WOMAN IN YELLOW

WOMAN IN YELLOW

Short Fiction - A Detective Story

By

VIKRAM KARVE

From my Creative Writing Archives:

Long back, seven years ago, in the year 2006, there was a creative writing competition inviting Fiction Short Stories for Children.

I wrote this story for that competition. 

Though it is a story for children I am sure you will enjoy reading it. 

WOMAN IN YELLOW - a story by Vikram Karve

“Wake up, I am sending you on a mission,” my father said, shaking me off my bed.

 

“Mission!” I jumped out of bed and got ready in a jiffy.

 

My father is a detective and, once in a while, he sends me on undercover assignments. 

My father is the only thing I have got in this world after God took my mother away.

 

“Surveillance?” I asked, as we stood discreetly at the bus stop outside Taraporewala Aquarium on Marine Drive near the Charni Road Railway Station.

 

My father looks at me and says: “Yes. A simple tail-chase. Look to your right; keep your eyes focused on the gate of the working women’s hostel. A woman will come out soon. Follow her, shadow her, like a tail, but very discreetly, and the moment you lose her, ring me up on your mobile.”

 

Suddenly, a tall woman wearing a bright yellow dress appeared at the gate. 

My father gave me a nudge, and then he disappeared.

 

The woman walked towards Charni Road Station.

She crossed the over-bridge to platform No. 2, and waited for the train to Churchgate.

She got into the ladies compartment and I followed her in.

Though I am a boy, I’m still below 12 years of age, and I am allowed to travel in the ladies compartment.

She sat down and I observed her, unseen, standing in the crowd. 

She must have been around 25, maybe 30, and with her smooth fair creamy complexion she looked really smashing in the bright yellow dress.

What was most striking about her was her huge expressive dancing eyes.

 

At Churchgate, she leisurely strolled down the platform, whilst everyone else rushed by.

She browsed at Wheeler’s bookstall, and then stopped at Tibbs, bought a Frankie, and walked towards the underground exit. 

I too love frankies, so I quickly bought one too, and followed her, careful not to be seen.

We both walked, me behind her, munching away, straight down the road towards Nariman Point, till she stopped at the Inox Multiplex.

 

Shit! 

I hoped she wouldn’t go for an Adults movie, but luckily she bought a ticket for ‘Cats & Dogs’ and I followed her in.

 

I really enjoyed the rest of my mission.

She was quite a fun person, and spent the day thoroughly enjoying herself, seeing the sights, browsing books at Flora Fountain, window shopping on Colaba Causeway, sampling street food, eating things I love to eat, doing the things I like to do.

 

It was smooth sailing. 

Then she suddenly stepped into a beauty parlour.

 

Now I needed backup.

So I called up my father.

But he told me to abort the mission and to meet him at our usual favourite place in the vicinity – Stadium Restaurant next to Churchgate station.

“You want me to abort the mission?” I protested.

“Yes,” my Dad ordered, “and come fast to Churchgate…The usual place...I’ll tell you the reason when you get here…”

My father was waiting inside Stadium Reastaurant.

 

He had chosen an inconspicuous table in the middle of the restaurant and he sat facing the entrance.

I sat by his side so I too could have a view of the entrance.

I told him everything.

He listened intently.

 

Suddenly I saw the woman in yellow standing bold as brass at the entrance of the restaurant looking directly at us.

I felt a tremor of trepidation.

The ground slipped beneath my feet.

And when I saw her coming directly towards our table, I tried to hide in my chair and wished the earth would swallow me up.

 

My father smiled at the woman and said, “Hello, Nanda.”

I was stunned.

 

‘Hello Nanda?’ 

This was too much!

I looked at my father, puzzled by his behaviour.

First he sends me after this woman in yellow dress, on a tail-chase, shadowing her all day, and now he says ‘Hello Nanda’...!

 

The lady in the yellow dress with the dancing eyes sat down opposite me, on the seat next to my father.

She looked at me curiously.

 

“You’ve met, haven’t you?” father asked.  

 

“No. I don’t think we have met,” she said, looking at me intently.

 

“No? You’re sure? Try to think. You must have seen him somewhere before,” my father asked her.

“I am sure I have not seen him before. I never forget a face. This is the first time I am seeing him. He’s cute, yes, your son is really cute” she said, looking at me tenderly.

 

My father winked at me in appreciation.

 

But who was this woman, I wondered, so I asked my father, “Who is this aunty...?”

The lovely woman in the bright yellow dress looked lovingly at me with her dancing eyes and said, “Don’t call me aunty. I am going to be your new mother.” 

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?

I am sure you will like the 27 short stories from my recently published anthology of Short Fiction COCKTAIL
To order your COCKTAIL please click any of the links below:
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http://www.apkpublishers.com/books/short-stories/cocktail-by-vikram-karve.html

COCKTAIL ebook

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AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
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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-gw23f9mr2o

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.

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