SHORT FICTION
_______
NISHA and MONIKA
Fiction Story
By
VIKRAM KARVE
_____
“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.
__________
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.
Ah, I see Nisha here, too. :D
ReplyDeleteNice one.