WOMAN IN RED DRESS

WOMAN IN RED DRESS

Short Fiction – A Love Story

By

VIKRAM KARVE

 

From my Creative Writing Archives: 

Here is one of my recent short stories – WOMAN IN RED DRESS

I wrote this story 6 years ago – in the year 2009. 

By the way – this is FICTION – my imagination running wild – as always.

Do tell me if you liked the story

WOMAN IN RED DRESS – A Love Story by Vikram Karve

For those who have been lucky to have a love marriage – there is an important day to celebrate called “wedding anniversary”.

For me and my wife – surviving one of those quintessential loveless arranged marriages – our “wedding anniversary” is “just another day”.

That is why – instead of romancing each other over candlelight dinner – my wife and I are browsing books at the bookstore.

Suddenly my wife says to me, “Arun, look...!”

“Where?” I ask.

“There, near the window – look at the woman in the red dress,” my wife says, pointing her hand.

I look at the woman in the red dress.

“Don’t you know who she is?” my wife asks excitedly.

“No,” I say.

“She is Nisha – the famous romantic author,” my wife says ardently.

“I have never heard of her,” I say nonchalantly.

“You come with me,” my wife says.

I follow her towards the bestseller rack near the entrance.

My wife she pulls out a paperback from the shelf – and shows me the photo of the woman in the red dress on the back-cover.

“Yes – it is her,” I say, “now let’s go home.”

“Come on, Arun – let’s meet her and get her autograph on this book…” my wife says.

“No…” I interrupt, “she’s browsing – and she is a celebrity – she won’t like to be disturbed – let’s go…” I say – and I turn towards the exit.

“Please…” my wife says.

“No – you don’t give these authors too much importance – let’s go home…” I say irritably, motioning my wife with my eyes.

“You go. I am going to get her autograph on this book,” my wife says – and she starts walking towards the woman in red who is still absorbed nose deep into browsing the book in her hand.

I turn and I quietly walk into the philosophy section and browse books.

After a while – my wife comes – and she says to me, “She wants to meet you…”

“Who?”

“Nisha – the author – she wants to meet you.”

“But I don’t want to…”

“Hi Arun – remember me?” the woman in the red dress says – suddenly appearing in front of me.

I am terrified, struck dumb, speechless. 

I shiver in trepidation as I stare at the woman in red dress standing in front of me.

“Arun and me had a real good time together in college – we were going steady for a long time – your husband and me we were very close once upon a time...” the woman in the red dress says to my wife.

My wife looks confused.

I remain silent.

Then – the woman in red dress looks at me – and she says, “Do you remember what all we did – the great fun we had together – those intimate moments – don’t you remember, Arun – or have you forgotten?”

I avert my eyes and look down at me feet – and I wish the earth below me would split and swallow me up.

“Hey Arun darling – I am sure you have told your wife all about us – or haven’t you...?” the woman in the red dress says loudly – digging her fangs into me like a snake.

Seeing the horror-struck expression on my face – the woman in the red dress turns and she speaks to my wife, “I am really sorry – but I thought there was no place for secrets between husband and wife. I thought Arun would have told you about me….”

My wife looks at the woman in red dress defiantly, directly into her eyes – and then my wife emphatically says to her, “Of course Arun has told me everything about you. Yes – Nisha – I know everything about you and Arun. He has told me every single thing. Like you said – there is no place for secrets between husband and wife – my husband has told me everything about his past – including about you.” 

Then – my wife turns to me – and she says, “shall we go home, Arun ?”

Mesmerized, awestruck – I look at my wife.

For the first time in my life – I feel a flood of love for my wife.

That is the moment I fall in love with my wife.

VIKRAM KARVE

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Disclaimer:

This story is a work of fiction.  Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the story are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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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)

Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)

This story was written by me Vikram Karve in the year 2009 and posted online earlier by me in my creative writing blogs a number of times including at urls: http://creative.sulekha.com/how-i-fell-in-love-with-my-wife_74054_blog  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2011/09/my-favourite-short-stories-part-34.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/01/do-you-remember-moment-when-you-fell-in.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/10/can-there-be-love-in-arranged-marriage.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/05/why-i-love-my-wife-blog-fiction-story.html