Short Fiction
______
MY FIANCÉE
Story
By
VIKRAM KARVE
______
I called Nisha – my fiancée.
Nisha answered almost
immediately.
“I was waiting for your call –
have you reached…?” Nisha asked me, excitedly.
“No – my flight got cancelled at
the last minute due to some problem with the aircraft – so – they deboarded us –
they made us wait in the departure lounge for 3 hours saying the flight was
delayed and would take off once the aircraft was ready – and now they are
saying that the flight is cancelled…” I said to her.
“So – when are you going…?” she
asked me.
“Tomorrow morning…” I said to
her.
“Tomorrow…? So late…?” she said.
“There was a flight in the evening
– but – I decided to stay for a day – so that I could spend some time with you…”
I said to her.
“That’s so nice of you…” she said,
“where are you now…?”
“I am at the Airport Hotel…” I said
to her, “Okay – it’s one o’clock now – I’ll be at your office in half-an-hour –
we’ll have lunch – then see a movie – go shopping – and spend the evening
together…”
“I have office till 5:30 PM – I’ll
meet you in the evening – tell me where I should come – or – if you want – I can
come to the Airport Hotel – and we can spend the night together…” she said.
“Take “half-day” off – let’s
spend the day together…” I said to her.
“No. No. That’s impossible. I am
extremely busy in office today – I don’t even have a moment to breathe – please
try to understand – I have deadlines to meet today – I just can’t leave office
now – we’ll meet in the evening – and – I will make it up to you…” Nisha said,
in a beseeching voice.
“Are you in your office right now…?”
I asked Nisha.
“Of course – I am working in my
office – where else can I be at this time…?” Nisha said.
“You are not in your office…” I
said to her, “You are sitting in “XXX” Club with a man – enjoying a glass of
beer…”
_______
Nisha turned around trying to
find me – but – I had hidden myself from her view – behind a wooden screen.
I could see her – because she was
in the light – but – she couldn’t see me – because I was in the dark – behind
the screen.
There was shock and consternation
on her face – as she looked around – searching for me.
Then she got up and started
walking towards the entrance.
I made a quick exit before she
spotted me – I was in no mood to confront her – or – listen to her excuses and
lies.
______
I took a taxi and went straight
to Nisha’s house.
Her mother opened the door – she seemed
surprised to see me – but she asked me to sit down.
After a few moments – Nisha’s
father came into the living room – probably woken up from his afternoon siesta
I told them that my flight had
got cancelled and I would be going the next day.
“Where is Nisha…?” I asked her
parents.
“She has gone to work…” her
father said, “didn’t you call her and tell her about your flight being
cancelled…?”
“I did…” I said, “did Nisha call
you and tell you something…?”
“No. Nisha hasn’t called since
she went to office in the morning…” her mother said.
I looked at Nisha’s parents –
they looked quite confused – but – I wanted to get it off my chest.
“Nisha and Me – it is an arranged
marriage – and – the proposal came from you – so – I thought that it would be
best to tell you first – I am breaking my engagement with Nisha – I don’t want
to marry her…” I said to Nisha’s parents.
I thought Nisha’s parents would be
shocked – show some emotions – maybe even shout at me angrily – but – they were
totally silent – their faces numb – as if they were pole-axed.
_______
After some time – I spoke.
“I am sorry – but – please patiently
hear what I have to say…” I said to Nisha’s parents.
And – I told them the whole story
– about what had happened – what I had seen with my own eyes.
Nisha’s father spoke first.
“She was just having lunch with a
man…” Nisha’s father said.
“The issue is not that she had
lunch with a male friend. The issue is that she lied to me about it…” I said to
him.
“She has male colleagues in
office…” Nisha’s mother said.
“Did I ever say that she can’t socialize
with her male colleagues…? Did I ask her to break her friendship with her male
friends or prohibit her from having male friends…?” I said, “Why did she lie to
me that she was in office when she was actually having lunch with an office colleague
or a friend…?”
“Maybe – she thought that you may
not like it….” Nisha’s mother said to me.
“If she thought that I wouldn’t
like it – then – why do it…?” I said to Nisha’s mother.
Nisha’s parents remained silent.
I said to them:
“Please ask Nisha two questions:
Firstly – why tell a lie when
there is no need to tell a lie…?
Secondly – why do something that
you have to lie about…?”
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