Long Distance Marriage – Does Absence Make the Heart Grow Fonder...?

Recently – at a wedding reception – I met long-distance marriage couple who had lived apart for most of their married lives – each pursuing their careers – in different continents. 

They had come together to attend the wedding. 

When asked how they managed their long-distance marriage – they “pontificated” the oft-repeated famous saying:

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

This reminded me of a fiction short story on the subject I had written more than 11 years ago in the year 2006 – on this theme of marital relationships in a long distance marriage. 

Does absence really makes the heart grow fonder...? 

Read on... 

DOES ABSENCE REALLY MAKE THE HEART GROW FONDER...?
Short Fiction – Story of a Long Distance Marital Relationship

A Spoof
By
VIKRAM KARVE

At exactly 8 PM at night – her cell-phone rings in her hand. 

She is expecting the call – that’s why she’s holding the cell-phone in her hand. 

She looks at the caller-id – accepts the call – moves the mobile phone near her ear and she says into the cellphone: “I love you, darling...!”

“I love you, Sugar...!” says her husband’s voice from half way around the globe. 

On his bed beside him – sprawled with arms and legs outstretched like a fallen statue – a naked woman is still asleep – her breathing untroubled.

It’s a long distance marriage – and – the “married bachelors” have been following the same drill for quite some time now – two calls every day – at exactly the same time 

At precisely 8 AM in the morning – she calls him up – just before leaving for work. 

And – at 8 PM at night – she receives his call from half-way across the globe – just before he leaves for work. 

And – both of them start their conversation automatically with the same words of endearment: 

She says: “I love you, Darling...!!!”

He says: “I love you, Sugar...!!!” 

He is her “Darling”...!!! 

And – she is his “Sugar”...!!! 

Right now – it is 8 PM for the wife – but it is 8 AM for the husband half-way across the globe. 

He has just woken up after a hectic night of passionate lovemaking with the woman lying in bed beside him – and – the moment he is awake – the first thing he has done is to call up his long-distance wife.

“How was your day...?” the husband asks his wife .

“Hectic. Lot’s of work. Deadlines to meet...!!!” the wife answers. 

She steals a glance at the handsome young man sitting beside her in the darkened lounge bar.

“It’s terrible here too...” the husband says, “It’s killing – the work. Too much travelling. Sales meets, seminars, conferences. One hotel to another. Living out of a suitcase. I’m feeling exhausted...”

It’s true. 

The husband is indeed feeling exhausted – a relaxing, satiating kind of exhaustion. 

He gets up and opens the window. 

He allows the early morning air to cool his body. 

Then he turns around and looks at the marvelous body of the woman on his bed. 

She looks lovelier than ever before. 

As he remembers the ferocity of her lovemaking – he feels waves of desire rise within him. 

Not for a long time has the mere sight of a woman aroused the lion in him to such an extent. 

He smiles to himself. 

He feels proud and elated – it was a grand performance. 

With this woman it was spontaneous lovemaking at its best – not like the planned and contrived “quality” lovemaking with his wife – full of performance anxiety – each performing for the other’s gratification – pretence – charade – putting on an act – both faking pleasure – thinking that the other would not know. 

Suddenly – he hears his wife’s voice. 

“Yes, darling. Poor you. I can understand...” the wife says – and she sips her potent cocktail. 

It’s her third drink of the evening. 

She wonders what it is – the mysterious but deadly intoxicating cocktails her companion is plying her with – and she is feeling gloriously high.

“I am just waiting for this hectic spell of work to be over – so we can meet...” the husband says. 

He sits on the edge of the bed and looks at the sleeping woman. 

Mesmerized. 

Marveling. 

It is difficult to believe that in a few hours from now they – he and the woman –they would be addressing each other formally again.

“Oh, yes. It’s been 3 months – and I am dying to meet you. When are we meeting...?” the wife asks.

“I am planning a fantastic vacation. I’ll let you know soon. We’ll go to some exotic place. Just the two of us. “Quality Time”...!” the husband says to his faraway wife – and at the same time – he looks lasciviously at the gorgeously sexy woman lying so close to him.

“That’s great...!!! We must spend some “Quality Time” together...” the wife says to her distant husband – while she snuggles close against her strikingly handsome colleague. 

He presses his knee against hers. 

She presses hers against his. 

He moves his hand around her over her soft skin and pulls her gently. 

She feels an inchoate desire. 

He gently strokes her hair – and she turns towards him – her mouth partly open – as he leans over her. 

Fuelled by the alcohol in her veins – she can sense the want churning inside her – like fire. 

She looks into her companion’s eyes. 

She feels the intensity of his caresses. 

And – she can sense her resistance melting.

“I love you, “Sugar”...!!!” the husband says.

“I love you, “Darling...!!!” the wife says.

Their lovey-dovey conversation completed – both the long distance spouses disconnect their cell-phones – and they focus on their present objects of affection.

And – with renewed zeal – they carry on the passionate amorous activity – presently in hand. 

After all – a bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

At the beginning of this story – I had quoted a famous saying:

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

Yes – it seems to be true. 

Absence does seem to make the heart grow fonder – for someone else

Or – to put it succinctly – in a long distance marriage: 

Absence makes the heart wander – and grow fonder – for someone else 

Dear Reader: Do you agree...?

VIKRAM KARVE

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Disclaimer:

1. This story is a fictional spoof, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.

2. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories 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.

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This is an Updated and Revised Version of My Story I LOVE YOU written by me Vikram Karve more than 11 years ago in the year 2006 and posted by me online a number of times on my various creative writing blogs including at urls: 

http://creative.sulekha.com/i-love-you-a-short-story-by-vikram-karve_159325_blog  and  http://creative.sulekha.com/long-distance-love_60260_blog   and  http://creativekarve.blogspot.in/2006/07/i-love-you-short-story-by-vikram-karve.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/10/does-absence-really-make-heart-grow.htmland https://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/03/absence-makes-heart-wander-my-favourite.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2011/09/my-favourite-short-stories-part-38.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/12/does-absence-make-heart-grow-fonder.html etc