Dating and Mating – A Passionate Love Story

I wrote this story 11 years ago – on the 1^st of April 2006 – April Fool’s Day (also known as All Fools’ Day) – and called it DATING AND MATING

This story features in COCKTAIL – my book of short stories about realtionships.

Dear Reader – Let me post the story once again for you to read and enjoy...

DATING AND MATING 

Fiction Short Story – A Passionate Romance

By 

VIKRAM KARVE

I am busy working in my office on the morning of the First of April – when my cell phone rings. 

It is Sudha – my next door neighbour – so I take the call. 

“Vijay – you lucky dog – your life is made...” Sudha says excitedly.

“Lucky Dog...? Please, Sudha – I am busy...” I say, a trifle irritated.

“Don’t switch off your cell phone,” Sudha says, “you are going to get a very important phone call.”

“Important call...?”

“Yes – you just wait for a most important call – from the hottest and most eligible woman in town,” Sudha says with exuberance, “She has fallen head over heels for you, Vijay. She wants to date you.”

“Hottest woman in town...? She wants to date me...? Who is this woman...?”

“My boss.”

“Your boss...?”

“Come on, Vijay – I told you – didn’t I – about the chic Miss Hoity Toity – who joined last week…?”

Suddenly it dawns on me – and I say to Sudha: “Happy April Fools Day…”

“Hey, seriously, Vijay – I swear it is not an April Fools’ Day prank. She is really going to ring you up…she desperately wants to meet you…”

“She desperately wants to meet me...? I don’t even know her – I haven’t even seen her…”

“But she has seen you…”

“She has seen me…? Where…?”

“Jogging around the Oval Maidan – I think she is stalking you…”

“Stalking me…?”

“She knows everything about you – your routine – where you stay – she knows that you are my neighbour – so she called me to her office and asked for your mobile number.”

“I have told you not to give my number to anyone…”

“I told her that – but she said it was very urgent. I think she wants to come over in the evening…”

“This evening…?... I am switching off my mobile…”

“No you don’t do that please. I am sure that you will like her – she is “your type”…”

“She is “my type”...? What do you mean by that...? Sudha please…”

“Bye, Vijay – I don’t want to keep your mobile busy. She will be calling any time now. Remember – her name is Nisha…All the Best…” Sudha cuts off the phone.

As I wait for the mysterious woman’s call – let me tell you’re a bit about Sudha. 

Ever since she dumped me and married that suave, slimy, effeminate, ingratiating sissy Suhas – Sudha probably felt so guilt ridden – that she had taken upon herself the responsibility for getting me married.

Sudha was my neighbour – the girl next door – my childhood friend, playmate, classmate, soul-mate, confidante and constant companion. 

I assumed we would get married – but she suddenly fell for Suhas – who she met at a training seminar.

I hated Suhas – he was one of those glib, smooth-talking, street-smart, slick characters that adorn the corporate world – a clean-shaven, soft-spoken, genteel, elegantly groomed metrosexual type with an almost feminine voice and carefully cultivated mannerisms – as if he had been trained in a finishing school.

At first – I was devastated and I could not understand why Sudha had betrayed me. 

But when Sudha gently explained to me that she always saw me as a friend and never as a husband – I understood and maintained cordial relations with her – though I loathed her husband Suhas – who had shamelessly moved into her spacious apartment after relocating from Delhi to Mumbai.

Probably – Sudha thought I had remained unmarried because of her (which may have been true to an extent) 

So in order to allay her guilt conscience – she kept on setting up dates for me – hoping for the best. 

Suddenly – I hear my mobile phone ring.

The ring of my cell-phone interrupts my train of thoughts.

“Mr. Vijay…?” asks a sweet mellifluous feminine voice.

“Yes. This is Vijay...” I say my heartbeat slightly increasing.

“Nisha here...” she says, “Is it a good time to talk.”

“Of course...” I say.

“I want to meet you. Is it okay if I come over to your place this evening…?”

(Wow – she comes to the point pretty fast isn’t it...?)

“Today evening…?” I blurt out – a bit incredulous.

“It’s a bit urgent...” she says.

“Sure. You are most welcome...” I stammer recovering my wits.

“Let’s meet at 6:30 PM – before you go for your jog at the Oval – or maybe later – after you return – or maybe we can meet up at the Oval Maidan itself…”

I am truly stunned.

This Nisha is indeed stalking me.

She wants to meet up at the Oval – as brazen as that…!!!

I have never experienced such blatant propositioning.

Tocsins sound in my brain.

“Mr. Vijay…?” I hear Nisha’s soft voice in the cell-phone earpiece.

“Yes, Yes – 6:30 is absolutely fine. I’ll wait for you in my house. You know the place…?” I stutter recovering my wits.

“Yes, I know your place,” Nisha says, “I’ll be there at six-thirty...” 

And – she disconnects.

I go home early, shower, deodorize, groom, titivate, put on my best shirt – and – I wait in eager anticipation for this mysterious woman who is coming onto me so heavily.

Precisely at 6:15 PM the bell rings. 

I open the door.

“Hi, I’m Nisha...” the stunningly attractive woman in front of me says.

Sudha was right – Nisha is certainly very hot – and – yes – Nisha is indeed “my type” of woman.

“I’m sorry – I’m a bit early – but I noticed you were in – I saw your car below…” Nisha says.

She “noticed I was in”...?

My, My...!!!

And – she knows my car – about my daily jogs around the Oval – my routine – this Nisha – she knows everything – she’s really hot on my trail – isn’t she...?

I look at her. 

She comes closer towards me.

She looks and smells natural. 

No attempt to camouflage her raw steamy physical self behind a synthetic mask of make-up and artificial deodorants.

Her persona is tantalizingly inviting and temptingly desirable – her tight-fitting pink T-shirt tucked into hip hugging dark blue jeans accentuate the curves of her exquisite body – and she radiates a captivating aura – an extraordinary magnetic attraction that I have never experienced before.

I cannot take my eyes off her, her gorgeous face, her beautiful eyes, her lush skin – so I feast my eyes on her – let my eyes travel all over her shapely body.

The frank admiration in my eyes wins a smile. 

She lets her eyes hold mine.

“Aren’t you going to ask me to come in...?” she smiles, as if reading my mind.

“Oh, yes, sorry – please come in...” I say, embarrassed at having eyed her so openly.

I guide her to the sofa – and I sit as near her as is politely possible.

We sit on the sofa. 

She looks terribly attractive – and – very very desirable.

Our closeness envelops us in a stimulating kind of intimacy.

Overwhelmed by passion – I inch towards her.

She too comes closer to me.

I sense the beginnings of an experience that I have dreamt about in my fantasies.

  

“Actually, I have come for mating...” she says.

“Mating…?” I exclaim instinctively, totally shocked, stunned beyond belief.

I look at her. 

I feel tremendously excited – yet frightened, baffled, perplexed.

I wonder what to do – how to make my move towards “mating”...

The improbability of the situation makes me incredulous and bewildered.

I notice her eyes search the drawing room.

Then – Nisha looks at the bedroom door – and – she asks me: “Where is your daughter...?”

“Daughter...? I’m not married...” I say, completely taken aback.

“I know,” she says, “I’m talking about your lovely dog – or rather – your bitch…” she laughs tongue-in-cheek.

“I have locked her inside. She is not very friendly...” I say.

“I know. Hounds do not like strangers – but you don’t worry – soon I won’t be a stranger…” Nisha says – and – she gets up and begins walking towards the closed bedroom door.

“Please,” I say anxiously, “Angel is very ferocious and aggressive...”

“You named her “Angel” – what a lovely name...” Nisha says, “I have been seeing you two jogging and playing at the Oval. That’s why I have come here – to see your beautiful hound Angel…” 

And then – Nisha opens the bedroom door.

Angel looks suspiciously as Nisha enters the bedroom. 

But Nisha extends her hand towards Angel – to pat her on the head. 

Angel growls at Nisha menacingly – her tail becomes stiff – and the hackles on her back stiffen – since – like most Caravan Hounds – Angel does not like to be touched or handled by anyone other than me – her “Master”...

“Please – Please…” I plead to Nisha – but Nisha moves ahead undaunted – and she caresses Angel’s neck. 

Suddenly – there is a noticeable metamorphosis in the hound’s body language as the dog recognizes the true dog lover. 

All of a sudden – Angel licks Nisha’s hand – wags her tail and jumps lovingly at Nisha – who embraces her.

I am really surprised at the way Nisha is hugging and caressing Angel – since not even the most ardent of dog lovers would dare to fondle and take liberties with a ferocious Caravan Hound.

“She’s ideal for Bruno. They’ll love each other...” Nisha says, cuddling Angel.

“Bruno...?”

“My handsome boy Bruno – I was desperately looking for a “mate” for Bruno – and then I saw Angel – they are ideally suited for each other – a perfect “made for each other” couple...” 

(“Bloody Hell...” I say to myself, “so this was the “mating” she was talking about...!!!” And – I was letting my imagination run wild about “dating and mating” with her...)

I interrupt my train train of thoughts – and I say to Nisha: “You’ve got a hound...?”

“A Mudhol...” she says.

“Mudhol...?”

“Exactly like your Angel...”

“But Angel is a Caravan Hound...”

“It’s the same – a Caravan Hound is the same as a Mudhol Hound – in fact – the actual name is Mudhol…”

“I don’t think so...”

“Bet..?”

“Okay...”

“Dinner at the place of my choice...”

“Done...”

“Let’s go...”

“Where...?”

“To my place...”

“To your place...?”

“To meet Bruno – doesn’t Angel want to meet him...?” she asks.

“Of course – me too...” I say.

And so – the three of us – Nisha, Angel and I – we drove down to Nisha’s home on Malabar Hill. 

The moment we opened the door – Bruno rushed to welcome Nisha. 

Then – Bruno gave Angel a tentative look.

For an instant – both the hounds stared menacingly at each other. 

Bruno gave a low growl – then extended his nose to scent – and – Angel melted – it was “love at first sight”...

Nisha won the bet. 

We surfed the internet – we cross-checked in libraries.

She was right. 

Mudhol Hound is the same as Caravan Hound – but not the same as a Rampur, Rajapalyam or Chippiparai Hound.

But – that’s another story.

Here is what happened to our “Dating and Mating” Story.

As per our bet – I took Nisha out to dinner – a sumptuous Butter Chicken and Tandoori affair at Gaylord’s. 

And while we were thoroughly enjoying our food – suddenly – out of the blue – Sudha and her husband landed up there. 

They sat on the neighbouring table – and the way Sudha gave me canny looks – I wondered if it was a “contrived” coincidence.

Angel and Bruno had a successful “mating”.

Nisha and Bruno would visit my pregnant girl every day. 

And then – on D-Day – Nisha stayed through the night to egg on Angel in her whelping.

Angel gave birth to four cute little puppies.

Every day – the “doggie” parents (Angel and Bruno) – and – the “human” grandparents (Nisha and I) – we would spend hours together – doting on the little ones.

Since Nisha and I could not agree as to who should take which puppy – we solved the problem by getting married. 

It was strictly a marriage of convenience – but Sudha – her aim achieved – tells me that Nisha and I are the most rocking couple – and – we seem madly in love.

And so – now – we all live together as one big happy family – ours, theirs, mine and hers.

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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This is a revised version of my story DATING AND MATING written by me in the year 2006 and posted online earlier a number of times in my blogs including at url: http://vikramwamankarve.blogspot.in/2009/05/passionate-dating-mating-story.html  and   http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2010/07/perfect-match-short-fiction-romance.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/01/dating-and-mating-love-story.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2011/11/my-favourite-short-stories-part-70.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/04/dating-and-mating-my-favourite-short.html  and  https://karve.wordpress.com/2009/05/18/dating-mating-game/  etc