NAUGHTY DATE AT CHURCHGATE
Story of a “bored” wife seeking “excitement”
Flirty Romance
By
VIKRAM KARVE
Dear Reader:
Are you a “bored” wife seeking some “excitement”...?
Let me try to banish your boredom – and to do that I will delve into my Creative Writing Archives and pull out this breezy romance for you.
I wrote this story 13 years ago – in the year 2004 – during my glorious Mumbai days.
I spent six of the best years of my life in Mumbai.
I was very lucky – I lived in a beautiful heritage building called Empress Court opposite the Oval.
Every morning – I woke up sharp at six to the chimes of the majestic clock on the University of Mumbai Rajabai Tower – and I would be off to Marine Drive for my brisk morning jog-cum-walk from Churchgate to Chowpatty – and back – right till land’s end – at Nariman Point.
This was for physical exercise.
For mental relaxation – in the evenings – I would go on a leisurely walk on Marine Drive – or on Colaba Causeway – and then – I would browse books in the Oxford Bookstore next door.
I can never forget the many delightful hours I spent – browsing books in the comfort of Oxford Book Store – on those elegant orange rocking chairs – refreshing myself with delicious cups of invigorating teas in the “Cha-Bar”.
My wife would keep an eye on me from our second floor balcony in Empress Court (to ensure that I was browsing books only) – as I sat in a rocking chair enjoying my reading.
Whenever I got time – I would go across to Oxford and enjoy my moments there – the staff was very courteous and they encouraged browsing.
After relocating to Pune – the one thing I miss is Oxford Bookstore – the tranquil ambience and the wonderful time I spent there among books.
This story is set this story in the Oxford Book Store and the surroundings.
I wrote this story 13 years ago – in the year 2004.
I have written many short stories set in Mumbai – but this story remains one of my all time favourite Mumbai Stories.
This story features in COCKTAIL – my book of short stories about relationships.
I am sure you will love this breezy romance – the story of a bored housewife and her exciting adventure.
Read on – enjoy this flirty naughty romance...
NAUGHTY DATE AT CHURCHGATE – Flirty Romance by Vikram Karve
What do you do if a man looks at you with frank admiration in his eyes...?
He looks yearningly at you in an insistent suggestive sort of way – that is worth a thousand compliments.
What do you do...?
Nothing.
You do absolutely nothing.
You do nothing – because you are a thoroughly bored – “happily” married – 36 year old housewife – sitting comfortably in your favourite rocking chair – browsing through Benjamin Spock’s Baby and Child Care – at the Oxford Bookstore at Churchgate in Mumbai.
So – you just look down at your feet – you act as if you have not noticed the man – and you try to read.
But – you cannot read – the words just don’t focus in front of you.
You think of the man – his lingering look – his eyes curiously languid, yet inviting
It’s the first time someone looked at you – in such a flattering way – for a long long time.
You feel a tinge of excitement.
Maybe – something is going to happen.
Something exciting – something dangerously exciting – is going to happen to you.
At long last.
Something that you have been secretly wanting to happen – and you thought would never ever happen.
Or maybe – it’s nothing.
It is just your imagination playing tricks.
So just to check.
Once.
Only once.
You quickly look up – a fleeting glance.
He is still looking at you – not furtively – but brazenly – almost unashamedly – with waves of yearning flowing out of his eyes.
He looks a decisive, hot-blooded and masculine man – with his smart beard and piercing eyes.
You feel a flush inside.
A shiver.
A tremor.
A tremor of trepidation – mixed with excitement.
You cannot define how you feel – but it feels good.
He looks at you.
You look back at him in return.
He begins to smile.
You quickly look down – and you bury yourself into the pages in front of you – and you pretend to read.
But – it is no use.
You can sense his unseen eyes locked onto you – burning into you – travelling all over your body – and lingering exactly where they should not – just like a laser beam.
And now – he knows that you know that he is looking at you.
So what do you do...?
It is best not to react – just accept the fact of being looked at – ignore him – and keep on pretending to read.
Oh, No...!!!
That may be dangerous.
He may get ideas.
You never know these types.
He may think you are “game”.
But – are you “game” for some fun...?
Or – aren’t you...?
Why not play on – have some fun – flirt a bit – and see what happens.
Why not have a little excitement to enliven up your boring life a bit...?
So you take a deep breath – you brace yourself – and you start a dangerous “flirtation game”.
You look up from your book – you pan your gaze slowly across the bookstore – looking at everything – the shelves of books, the people, the cha-bar, the sales counter – and finally – like a dog that has circled its bowl of food long enough – you look directly at him.
Eyes meet.
His and yours.
Yours and his.
His appraising eyes look into yours.
And then – his eyes travel down and look at the book in your hands.
You spontaneously follow his gaze – and you look down at the book in your hands – Benjamin Spock’s “Baby and Child Care” – most inappropriate for what you have in mind.
You quickly put the book away on the rack – you run your eyes across the shelf – and you pick up “The Art of Seduction”
You turn the pages – nothing registers – so you look up at him almost seeking approbation.
He smiles – a wry canny smile – as if he knows something that you don’t know.
And suddenly – he gets up from his chair – he keeps the magazine he is holding back on the rack – and he begins walking towards you.
Your heart stops – you want to disappear – but he is already standing in front of you.
“Good morning Anita...” he says, “I’m Sen. Dilip Sen.”
Anita...?
You are not Anita.
Why is he calling you “Anita”...?
It seems to be a case of mistaken identity.
But – you are curious – and you are in a playful mood – so you say to the man:
“Oh, Hello Mr. Sen. You are late.”
“Late...? No – I am not late. The RV is correct – as planned...” he says – looking at his watch – with a confused look on his face.
“RV...?” you ask, puzzled.
“Rendezvous... ” he says, matter-of-factly.
Now – you are really curious.
“Why don’t you pull up that stool and sit down so we can talk comfortably...?” you say to the man.
“Not here. Let’s go to the “Cha-Bar”. We can talk in peace there...” he says.
“Okay...” you say.
You replace the book in its place in the shelf – you get up – and you walk towards the cha-bar.
The “Cha-Bar” – the “Tea Lounge” – it’s the best thing about Oxford Bookstore.
The “Cha-Bar” is an ideal place to relax – to browse in solitude – or have a quiet flirtatious chat – over a cup of exquisite tea.
As you sip your tea – savouring the fragrance and relishing the rich flavour of premium Darjeeling Tea – you feel a shiver of anticipation.
It’s your first time.
You wonder what’s going to happen next.
“Well done. Let’s recap...” the man says – pulling out a pocket diary.
Well done...?
Recap...?
You wonder what this is all about.
The man seems to be crazy.
But – you keep your wits about – and – to calm down – you say to yourself: “Relax. Just keep quiet – and play along.”
And – to the man – Mr. Sen – you say confidently: “Okay. Sure. Let’s recap.”
“Step 1...” he says looking into the diary in front of him, “you and I independently arrive at the previously agreed upon rendezvous. Your choice is excellent – this bookstore – easy to wait, observe and not be noticed. We just blended in. Much better cover than a railway station, park or restaurant. And the book you chose – “Baby and Child Care” - easily discernible – so aptly chosen. Perfect for your cover. The book looked so natural in your hands.”
“Do I look pregnant...?” you snap at him.
“No. No. I am sorry. I didn’t mean it that way...” he says, taken aback, “You look lovely. But the book – it suited your cover – as a bored housewife.”
Cover...? A bored housewife...? What’s he talking...?
That’s what you are – aren’t you...?
Husband busy working in the office – kids at school – and you – a bored housewife – bored to death – with nothing to do.
“I’m not bored...” you tease him with your eyes – you flatter him by looking steadily at him without letting your eyes stray.
Then – the man looks into his diary – and he starts speaking.
“Step 2 – making eye contact. We could be a bit more discreet next time – isn’t it...?” he says smiling into your eyes.
Discreet...? Next time...? What’s going on...? Who’s this guy...?
“Step 3 – the signal. Change of book. Okay. But “The Art of Seduction”...?” he looks perplexed, “I think you should have picked up something more sober – in line with your cover…..”
He goes on and on.
But you aren’t listening.
You just look at him.
A man who looks like a man.
Solid, strong, decisive – yet vulnerable.
You fantasize.
Your imagination begins to run wild.
You feel his touch – he has put his hand in your arm.
His touch is electric.
A shiver of anticipation rises within you.
Suddenly – he is shaking you.
You snap back to reality.
“Okay Anita. Let’s get on with the tradecraft...” he says, in an almost imperative tone.
“Tradecraft...?”
“Yes. And make sure you don’t grow a tail.”
“Tail...? “
“Yes...” he says, “Be careful. Maybe you’ve already grown a tail – check it out and shake it off.”
“Grown a tail...?” you say – and you unknowingly you move your hand over your behind to check and instinctively shake your bottom.
“Not there...!!!” he reprimands, in a voice that a teacher uses to scold a careless student.
“Have you forgotten everything – “counter-surveillance protocol”...?”
“Countersurveillance protocol...?” you ask credulous.
“Come on Anita. Snap out of it. Be alert. They told me you were a seasoned detective. Now get on with your mission. We can't afford to abort the mission now...”
Detective...?
Mission...?
What’s he talking about...?
Oh my God...!
Fear starts rising within you.
It’s getting dangerous.
This is for real.
It’s no longer fun.
It’s time to run.
“Excuse me...” you say – and – you quickly get up from your chair.
You turn – and you start walking towards the exit.
Though you don’t look behind – you sense that he is following you.
So – the moment you get out of the bookstore – you deliberately avoid going to your car – but you walk in the opposite direction towards the Oval.
The Clock on Rajabai Tower is striking twelve – it is 12 noon.
You look back over your shoulder.
The man called “Dilip Sen” is following you.
You break into a run – still looking back at the man – and suddenly – you bang into someone – and – you begin to lose your balance.
Oh, My God...!!!
It is Nalini – the gossipy neighbour.
“What happened...?” Nalini asks, steadying you up.
“Nothing...” you say.
“Hey. Why did you abort...?” Dilip Sen asks, catching up with you, his hand clutching your arm.
“Abort...? Did you say “Abort”...?” exclaims Nalini, her eyebrows arched, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Nalini looks at Dilip Sen.
Then she looks at me with an incredulous look in her eyes, and she says to me in astonishment: “Wow...!!! You and him...? And you Anita – abortion...!!! What’s happening...?”
You look at Nalini.
You look at Dilip Sen.
And then – you look at at Nalini again.
Nalini’s roving eyes travel all over you – looking for the non-existent “bump”.
Then – Nalini looks meaningfully at Dilip Sen.
And – for that significant moment – her eyes focus on his hand holding yours.
She is taking in everything – till her gaze settles down – pointedly looking at where it should not.
Everything seems frozen in silence – a terrible silence, a deafening silence, a grotesque silence.
You look at Nalini – at her changing expression.
Nalini looks at you with envious awe.
And – you see something mischievously wicked in her large radiating eyes.
You know you are sunk.
Yes – you are truly sunk.
Lock, Stock and Barrel.
“Up the Gum Tree” – as they say.
You break out into laughter.
That’s the only sane thing left to do.
But – one thing is for sure.
Life isn’t going to be “boring” any longer after this naughty “date” at Churchgate.
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
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© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
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.
Copyright Notice:
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)
This story was written by me Vikram Karve 13 years ago in the year 2004, published in my short stories book COCKTAIL, and posted online by me earlier in my blogs a number of times including at urls: http://creative.sulekha.com/my-favourite-short-stories-part-51-flirtation-seduction-abortion_543620_blog andhttp://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/06/naughty-date-at-churchgate-flirty.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2010/08/flirtation-seduction-abortion.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/06/naughty-date-at-churchgate-flirty.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/09/flirting-can-be-dangerous.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/04/bored-wife-seeks-excitement-naughty.html etc
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