Mumbai Food Memories - Paradise Cafe - Colaba Causeway

 MUMBAI FOOD MEMORIES

Nostalgic Article on Paradise Cafe - Colaba Causeway 

https://antoinelewis.com/2018/08/06/remembering-paradises-chicken-roll-and-other-temptations/

I loved the Temptation 

Nisha and Monika

SHORT FICTION

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NISHA and MONIKA

Fiction Story

By

VIKRAM KARVE

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“Are you going to marry me…?” Nisha asked me.

“Of course…” I said to Nisha.

Nisha looked relieved.

She gave me a loving smile.

I was nonplussed.

“Did you call me all the way to your home from office just to ask me this question…? You said it was urgent – so – I left important work and rushed here…” I said to Nisha – feeling a bit exasperated.

“Monika was here a few moments ago…” Nisha said.

“Monika…?” I said – confused.

“Yes – Monika had come to meet me – I called you the moment she left…” Nisha said.

“That’s surprising…” I said, “I thought she was on “sick leave” today…”

“She is “sick” – lovesick…” Nisha said.

“Lovesick…? What do you mean…?” I asked Nisha.

“Monika is in love with you…” Nisha said.

“I know…” I said, “she asked me to marry her…”

“When…?” Nisha asked me.

“Last evening – when I was dropping her home after office…” I said to Nisha.

“She proposed to you last evening…?” Nisha asked me.

“Yes…” I said to Nisha.

“You didn’t tell me when you called last night…” Nisha said.

“What is there to tell…? I told her “NO” – a firm “NO” – that there was no question of my getting married to her – since I was already committed to marry you…” I said to Nisha.

“Oh – that’s why she was talking about love and arranged marriages…” Nisha said.

“What was she saying…?” I asked Nisha.

“Monika said that – with you and me – it was only an “arranged” relationship – whereas – with you and her – it was love – so – I should back off…” Nisha said.

“What nonsense…!!! Everything has been decided – you and me – we are getting married in May – two months from now – my parents have liked you – your parents have liked me – we like each other – we are committed to marry each other…” I was saying – when Nisha interrupted me.

“That was during the arranged marriage interview three months ago…” Nisha said.

“So…? Nothing has changed…” I said, emphatically.

“Monika joined your office…” Nisha said.

“Just two months ago…” I said to her.

“She is head over heels in love with you – she desperately wants to marry you…” Nisha said to me.

“Please stop it…” I said to Nisha.

“Tell me – are you in love with Monika – do you love her more than me – if that is so – I will back off – and you can marry her – I want you to be happy…” Nisha said – with a tinge of sadness in her voice.

I was taken aback by her words – so – I paused for a moment before I spoke to her.

“I don’t love her more than you – in fact – I don’t love her at all…” I said to Nisha – emphatically.

“But – she loves you – Monika really loves you…” Nisha said.

“No – Monika doesn’t love me – if she really loved me – she wouldn’t have come to your house and said what she said to you – it is you who really loves me – if you didn’t love me – you wouldn’t have said what you said to me just now…” I said to Nisha – and I took her in my arms.

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VIKRAM KARVE

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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.

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