The Cadet and His Girlfriend – a Love Story

THE NAVY CADET AND HIS GIRLFRIEND
Short Fiction – A Love Story
A Fictional SpoofBy
VIKRAM KARVE

THE CADET AND COLLEGE GIRL – a love story by Vikram Karve

“A” was a Navy Cadet at the National Defence Academy (NDA) near Pune.

“B” a smart girl studying in a premier college in Pune.

“A” and “B” became acquainted during the “NDA Ball”. 

Soon – “A” and “B” started dating each other on weekends – when “A” would come to Pune on “liberty” to meet his girlfriend “B”. 

Three years later – “A” completed his NDA training – and he was off for Navy Sea Training on a Cadet Training Ship.

Meanwhile – the Cadet’s girlfriend “B” – she finished her graduation – and then – she joined the MBA course at an elite “B-School” in Pune.

“A” and “B” kept corresponding with each other.

They met whenever it was possible.

Whenever he got an opportunity – “A” rushed to Pune – even for a day – just to meet his girlfriend “B”.

“A” and “B” realized that they had fallen in love. 

So now – the Cadet’s girlfriend “B” – she had become his lady-love. 

“A” opted for the Engineering Branch of the Navy – so that he would be at the training base at Lonavala (near Pune) for the next three years – for his degree engineering course. 

This proximity to Pune would enable “A” to meet his lady-love “B” frequently. 

Yes – “A” took a career decision – to join the Engineering Branch instead of the Executive Branch – just to be near his lady-love “B”.

“B” finished her MBA in Finance – and she got a good job as an investment banker in Mumbai.

“A” too managed to get posted on a ship based in Mumbai after his training.

“A” and “B” got married. 

So now – “A” and “B” had become husband and wife. 

“A” and “B” enjoyed a few blissful years of happy married life – staying together in Mumbai.

Then – “A” was transferred out of Mumbai.

He wanted “B” to move with him to the new place.

But – his wife “B” was reluctant to move out of Mumbai. 

She was doing extremely well in her job – and her career was just taking off. 

Besides – as far as her career as an investment banker was concerned – there was no scope for her in the new place where “A” was posted – which was a comparatively small town.

“A” went away on posting – and – “B” remained back in Mumbai to pursue her career.

So – the long distance marriage of “A” and “B” began. 

Now – “A” and “B” had become a “long distance” married couple.

Though he tried desperately – “A” could not manage to come back to Mumbai.

Mumbai was a “prize posting” – a station in very high demand.

“A” had already served for 3 years in Mumbai – so he would have to wait his turn to be posted back to Mumbai. 

So “A” and “B” spent the next few years living separately.

Three years passed.

“A” was expecting to posted back to Mumbai.

But – instead of being transferred to Mumbai – “A” was transferred to another place – which was even more remote and further away from Mumbai.

I told you that – it was a “love marriage” – so – “A” could not bear separation from his beloved wife “B” any longer.

One day – feeling extremely lonely – “A” called up “B”.

“A” told “B” to quit her job – and join him at his place of posting.

“B” retorted that it was “A” who should quit the Navy – since “B” was earning much more than “A” – and her career prospects as an investment banker were much brighter than his career as a Naval Officer.

“B” said that – even of she quit her present job – as an investment banker – job opportunities for her were mostly in big cities – especially in Mumbai – and certainly not in the remote place where “A” was posted. 

So – “B” would not get a suitable job commensurate with her qualifications and experience as an investment banker in the desolate place where “A” was posted – and she would have to sit at home doing nothing.   

On the other hand – “A” would also be able to find a good civilian job in Mumbai – so – it would be better for “A” to the Navy and come to Mumbai and take up a good job in the corporate world.

“A” felt that “B” had a point – she was earning much more than him – she had brighter career prospects – and “A” would easily get a job in Mumbai once he quit the Navy. 

In fact – he already had a prospective job offer in Mumbai.

So – “A” put in an application to quit the Navy.

But – Dear Reader – it is not easy to leave the Navy.

So – though “A” had put up his papers to quit the Navy – his resignation was not accepted. 

Unlike in Civilian Jobs – you cannot just quit the Navy – if you just go away – you will be declared Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL) – marked “Run” – declared a “deserter” – and may land up in Prison. 

So – “A” has no choice but to continue serving in the Navy. 

For “A” and “B” – “long distance marriage” has become a reality of life.

The stark realization of signing up for “Lifetime Employment” in the Navy has now dawned upon “A” 

“A” knows that the only chance to get out of the Navy will come when he is permanently “superseded” for promotion – and that is still a few years away. 

“A” realises that he has to complete at least 5 years more service before his first promotion board for the first select rank – and he will have to be rejected for promotion 3 times by three consecutive annual promotion boards before he is declared “permanently superseded”. 

So – it will be only after 8 long years that “A” will be able to quit the Navy.

And now – after introspecting and thinking things over – “A” does not want to get “passed over” for promotion – and get branded as a written-off “permanently superseded” officer – and bear the stigma of being a failure for his entire life.

Why should “A” ruin his Navy career – which he likes so much...? 

So – “A” decides to continue serving in the Navy.

And over the years – “A” and “B” have got used to living separately as “married bachelors”.

MORAL OF THE STORY

In earlier days – once a girl married a Defence Officer – she used to go along with her officer husband wherever he was posted – as a “memsahib” – playing “second fiddle” – as a full time housewife (homemaker).

At the most – she could become a teacher at the local school in the unit.

Nowadays – things have changed. 

Women are pursuing their professional careers very seriously – and they are not willing to “sacrifice” their careers. 

Modern women want to be financially independent – and they do not like to become “second fiddle” housewives – dependent on their husbands. 

Working women do not want to give up their jobs and go to live with their “fauji” husbands at some remote “back-of-beyond” place.

Owing to all this – it is no wonder that – an unintended consequence of the Defence Services policy of “Lifetime Employment” is that Defence Officers are no longer much sought after in the “marriage market’. 

Maybe – it is the same for Women Officers of the Defence Services as well.

Probably – that is why you see an increasing number of marriages between male and female Defence Officers within the service (in-house “marriages in uniform”).

There is a saying: 

“The Navy is not a job. The Navy is a way of life...”.

In the Navy – “Lifetime Employment” is the way of life.

I think this applies to the all 3 Defence Services – Army, Navy and Air Force.

So – if you are thinking of joining the Armed Forces – you must ask yourself if you have the mental make-up for the military “way of life”...?

Do you have the mindset for lifetime employment...?

Do you have the attitude for lifelong obligation...? 

Are you ready for a long term commitment towards the Navy, Army or Air Force...?

And – if you are young girl thinking of marrying a Defence Officer – you must ask yourself:

Are you ready to give up your career and live a nomadic life with your husband...? 

Or – if you are serious about pursuing your career – are you prepared for a “long distance marriage”...?

So – if you are thinking of joining the Armed Forces – or marrying a Military Officer/Soldier/Sailor/Airman– do remember the Story of the Navy Cadet and his Girlfriend – and think about it. 

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:

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.

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)

 

Earlier Posted Online by me Vikram Karve in my Academic and Creative Writing Journal Blog on under title THE CADET AND THE COLLEGE GIRL at urls http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/02/the-cadet-and-college-girl.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/05/the-navy-is-not-for-job-hoppers-career.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/11/cadet-and-college-girl-love-story.html etc 

Short Fiction Story – Dead End

DEAD END
Short Fiction Story

By

VIKRAM KARVE

There is a saying in Urdu:

 Har qatl di e jar zan zar zameen

(The motive for every murder is because of woman, money or land)

Most crimes occur because of Zan (love or passion involving a woman) or Zar (greed for money). 

This is a story where Zameen (land) is a motive for a crime.

I wrote this short story 24 years ago – sometime in the year 1993. 

One evening when I had gone on a long evening walk – I happened to witness a brutal land acquisition.

The might of the “powers-that-be” was on full display against the hapless landowners – who were being evicted from their land.

The landowners who were being evicted were protesting because the promised compensation had not been paid to them.

The hapless landowners feared that once they lost their land – they would have to make rounds of various government offices for compensation – and they would have to pay bribes to get their due.

A few years later – someone told me – that the land had been encroached upon – so the whole land acquisition exercise had gone waste – and – the biggest losers were the erstwhile landowners who had lost their land for nothing.

The whole scene and situation moved me – and – I wrote a fiction short story called DEAD END.

At that point of time – this story – DEAD END – was highly appreciated.  

Huge land acquisitions take place for building projects and institutions.

In Cities – Land is acquired for road-widening – or for building infrastructure – and many small homeowners lose their gardens – and – in some cases – even houses are demolished – and – people are displaced from their land/homes and relocated.

I remember an old lady telling me that she lost her carefully tended garden in road-widening.

What irked the old lady was that the footpath – which was built on the land acquired from her – by destroying her garden – this very footpath – had been illegally encroached upon – and – “tapri” stalls (shanties) had sprung up on the acquired land which was once her beautiful garden.

I have seen displaced persons running around for their promised compensation many years after their land had been acquired.

It is all very fine to talk of the “macro” picture of infrastructure development.

But – does anyone look at it from the perspective of the displaced landowners...?

Only the person whose land is forcibly acquired knows the pain of losing his land or home. 

For you – everything is fine – until your own land is forcibly acquired – or your house demolished – all in the name of “development”.

You even hear stories – maybe apocryphal – of land being forcibly acquired from farmers ostensibly for public purposes – and then – the acquired land is “de-reserved” – and sold off to builders – who make a huge profit by building residential and commercial projects.

Land can become a big bone of contention and is the root of crime and corruption (the “Zameen” in crime triad “Zan Zar Zameen”).

Though I wrote this story 24 years ago in 1993 – I think this fiction story DEAD END is quite relevant even today. 

Do tell me if you like the story. 

DEAD END – Short Fiction Story by VIKRAM KARVE 

Manjunath was a contented man.

 

He was the proud owner of a coconut grove – more than a hundred trees – located on the most picturesque stretch of the western coast – skirting the Arabian Sea. 

His land was fertile and the yield was excellent.

 

Every morning – along with his wife and two sons – Manjunath would cast his fishing nets into the gentle waters of Baicol Bay – and in the evening – when he pulled in his nets with the receding tide – the catch would be adequate – if not substantial.

He would also tend to his coconut grove and the various fruit bearing trees and vegetable shrubs he had planted on his land.

 

I loved Baicol Bay. 

It was a most beautiful and pristine place by the sea.

Sunset – on the western coast – was a special event.

 

So every evening – I went for a jog on the soft unspoilt beach – and after a swim in the crystal-clear waters – I relaxed on the sands – beholding the fascinating, yet soothing, spectacle – of the mighty orange sun being devoured under the horizon of the sea.

 

As darkness enveloped – Manjunath would gently appear by my side with a tender coconut in hand.

 

At that moment, there was nothing more refreshing than sweet coconut water.

 

The year was 1980

I was a fresh, young and idealistic Indian Police Service (IPS) Officer – on my first posting – as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of this lovely coastal district.

 

The air was fresh and unpolluted – and the weather was temperate. 

There was no railway line – no industries – and no noise. 

The district headquarters was a one-street town. 

Everybody knew everybody – the people were peace-loving – and in the prevailing climate of contentment, it was no surprise that the crime-rate was almost zero.

 

One day, my boss, the Superintendent of Police (SP) took me to an important meeting in the District Collector’s office.

 

As I heard the words of the Collector – I experienced a deep sense of distress. 

A notification had been issued and a mammoth Steel Plant had been sanctioned in the Baicol Bay area. 

Land Acquisition was the immediate top priority. 

The police were to be present to see that the land acquisition process was smooth and to ensure there was no law and order problem.

 

“But why can’t they locate the Steel Plant somewhere else...? This lovely place will be ruined. And where will the people go...?” I protested.

 

At first – the Collector appeared dumbstruck by my interruption. 

Then he glowered at me with a fierce and threatening stare. 

I avoided his gaze and looked around the room. 

Everyone was looking at me in a curious manner. 

My boss – the SP – was desperately gesturing to me to keep quiet.

 

“I wonder whose side you are on...?” the Collector snapped angrily, still giving me an intimidating glare.

 

“Don’t worry, Sir...” the SP spoke, addressing the Collector, “There will be no problems. The people here are a docile lot. Everything shall proceed smoothly.”

 

When we were driving back to our office – the SP said to me: 

“Joshi – you better tame your tongue and watch what you say – especially in front of others.”

 

“Sir, you please tell me. Is it not gross injustice...? We pay them a pittance for their fertile land. And then we evict them from their habitat, and destroy the beauty of this place, just because someone decides to set up a set up a Steel Plant here.”

 

“My dear Joshi – it is in the national interest. Why don’t you try and understand. Everyone who is displaced shall be properly rehabilitated with a job and a house – and they will also get a good compensation for their land.”

 

“Come on, Sir...” I argued, “You know where we are going to relocate them. The rehabilitation camp is more than twenty kilometres away from the sea front. And we are putting them into small overcrowded multi-storeyed tenements, which are at complete variance from their ethos. These people are used to open spaces, fresh air, and most important – the waterfront, the sea.”

 

“That’s enough, Joshi...” the SP said angrily, “Your job is to carry out my orders. I want you to take personal charge of this land acquisition operation. The task must be completed smoothly and on schedule. Is that clear...?”

 

“Yes, sir...” I replied meekly.

 

That evening I held a meeting with the affected villagers. 

Manjunath was sitting in the first row, right in front of me. 

I spoke of patriotism – I exhorted them to sacrifice their land for the “national cause” – I told them of the prosperity the Steel Plant would bring into their lives.

 

To my utter surprise – there was no resistance to the land acquisition. 

Everyone seemed convinced – I think because they were simple people who believed every word I said.

But to my own self – my own words sounded insincere – and I felt acutely uncomfortable.

 

And so – the land acquisition operation began.

 

An awe-struck Manjunath saw the might of the government on display. 

Manjunath watched with tears in his eyes as huge bulldozers destroyed his beloved coconut grove.

He also felt intimidated by the columns of police standing by to ensure that the land acquisition process was done smoothly.

And so – Manjunath lost his land – and was displaced from his home.

But – in lieu of his land – and since he was a displaced person – Manjunath had been promised a job at the Steel Plant which was going to come up on his land.

 

A few months later Manjunath stood before the employment officer. 

The employment officer was in a foul mood. 

“These illiterate buggers get jobs on a platter while my matriculate brother-in-law rots unemployed in city...” he complained, “I had promised my wife that I would wrangle at least a Class 4 unskilled labourer, domestic attendant or peon’s job for him out here.”

 

“Hold your tongue...” the rehabilitation officer said angrily, “These so-called ‘illiterate buggers’ – as you call them – they were landowners, displaced from their own land. They are entitled a job in lieu of their land acquired for this project.”

 

“Okay, okay. Don’t get hot...” the employment officer said to the rehabilitation officer. 

Then – the employment officer looked at Manjunath – and curtly asked him: 

“Do you possess any special skills...?”

 

Manjunath could not comprehend – so he just stood silent.

 

In an exasperated manner – the employment officer snapped at Manjunath: 

“Listen. We haven’t got all day. Tell me. What can you do...?”

 

“Coconuts...” Manjunath answered.

 

“Coconuts...?”

 

“Yes, Sir. Coconuts.”

 

“What else...?”

 

“Fish.”

 

“Fish and Coconuts, eh! You will see plenty of them...” the employment officer said. 

He wrote the word ‘cook’ beside Manjunath’s name in the register.

 

And so – in one stroke – Manjunath was transformed from a land-owner into a cook.

First – Manjunath worked as a cook in the ramshackle canteen for construction workers.

And later – as a cook in the huge industrial canteen of the Steel Plant.

 

But Manjunath was lucky. 

At least he had become a cook. 

Most others became Unskilled Labourers because the skills they possessed, like farming and fishing, were not relevant as far as the Steel Plant was concerned.

 

And so almost all the “skilled” workers – the tradesmen, all the welders, fitters, machinists, electricians etc – they all came from outside, from faraway places – most of the workforce of the steel plant came from the cities and the urban areas. 

And gradually – the complexion of the place began to change.

 

Soon, I stopped going for my daily evening jog to Baicol beach.

Now the whole place was littered with debris from the construction work and the air was no longer pure, but polluted by fumes and dust.

It was no longer quiet and calm, but the noise from the ongoing construction work was unbearable.

 

And, of course, now there would be no Manjunath waiting for me with a tender coconut in hand.

 

So when my transfer came – I felt relieved and happy.

I no longer loved the place – and – more so – I could not bear the pain of witnessing the beginning of the systematic metamorphosis of a beautiful natural paradise into a huge monster of concrete and steel.

Somehow I never had the opportunity to visit that place for many years.

 

Then – after 15 long years – I had to go there as a DIG (Deputy Inspector General).

The place had changed beyond recognition. 

The gigantic steel plant – the railway line – the new port – the industries – the ‘fruits’ of liberalization – and the signs of prosperity – modern buildings adorned by adjoining slums – filth and polluted air – all types of vehicles clogging the roads – restaurants and bars – the noise – and even most of the people looked alien.

 

As we drove down to the police headquarters, the SP said to me: 

“It’s not the same place when you were here, Sir.”

 

“The crime-rate was zero then...” I said. “What has gone wrong?”

 

“There are two types of people now, Sir – the liberalised Indian and the marginalised Indian.”

 

“And us...!!!”

 

“And us...!!!” he laughed, “yes, sir – and us – trying to sort the whole thing out.”

 

I was head of the crime branch at the state police headquarters and I had been sent down to investigate a series of bizarre murders. 

A few bigwigs were waylaid – they had their heads chopped off – and their headless bodies were dumped outside their houses. 

It had created such a scare that my boss had rushed me down.

 

The car stopped. 

I recognized the place at once.

 

“The common thread, Sir...” the SP said, “All the victims lived in this luxury residential enclave.”

 

“I knew this place...” I said, feeling a tinge of nostalgia, “There used to be a coconut grove here. This place was acquired for the steel plant. But now I see that it is just outside the perimeter wall. I wonder why they excluded this area.”

 

“Must be the environment stipulations, Sir...” the SP mumbled, “the 200 meter zone or something. They must have de-notified it.”

 

“De-notified it...? Don’t give me bullshit...!!!” I shouted, “How the hell has this posh residential complex come up here? And if the government did not want the land for the steel plant – then why was this excess acquired land not returned back to the original owners...?”

         

“Sir – this land which was sold by the acre in your time – 15 years ago – now it is priced per square foot.”

 

“The fruits of progress – is it...?” I snapped.

 

I could see that the SP was getting confused by my unexpected line of investigation – and he was getting a bit scared too – for I was a DIG. 

So I decided to put him at ease.

 

“Tell me, Pandey...” I said patronizingly, “What were you before joining the IPS...?”

 

“An Engineer, Sir. From IIT, Delhi...” he said.

 

This was no surprise.

Engineers – even Doctors – were joining IAS and IPS nowadays. 

I looked at the SP – and I said: 

“Let me explain in a way you will understand.”

 

Pandey was looking at me intently.

 

I paused – and I asked him: 

“Do you know the definition of the word ‘system’...?”

 

“Yes, Sir...” he answered.

 

“Every ‘system’ has a natural rhythm...” I said, “okay – take this place – for example. All the people here in this system – farmers, fishermen, everyone – they all had a natural rhythm of life which perfectly matched the rhythm of this place. And – there was harmony. Then suddenly – we disturb the system. We drastically change the rhythm of the place. We create a mismatch. And when the people cannot cope up – we call them ‘marginalised Indians’ – as you put it.”

 

Pandey looked thoroughly confused – so I avoided further rhetoric – and I came straight to the point: “You are looking for a motive – aren’t you, Pandey...?”

 

“Yes, Sir...” he said.

 

“Okay – you consider this. You own some fertile land. We forcibly acquire it – mouthing platitudes like ‘national interest’, ‘patriotism’ etc. Then – we sit on your land for 15 long years – while you are reduced from an owner to a labourer. And then – one fine day – you find that your beloved land has been grabbed by some land-sharks from the city. What would you do...?”

 

The SP did not reply.

 

“Do one thing, Pandey...” I said, “There is a man called Manjunath. He probably works as a cook in the Steel Plant canteen. Bring him to me. He may have some clue and maybe he will give us a lead.”

 

In my mind’s eye – I was thinking of ways of how to get Manjunath off the hook.

 

An hour later – the SP came rushing into the police headquarters. 

The SP looked dazed – as if he had been pole-axed. 

“The guy went crazy...” the SP stammered, “Sir, when the police party approached him, he was chopping coconuts with a sharp sickle. Suddenly he slashed his own neck. He died on the way to hospital. There is blood everywhere.”

 

In the morgue, staring sadly at Manjunath’s dead body, the SP commented: 

“Look at the expression on his face, Sir. He looks so content.”

“Yes...” I said, “He has reached the DEAD END...”

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:

1. 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.

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.

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)

     

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

 

This fiction short story DEAD END was written by me Vikram Karve more than 24 years ago, in the year 1993.

Later, I posted this story online on my creative writing blogs a number of times, including in this blog at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2011/12/dead-end-my-favourite-short-stories.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/01/dead-end-short-fiction-story.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/10/zameen-short-fiction-story-dead-end.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/02/land-acquisition-story-dead-end.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/07/dead-end-story.html etc