Guilt Purchase – Gifts in lieu of Guilt

GUILT PURCHASE – GIFTS IN LIEU OF GUILT

Fiction Short Story

By

VIKRAM KARVE 

Two salesgirls are talking to each other in a posh jewellery showroom in the shopping arcade of a luxury hotel

“I wish my husband was like him…” 

“Who…?”

“That man who just bought that expensive diamond necklace as a gift for his wife…”

“Oh – him…?”

“He comes here so often. And – every time – he asks you to select a gift for his wife – and – you select an expensive item – just to make more profit – and – he just buys it without a second thought – and he gets it gift-wrapped for his wife – with a cute card telling her how much he loves her…”

“Yes – he is a good customer…”

“His wife is so lucky to have such a doting husband – he must be passionately in love with his wife…”

“Well – I don’t know whether he is a “doting” husband or not – but – I don’t think he is “passionately” in love with his wife…”

“What do you mean…? Then why does he buy such expensive gifts for his wife so often…?”

“Guilt Purchase…”

“Guilt Purchase…? What do you mean…?”

“All those “gifts” are a “guilt purchase” – gifts in lieu of guilt – gifts to compensate his “guilty conscience” for his misdemeanors…”

“Misdemeanors…?”

“Many husbands buy expensive gifts for their wives while having “affairs” with other women…”

“Oh – so it is these “guilty conscience” gifts that you are calling “guilt purchase”…?”

“Aren’t they “guilt purchases” – to assuage your “guilty conscience” after you know that you have done something wrong…?”

“Oh – so every time you “transgress” – you give your wife a “gift” – to “wash off” your “sins” – that seems to be his motto…”

“Yes – and – the bigger the transgression – the larger the guilt – and the more expensive the gift…”

“Oh – so he seems to be having a terrific affair – no wonder he bought that expensive diamond necklace as a “guilt purchase”…”

“Yes – right now he is having a really passionate affair – a “terrific affair” – as you put it…”

“How do you know all this – that he is having a “passionate” affair…?”

“I know – because – I am the woman with whom he is having an affair…”

“What…?”

“Yes. I am having a torrid affair with him right now…” 

“Oh. No wonder he comes here so often…” 

“Yes. Whenever he comes here – it is a signal to me that he wants to meet me in the evening at our secret place. We never communicate on phone or by other means – just as a precaution – we need to be careful not to get caught – especially him…” 

“And – also to buy a gift for his wife – a “guilt purchase” – a “gift in lieu of guilt” – to give his wife – after enjoying a “passionate session” with you…”

“Ha Ha – maybe…”

“Does he give you gifts…?” 

“Why should he…? With me – he doesn’t have a guilty conscience – and – neither do I. We just want each other – that’s all – you can say that we are “friends with benefits”…” 

“Wow...!!! I was just wondering…” 

“What…?”

“I was wondering what married women who have affairs do…? Do they also give “guilt purchase” gifts to their husbands…? Tell me. Do married women who have extramarital affairs also give “gifts in lieu of guilt” to their husband to compensate for their “guilty conscience”...?”

“Well – I really don’t know what married women who have affairs do – because I am not married – but maybe – wives who have affairs also give “guilt purchase” gifts to their husbands – or maybe – they compensate their “guilty conscience” in some other way…” 

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
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 is a revised abridged repost of my story GUILT PURCHASE written by me Vikram Karve more then one years ago in July 2016 and posted online in my blog at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/07/guilt-purchase-love-story.html