school – he was my elder brother’s classmate. And our fathers were good friends
– they were from the same hometown. Sir, our fathers were in the navy,” she
says.
“Your fathers were officers in the navy?”
“No Sir – they retired as Master Chief Petty
Officers,” the woman navy officer says.
“Oh. So you became an officer and he joined
as an ERA,” the Commodore says, “Why the hell didn’t he become an officer?”
“Sir, he tried for the NDA after school but
couldn’t make it – but he was selected as an artificer apprentice. His father
was retiring that year and told him to join as an apprentice – his father was
in a hurry for him to join and settle down in life.”
“And you did your graduation and joined the
navy as a bloody schoolie?”
“Yes, Sir,” the lady naval officer says.
“Anyway, call it fate, call it luck – but remember
one thing – you are an officer and you cannot fraternize with sailors. Is that
clear?” the Commodore says.
“Sir, he plans to quit the navy and join the
merchant navy as a marine engineer officer.”
“And when the hell is that going to happen?”
“After 5 years, Sir, the moment he finishes
his 15 year contract,” the woman naval officer says.
“That’s a long way off. Now you listen to me
carefully – as long as you are an officer and he is a sailor in the navy, you
are not to meet him or maintain contact with him in any way – you are not to
have any sort of relationship or friendship with him – is that clear?” the
Commodore says firmly.
“Sir, please sir – he is more than a friend –
we are thinking of getting married,” the lady naval officer says.
“You want to get married to a sailor? Are you
bloody crazy? I hope he is not screwing you – that’s the last bloody thing we
want – officers and sailors fornicating with each other!” the Commodore yells.
“Sir, please don’t use such foul language…”
“Oh! So you don’t like foul language. Okay, young
lady – I will talk to you in plain and simple language that you can understand.
Now listen carefully – if you don’t do as I say – if you meet that sailor again
– you will be in deep trouble – we will throw the book at you,” the Commodore
says menacingly.
“Throw the book at me, Sir?” the lady naval
officer asks.
“The Navy Act – I suggest you buy a copy –
it’s available at any bookstore which sells law books. Of course, there may be
a copy in our library too. And make sure you read Chapter VIII – Articles of
War.”
“Articles of War? Sir, but there is no war
going on.”
“The Articles of War are a set of regulations
– the statutory provisions in the Navy Act that regulate and govern the conduct
and behaviour of officers and sailors of the navy – and since you are in the
navy, they apply to you too – and also to that high-and-mighty Chief Petty
Officer – that bloody boyfriend of yours. We’ll see to it that both of you are
punished severely.”
“Sir, but what have we done wrong? And what
is his fault? I don’t want you to harm him.”
“I told you, didn’t I? You both are guilty of
fraternization – so we will charge you both – and both of you are likely to
face court-martial.”
“Court-martial? Sir, please. You are talking
as if we have broken the law, as if we have committed some grave offence.”
“Of course, you have committed an offence.”
“Offence? What offence have we committed, Sir?
We are just seeing each other. With what offence can you charge us?”
“We can always charge you with the “catch-all
offence” – you will be charged with conduct prejudicial to good order and naval
discipline – both of you – under Section 74 of the Navy Act.”
“How is our conduct prejudicial to good order
and naval discipline? You’ll charge us with breaking discipline just because we
went out together on a date?”
“Yes. You are an officer and he is a sailor –
you must respect the difference in your ranks. You are breaking discipline by
fraternizing with a sailor and not respecting the difference in rank. An officer engaging in an unduly familiar
relationship with a sailor is prejudicial to good order and naval discipline
and is unacceptable behaviour. It is just not done. It is gross indiscipline. Do
you understand?”
“Sir, it is our personal life. We see each
other when we are off-duty – and we meet outside in civilian areas. So how are
we breaking discipline?”
“There is no personal life once you join the
navy. You better fall in line and behave or you both will be charged and
punished – and for you there is one more thing.”
“What, Sir?”
“Since you are an officer, you will be also
charged with scandalous conduct unbecoming the character of an officer.”
“Scandalous? Conduct unbecoming the character
of an officer?”
“Yes, conduct unbecoming of an officer. That’s
section 54 (2) – go and check it up. I told you we’ll throw the book at you if
you don’t behave yourself.”
The Commodore looks at the Schoolie Commander
and says, “As for you, if you don’t stop her from continuing this nonsense, we’ll
charge you with abetment of all the offences she is committing – and you can
say good bye to your career.”
“Abetment?” the flabbergasted Schoolie Commander
asks.
“Go and read Section 76 – I assure you that
if this hanky-panky doesn’t stop immediately – all of you will be in big
trouble – especially you, young lady,” the Commodore says, turning to the young
woman naval officer and repeating his last words, “yes, especially you, Lieutenant
– you will be in real deep trouble – they may even throw you out of the navy
with disgrace.”
While the Commodore commanding the stone
frigate is reading the riot act to the young woman naval officer, the Captain
of the frigate (the ship on which the young woman’s lover, the Chief Petty
Officer, is borne) is acting with dispatch.
Before he realizes what is happening, the
hapless sailor is instantly transferred to a ship headed east, to be dropped
off to his new duty station on a desolate island.
Next morning the young lady naval officer is
on her way to take up her new appointment as the Education Officer of a small
naval base in a remote place in the back of beyond.
Hopefully, distance will make their ardour cool
off.
In true naval style, an awkward problem has
been neatly solved.
The lovers have been separated. A messy court
martial has been avoided. And navy customs and traditions have been upheld.
As she sits in the speeding train heading towards
her new destination, the heartbroken young woman naval officer remembers the consoling
words of her ex-boss, the Schoolie Commander, who had come to see her off at
the railway station: “The Navy is a System and you should never fight against
the system – because the system always wins!”
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this book review.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Disclaimer:
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.
NB:
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 (all rights reserved)
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Did you like this story?
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If your are a Foodie you will like my book of Food Adventures APPETITE FOR A STROLL. Do order a copy from FLIPKART:
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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: vikramkarve@hotmail.com
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: vikramkarve@hotmail.com
Twitter: @vikramkarve
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
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