tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47103137713893482822024-03-18T13:24:32.369+05:30Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram KarveA Gallimaufry of my academic and creative writing - fiction, short stories, articles, musings, book reviews, technology, management, philosophy, self help, food, travel, health, inspirational and academic writingVikram Waman Karvehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00290102473130246523noreply@blogger.comBlogger6006125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710313771389348282.post-43760274568535796872024-03-12T12:33:00.000+05:302024-03-12T12:33:31.685+05:30“SMOKING BEAUTY” : Story : Short Fiction <p><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_______</span></p><p><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>SHORT FICTION by VIKRAM KARVE </b></span></p><p><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“SMOKING BEAUTY”</span></b></p><p><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_______ </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Disclaimer: </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This story is work of fiction. Names, Events, Places,
Settings, Situations and Incidents narrated in the story are fictitious and imaginary. The
characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons,
living or dead, or actual events, is purely coincidental.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_______ <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30zwzF9z7R18Hp7kMo7rPXNLy6XL6PWhPtuut1Sd9TrieZCL4UqfitogGgJ5JDsVMixIYTl-Y_T5zbsaDVJE5JmHhu2UN0H4gkl004vETkq-VpQrSeOyYsbjZJjxjr8J5oPHim3YUdAe-LGW4SfqQ1BFe5fmX95ExrDaejee2YlJjz42ei5qEVyDbgt_j/s325/WPSmokingLoco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="276" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30zwzF9z7R18Hp7kMo7rPXNLy6XL6PWhPtuut1Sd9TrieZCL4UqfitogGgJ5JDsVMixIYTl-Y_T5zbsaDVJE5JmHhu2UN0H4gkl004vETkq-VpQrSeOyYsbjZJjxjr8J5oPHim3YUdAe-LGW4SfqQ1BFe5fmX95ExrDaejee2YlJjz42ei5qEVyDbgt_j/s320/WPSmokingLoco.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_______</span></p><p><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“SMOKING BEAUTY”</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fiction Short Story </span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By </span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">VIKRAM KARVE</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_______ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">PUNE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">______ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">HOLI<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">March 8, 2023 – Late Night 11:30 PM <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An Apartment in Mumbai<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_______ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A PHONE CALL AND A PICTURE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_______<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Do you smoke…?” Nisha’s fiancé Ashok asks her.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“What is wrong with you…? Did you call me so late in the night just to
ask me this stupid question…?” Nisha says – irked and a bit angry at being
woken up from her sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“It is morning over here. You answer my question – do you smoke…?” Ashok
asks Nisha again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“No – I don’t smoke…” she says emphatically.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“There is a picture of you smoking a cigarette on Twitter…” her fiancé Ashok
says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I am not on Twitter – or – on any social media – I deactivated all my
social media accounts when I took up this job – I told you about my employer’s “no
social media” policy – didn’t I…?” Nisha says to her fiancé.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Yes – but a picture of you smoking a cigarette is going viral on
Twitter – someone forwarded it to me on WhatsApp – I am forwarding the
screenshot of the Tweet and Picture to you – you see the picture – and then you
call me…” Nisha’s fiancé Ashok says – and – he disconnects the call.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_______<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The picture arrives on her WhatsApp – a full screenshot of the Tweet –
the picture of a woman smoking a cigarette – and – the picture has a caption: <b>“Smoking
Beauty”</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_______<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nisha looks at the picture.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes – it is her – with a cigarette between her lips.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She looks at the background – it seems to be the residential society in
which she lived a few years ago – then – she recalls – it must have been that
Holi celebration with her friends a few years ago – that crazy Holi – so crazy was
the wild rambunctious celebration – that – she doesn’t even properly remember
what happened.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She wonders who clicked this picture – so – she looks at the Twitter
Handle and instantly recognizes the Profile Picture – Oh – it is that <a name="_Hlk145584621">“Uncle” with the “Glad Eye” – who </a>lived in her
building in the residential township in Pune where she stayed a few years ago –
she remembers him vividly – they had nicknamed him “Mr. Roving Eye” – because
of the way he brazenly ogled at women and flirted with them trying to chat them
up and get friendly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_______ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear Reader – I am “Mr. Roving Eye” – the “Uncle” with the “Glad Eye” –
who posted that picture “Smoking Beauty” on Social Media.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And – before you get wrong ideas about me – let me tell you that I am
not a dirty-old-man but I am a simple young-at-heart “old man” who admires
beauty and likes the company of young people.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let me tell you how I clicked the photo and why I posted it on social
media.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For that – I will have to take you back to the year 2018 – when I
clicked the picture.</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_______ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">FLASHBACK <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">______<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5 Years Earlier <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Year 2018<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">______<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">HOLI <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">March 2, 2018 – Morning – around 11 AM <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lawns of a Posh Residential Township in Pune<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_____ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">GIRL WITH A CIGARETTE <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_______<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I looked at the girl sitting on the bench opposite me – a familiar face
– one of the many young “Techies” – who lived in our residential society – a
posh gated community. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The girl held a cigarette between her fingers – she brought the
cigarette to her lips and took a long drag.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She continued to hold the cigarette between her lips as smoke began
emanating from her nostrils.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She looked at me – her eyes glazed – unfocussed – it seemed that she was
looking at me – but not seeing me. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I could not resist the temptation to click her picture on my smartphone
– I clicked her photo quickly – fearing that she may react to my clicking her
picture – but she kept looking at me – like a zombie – the same vacant
expressionless look – as if she was looking at me but not seeing me – so – I
zoomed the camera on her face – and – I clicked a close-up picture of her face
– capturing all details.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a superb photo – the lit cigarette held in her juicy lips – wafts
of smoke emanating from her nostrils – her greenish-grey eyes glazed – as if
she were in a trance – everything captured beautifully – truly – a classic
photograph – a masterpiece.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wanted to click more pictures of her – when suddenly – a boy arrived –
the boy took the cigarette from her lips – he took a deep drag – and – seeing
the bright glow on the tip of the cigarette – I guessed that there was
something more potent than tobacco in the cigarette.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Soon – more boisterous friends arrived – and they took the girl away to
the lawns – where boys and girls were dancing with wild abandon – throwing
colours on each other – celebrating the festival of colours – Holi.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was music – there was dance – there was special festive food –
lovely Holi celebrations in our cosmopolitan residential society.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In our gated community residential complex – most of the residents were
young “Techies” – who were enjoying themselves uninhibitedly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">________<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">FLASHFORWARD<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Year 2023<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">________ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">HOLI<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">March 8, 2023 – Evening – 5 PM <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My Apartment in the same Posh Residential Township in Pune<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_______ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“PHOTO-DUMP”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_______<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Someone told me a few days ago that the best way to preserve photos was
to upload them on Social Media – where they would remain forever – and you
could access them anytime you want.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In fact – it is best to upload your photos all Social Media – on
Facebook, on Twitter, on Instagram, on Pinterest, on Tumblr, on LinkedIn –
everywhere – for maximum redundancy – and this also makes it easy for you to
find your photos whenever you want to<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This “photo-dump” on social media enables you to delete photos from your
Smartphone and release storage space on your Smartphone – and it also precludes
the loss of your photos in case you lose your smartphone or it crashes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Though I started doing this “photo-dump” of recent photos on social
media since I got the advice a few days ago – due to my laziness – I did not
delete the older photos from my smartphone. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Also – ever since I got this smartphone many years ago – I clicked a
large number of photos – and due to all these photos stored in my smartphone
photo gallery – the storage space on my smartphone was almost full – and some
Apps were not working properly. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So – after playing a colourful Holi in the morning – followed by a
fulfilling traditional “<i>Puran Poli</i>” Holi Lunch – and a nice siesta – I sat in
my balcony – sipping tea – deleting old photos from my smartphone – taking care
to “photo-dump” on social media – those pictures I wanted to preserve – before
deleting them from my phone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In earlier pre-COVID-Pandemic days – I was not very active on social
media – so – most of the photos I randomly clicked remained in my smartphone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was only during the COVID Lockdown that I had become active on social
media – due to loneliness – to connect with people virtually.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As far as posting pictures was concerned – at first – when I was
confined to my home due to COVID Lockdown – I started posting pictures of food
– and later – when restrictions were relaxed – I started clicking and posting all
sorts of random pictures – of delicious food, beautiful scenery, meetups and get-togethers,
with friends – especially Twitter Friends (made during the Lockdown).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I told you – I had clicked the photo of the girl smoking a cigarette
in 2018 – during Holi celebrations – on the 2<sup>nd</sup> of March 2018 – in
fact – it was one of the first photos clicked on my smartphone which I had
bought a few days ago in February 2018.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The photo of the girl smoking a cigarette was really superb – one of the
best photos I had ever clicked – it certainly deserved to be preserved and
there was no question of deleting it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So – I had “photo-dumped” the photo of the girl smoking a cigarette on
all my Social Media Accounts – Instagram, Twitter, Facebook etc – with a
caption <b>“Smoking Beauty”</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well – I am quite popular on social media – with plenty of followers and
friends – and – looking at the huge response – comments, likes, reposts,
shares, re-tweets etc. – it was evident that many people had liked this
exquisite picture <b>“Smoking Beauty”</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I felt good at the recognition and praise.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A friend informed me that my social media posts with this picture <b>“Smoking
Beauty”</b> had gone “viral” on WhatsApp too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was elated – this would enhance my popularity on social media.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_______ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">SAME DAY <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A Few Hours Later<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_______ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">HOLI<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">March 8, 2023 – Almost Midnight – 11:45 PM <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An Apartment in Mumbai<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_______ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">VIDEO CALL<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">NISHA (Mumbai) CALLS HER FIANCÉ ASHOK (USA) <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_______ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(A few minutes after Ashok’s call from USA – Nisha calls Ashok – she has
had a good look at the picture of her smoking a cigarette – and tried to
recollect and gather her thoughts. It is a Video Call)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_______<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Hello Ashok…” Nisha says – but Ashok interrupts her rudely and speaks
in an angry voice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“What are you doing in Pune…?” Ashok asks Nisha, “celebrating Holi with
your “Ex” – are you…?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I am not in Pune – I am in Mumbai the whole day – I was with Asha in
her house till afternoon – her mother had made special lunch for Holi – you can
ask Asha – she will confirm I was with her – I will send you her number…” Nisha
says to her fiancé Ashok.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I don’t trust Asha. She is your best friend – she will tell me whatever
you tell her to say…” Ashok says, “I am sure you are in Pune – or you had gone
to Pune to celebrate Holi – this guy who posted your picture on Twitter – he
seems to be quite an influencer – he has posted your picture on Facebook and
Instagram too – with location – the same Township in Pune where you lived – and
the date is 8 March 2023 – today…”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“It is not possible – I swear I didn’t go to Pune today – please believe
me…” Nisha pleads to her fiancé Ashok.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Why are you lying to me…? Next – you will say that this is not your
picture – tell me – is it you in the picture or not…?” Ashok asks Nisha.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I don’t know…” Nisha says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“What do you mean “you don’t know…” – are you telling me this picture is
fake – or morphed…?” Ashok asks Nisha.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I don’t know…” Nisha says – confused.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“This guy is brazenly posting your picture all over social media – do
you know him – wait – I will send you screenshots of his profile from Facebook,
Instagram, Twitter etc. – tell me if you recognize him – and you call back…”
Ashok says – and – he sends Nisha screenshots of my social media profiles.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_________<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nisha looks at the screenshots – of course she recognizes me (“Mr.
Roving Eye” – the “Uncle” with the “Glad Eye”) who lived in her residential
complex in Pune.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_________<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nisha calls her fiancé Ashok and tells him about me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Yes – I recognize him – this “Uncle” lived in my building in the
residential township in Pune – he used to ogle at girls and try to flirt with
us – we had nicknamed him “Mr. Roving Eye” – but – I have not seen him since I
left Pune four years ago in 2019 and relocated to Mumbai – I am sure he has not
clicked this photo today – this must be some old picture…” Nisha says to her
fiancé Ashok. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Ah – so now – you are at least admitting that it is you in that picture
smoking a cigarette…” Ashok says to Nisha.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Maybe it is me – but I don’t remember smoking a cigarette…” Nisha says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“What do you mean “maybe it is me”…? Can’t you recognize yourself in the
picture…? I am your fiancé – I expect you to tell me the truth – not try to
hide things from me…” Ashok says to Nisha.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I think this picture was clicked during Holi celebrations – there is
colour on my cheeks and hair…” Nisha says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“When…? Where…?” Ashok asks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I think 5 years ago – 2018 – in the society where I lived in Pune…”
Nisha says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Oh – when you were shacked up with that “Ex” of yours…” Ashok says, sarcastically.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I was not “shacked up” with Rohan – I lived with girls in a separate
apartment…” Nisha says, “and he lived with his friends in another apartment…”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“On the same floor – isn’t it…?” Ashok says, nastily.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Why are you being sarcastic…? I have told you everything – I broke up
with Rohan – changed my job – and moved to Mumbai…” Nisha says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“You broke up…? Why…? Or – did he dump you…?” Ashok says, spitefully.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Why are you saying all these irrelevant things…?” Nisha says, angrily.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Oh – “irrelevant” – okay – I will ask you what is relevant – tell me
about this photo which has gone viral on social media – tell me what you
remember about that Holi celebration 5 years ago when you say this photo was
clicked…” Ashok says to Nisha.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">________<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nisha tries to recall what she remembers of that Holi celebration 5
years ago in March 2018 – and – she tells her side of the story to Ashok.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">________<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nisha looks at Ashok on the screen of her smartphone and speaks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“It was Holi – a friend had got Thandai – it was very tasty and soothing
– so – I drank two glasses – I didn’t know it was heavily laced with bhang –
after some time – I started feeling “high” – then – I remember we went down to
the society lawns for the Holi celebrations – then – the bhang must have taken
effect – and – I don’t remember anything…” Nisha says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Are you sure…? You don’t remember anything…? You don’t remember smoking
a cigarette…?” Ashok asks her – not believing her.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Please believe me – I don’t remember anything – I must have had a
mental blackout – I woke up in the evening – my friends told me that I had got
totally “stoned”…” Nisha says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“What…? “Stoned”…? You were “stoned”…?” Ashok says – stunned.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I told you I had a total blackout and went to sleep – after I woke up –
my friends said that someone gave me a joint to smoke – but – I swear – I don’t
remember anything…” Nisha said – in a beseeching voice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“No wonder your eyes look so glazed – you certainly look “stoned” – I
should had realized – but I never imagined this about you – tell me – what were
you smoking in that cigarette…? Weed…? Hash…? Marijuana…?” Ashok asks Nisha –
angrily.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Please – it’s not my fault…” Nisha starts pleading – but – Ashok interrupts
her. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Bhang…? Hash…? I thought you just smoked cigarettes – but – you are a
bloody drug addict too…” Ashok says angrily to Nisha.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“No. No. It happened only once – I wasn’t even in my senses – I don’t
remember anything – when I came to my senses – I was not even in my apartment…”
Nisha says – distraught.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Oh – so you were lying “stoned” in the apartment of your “Ex” – isn’t
it…? Ashok says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“We were all there – everyone was “high” – with bhang, beer, and…” Nisha
says – shamefacedly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I am sure your “Ex” and his friends must have “roofied” you…” Ashok
says, “the bastards “micky finned” you and “roofied” you…” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Roofied…? What do you mean…?” Nisha asks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“You know what I mean – it must have been a bloody freaking orgy with
all of you stoned crazy…” Ashok is saying when Nisha interrupts him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Please – please – please – I beg you…” Nisha says in a beseeching
voice, “I don’t want to talk about that horrible day – it was a nightmare I
want to forget – it was not my fault at all – they made a fool of me…”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“So – that’s why you dumped him – didn’t you…? Now – I am sure you were
roofied that day…” Ashok says – maliciously.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I am innocent…” Nisha pleads – but Ashok interrupts her rudely.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Listen – I don’t care whether you are innocent or not – you never told
me all this – I would never come to know the truth about you if your picture
smoking a cigarette had not gone viral on social media – I must thank that guy
for posting your picture…” Ashok says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Please – Ashok – I will explain everything when you come to India next
month for the wedding…” Nisha says – contrite.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Wedding…? Are you crazy…? Do you think I am going to marry you after
all this…?” Ashok says in an angry voice – and he disconnects the call.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_______<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For a moment – Nisha is stunned.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then – she breaks down and starts sobbing inconsolably.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_______<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For some time – Nisha is in a state of daze – mental stupor – her mind numbed
– so – she doesn’t notice her smartphone ringing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Her flat-mate knocks on the door and says in a loud voice from outside: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Nisha – your sister wants to
speak to you urgently – why are you not picking up your mobile…?” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nisha </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">doesn’t</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> open the door but answers her flat-mate.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I am sorry – I was fast asleep…” Nisha says to her flat-mate, “Thank
you – I will call my sister…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 193.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nisha waits for a few moments for her flat-mate to go back to her room –
and then – she calls her sister who is at home with her parents.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">________ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Story to be continued…<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">________ </span><div><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: #073763;">VIKRAM KARVE</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 13.91px;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; line-height: 18.2px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><span style="color: #073763;">Copyright © Vikram Karve<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve<br />2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post<br /><b>© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</b></span></div><div><b style="line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="color: #106a1f;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="color: #073763;">Disclaimer:</span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #073763;">1. This story is a fictional spoof, satire, 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. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #073763;">2. </span><span style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;">This story is </span></span><span style="color: #073763; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">a work of fiction. </span><span style="color: #073763; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">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.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #073763; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">3. E&OE</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8400720714775465451" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 586px;"><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;">Copyright Notice:</span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="color: #073763;">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.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><b>Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"> <b></b></span><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><b>© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;">_________</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></span></div>Vikram Waman Karvehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00290102473130246523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710313771389348282.post-38388841801882190522024-02-29T16:39:00.000+05:302024-02-29T16:39:00.421+05:30Travel Memories - New Zealand - Sheep Dog Memorial - Lake Tekapo South Island NZ <p> <b style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">ESPECIALLY FOR DOG LOVERS</b></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">TEKAPO DOG MEMORIAL<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bronze Sheep Dog Statue Monument<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Memories of New Zealand<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">VIKRAM KARVE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During our visit to New Zealand 9 years ago in 2015 – while travelling from Christchurch to Queenstown - I was pleasantly surprised to see a Bronze Statue of a Dog – a memorial for James Mackenzie’s legendary Sheepdog (Collie).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was the first time that I had seen a monument dedicated to a dog.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The sheep dog statue stands proudly on the shores of the unique exquisite turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo – amidst breathtaking scenery of snow capped mountains of the Southern Alps.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lake Tekapo is located in the heart of Mackenzie County in the Canterbury Region of South New Zealand – halfway between Christchurch and Queenstown.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After leaving Christchurch – you drive past the lush green Canterbury Plains – then cross the towns of Geraldine, Fairlie and Kimbell – and then you climb up – and traverse across the Burkes Pass into scenic basin in the heart of the mountainous South Island called ‘Mackenzie Country’.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mackenzie Country has fascinating landscapes and two lakes Tekapo and Pukaki whose waters have a unique turquoise colour caused by glacial flour suspended in the water.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the heart of Mackenzie Country is the beautiful Lake Tekapo with its marvelous turquoise waters surrounded by magnificent scenery and the awe-inspiring snowcapped peaks including the cloud-piercing Aoraki Mount Cook. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">(The Mackenzie Country was free of human beings until several hundred years ago with the arrival of the Maori in search of food. The Moa, a large flightless bird now extinct, and other birds were hunted and eels fished for in the area. The Maori called the area Takapo – meaning “To leave in haste at night”. The current name – Tekapo – is possibly a corruption of Takapo).</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I told you earlier – Lake Tekapo is nestled in the heart of New Zealand’s South Island. The lake lies at the foot of the Southern Alps, which rise to a height of 3 kilometres. New Zealand’s highest mountain, Mount Cook (Aoraki) is a short drive away and rises to 3,753m (12,313ft).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lake Tekapo is truly stunning – a breathtaking sight with its turquoise waters and surrounded by spectacular scenery and a most wonderful view of the Southern Alps including the snow-covered mountains like Mount Cook. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Here is a picture of Lake Tekapo with Mount Cook in the distance which I took on my smartphone on 26 December 2015.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xmYjr-sV55I/VrRt_JEvwTI/AAAAAAAAIAw/QQSod6jui4s/s1600/Lake%2BTekapo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xmYjr-sV55I/VrRt_JEvwTI/AAAAAAAAIAw/QQSod6jui4s/s400/Lake%2BTekapo.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lake Tekapo</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="line-height: 14.95px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="line-height: 14.95px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">COLLIE SHEEP DOG STATUE</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Standing proudly on a large rock on the shores of Lake Tekapo is a bronze statue of a Collie Sheep Dog.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 1855 James Mackenzie – a Scottish Shepherd discovered this basin that now bears his name (Mackenzie Country).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As per local folklore – James Mackenzie was a “Sheep Stealer”.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The story goes on to say that “Sheep Thief” James Mackenzie had a loyal Collie Sheep Dog named “Friday” who used to protect his sheep and hustle the flocks of stolen sheep into his sheep farms.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By stealing sheep from the Canterbury Plains and driving them inland across mountain passes into this remote area with the help of his Collie Dog ‘Friday’– James Mackenzie had become a prosperous sheep farmer.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One day James Mackenzie’s deeds caught up with him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">James Mackenzie was arrested and sent to jail.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The authorities went up the Burkes Pass into the “Mackenzie Basin” to retrieve the stolen sheep and return them to their rightful owners.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However – James Mackenzie’s loyal Collie Sheepdog continued to protect his sheep.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mackenzie’s highly intelligent dog ‘Friday’ continued to drive the sheep without his master’s control.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Sheepdog ‘Friday’ could not be restrained – and the dog aggressively attacked anyone who tried to come near his sheep.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally – Mackenzie's Collie Sheep Dog ‘Friday’ was shot and put down by the authorities.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The loyal Dog resolutely performed his duty towards his Master till his last breath and gave up his life for his Master.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The capture of James Mackenzie, for being “in the company of a thousand stolen sheep” as he rustled them with his dog ‘Friday’, through a remote alpine pass into “a plain of immense extent” resulted in his deeds being immortalized and his name being given these highlands ever since – hence the area is called “Mackenzie Country”.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many years later – the residents of Mackenzie Country decided to construct this monument in memory of James Mackenzie’s legendary Collie Sheepdog ‘Friday’ and all the hardy working Collie Dogs without the help of which the grazing of this mountainous country would have been impossible.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like Mackenzie – in the 19<sup>th</sup> century – many Scottish shepherds came to work on the pastoral runs of the Eastern South Island – and the high country could not have been farmed successfully without the Border Collies they brought with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thus - in addition to ‘Friday’ – this monument at Lake Tekapo honours all these ‘Canine Scots’ of Mackenzie Country.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This monument is dedicated to all good and faithful Collie sheepdogs who always gave their best irrespective of the weather or hardships, in burning heat and frozen snow.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is a unique monument dedicated to a dog – I wonder if there is any such memorial dedicated to a dog elsewhere in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The bronze dog statue was commissioned by Mackenzie Country residents in recognition of the indispensable role of the sheepdog in their livelihoods. The sculptor was Innes Elliott of Kaikoura, with a dog called Haig, belonging to a neighbour, being the model. Elliott reported the sculpting process took approximately 15 months. Clay for the model came from the insulator works in Temuka, with a plaster cast of it made and sent to London in 1966, where the statue was cast.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The statue was unveiled on the 7<sup>th</sup> of March 1968 by Sir Arthur Espie Porritt, Governor-General of New Zealand.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The inscription on the monument plaque reads:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>“This monument was erected by the runholders of the Mackenzie County and those who also appreciate the value of the collie dog, without the help of which the grazing of the mountain country would be impossible.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Unveiled on March 7, 1968, by Sir Arthur Espie Porritt, BT, GCMG, KCVO, CBE, Governor General of New Zealand<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>‘Beannachdan Air Na Cu Caorach’ (which in Gaelic means “blessings on the sheep dogs”).”</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are a few pictures of the ‘Tekapo Dog Memorial’ which I took on my smartphone during my visit to Lake Tekapo on the 26<sup>th</sup> of December 2015.<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-25Ekc0US-_A/VrRwjshfpuI/AAAAAAAAIBM/t9UFPBTqV1E/s1600/Dog%2BFront%2BView.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-25Ekc0US-_A/VrRwjshfpuI/AAAAAAAAIBM/t9UFPBTqV1E/s400/Dog%2BFront%2BView.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Collie Sheep Dog Statue<br /></span><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MTSsONxxvOc/VrR0WiKDriI/AAAAAAAAICE/pfhoKj144pk/s1600/Dog%2BMemorial%2BView%2BCopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #d52a33; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MTSsONxxvOc/VrR0WiKDriI/AAAAAAAAICE/pfhoKj144pk/s400/Dog%2BMemorial%2BView%2BCopy.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">‘Friday’ - the sheepdog belonging to Mackenzie, the folk hero who was the first European to find the route into this mountainous Basin – and all sheepdogs are remembered with the phrase “Beannachdan Air na Cu Caorach” (which means “Blessings on the Sheep Dog”) on the monument plaque. </span><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-33pUXKDdQS4/VrR2ZARwf5I/AAAAAAAAICU/NyyOQcefxno/s1600/Dog%2BPlaque%2BCropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-33pUXKDdQS4/VrR2ZARwf5I/AAAAAAAAICU/NyyOQcefxno/s400/Dog%2BPlaque%2BCropped.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x7gPEOk2zOw/VrR2fxcKyQI/AAAAAAAAICY/98BIgvKq434/s1600/Dog%2BPlaque.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x7gPEOk2zOw/VrR2fxcKyQI/AAAAAAAAICY/98BIgvKq434/s400/Dog%2BPlaque.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Different Aspect Views of the Tekapo Sheep Dog Statue </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0J18uEy1deI/VrR49h0tsTI/AAAAAAAAICs/vN4Fg3WQE1s/s1600/Dog%2BClose%2BView.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0J18uEy1deI/VrR49h0tsTI/AAAAAAAAICs/vN4Fg3WQE1s/s400/Dog%2BClose%2BView.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lr7XHrd6lNM/VrR49qWhw5I/AAAAAAAAICw/NfTduotHd8g/s1600/Dog%2BSide%2BView.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lr7XHrd6lNM/VrR49qWhw5I/AAAAAAAAICw/NfTduotHd8g/s400/Dog%2BSide%2BView.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iI85AgWC-TU/VrR5O0CGFuI/AAAAAAAAIC0/kPk8Jp62lcg/s1600/Dog%2Btop%2Bview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iI85AgWC-TU/VrR5O0CGFuI/AAAAAAAAIC0/kPk8Jp62lcg/s400/Dog%2Btop%2Bview.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0kAYJOQbOiQ/VrR46dfN4RI/AAAAAAAAICo/Ag4wGrKp68o/s1600/Dog%2BClose%2BUp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0kAYJOQbOiQ/VrR46dfN4RI/AAAAAAAAICo/Ag4wGrKp68o/s400/Dog%2BClose%2BUp.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the shores of the Turquoise Waters of Lake Tekapo </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xV9m6pzYmNk/VrR60GXOTxI/AAAAAAAAIDE/p1QvEkKd-P0/s1600/Lake%2BTekapo%2BShore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xV9m6pzYmNk/VrR60GXOTxI/AAAAAAAAIDE/p1QvEkKd-P0/s400/Lake%2BTekapo%2BShore.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lake Tekapo is a scenic resort with picturesque surroundings and breathtaking views. The air is pure and the sky is clear. For those interested in astronomy, this place has the darkest night skies and observatory open to public. There is plenty to do in the beautiful tranquil environment and good facilities for accommodation and food. Lake Tekapo is conveniently connected </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> located midway between Christchurch and Queenstown </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> a 3 hour drive from either place </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and is an ideal stopover for all types of tourists </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> a good honeymoon destination too. On our next visit </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> we will certainly spend a day or two in Lake Tekapo.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">VIKRAM KARVE</span></b></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">Copyright © Vikram Karve<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve<br />2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post<br /></span></span></div></div></div></div><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</b> </p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">My Source Blog Post in my Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve URL: </span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #990000; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="OWAAutoLink" href="http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2016/02/for-dog-lovers-tekapo-dog-memorial.html" id="OWAc5628c38-2870-447b-a1d7-5967322b0674" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #990000; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2016/02/for-dog-lovers-tekapo-dog-memorial.html</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> and also posted in my blog at URLs: </span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #990000; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="OWAAutoLink" href="http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2021/08/travel-memories-new-zealand-lake-tekapo.html" id="OWAb62a5c50-a770-4003-96ad-565c92833050" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #990000; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2021/08/travel-memories-new-zealand-lake-tekapo.html</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> and </span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #990000; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="OWAAutoLink" href="https://karve.wordpress.com/2016/02/05/memories-of-new-zealand-mackenzie-sheep-dog-memorial-at-lake-tekapo-travelogue/" id="OWA7a0f1a40-eadb-d016-77d2-24a47bf5b4d3" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #990000; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">https://karve.wordpress.com/2016/02/05/memories-of-new-zealand-mackenzie-sheep-dog-memorial-at-lake-tekapo-travelogue/</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> and </span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #990000; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="OWAAutoLink" href="https://vikramkarve.medium.com/travel-memories-new-zealand-lake-tekapo-sheep-dog-memorial-b82287051969" id="OWAce78bb89-3719-163d-b949-109f7c734e90" style="border: 0px; color: #990000; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://vikramkarve.medium.com/travel-memories-new-zealand-lake-tekapo-sheep-dog-memorial-b82287051969</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> etc.</span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</b> </p>Vikram Waman Karvehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00290102473130246523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710313771389348282.post-27965077716074370532024-01-12T20:30:00.004+05:302024-01-12T20:30:53.777+05:30The Visitor<p> <span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia;">Short Fiction by Vikram Karve</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">________<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">THE VISITOR</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Short Story by Vikram Karve<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">________<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Around 4 years ago – in March 2020 – as COVID cases
started rising in my neighbourhood – I shut down my consulting room in Mumbai –
and I “escaped” to my farmhouse – just a day before lockdown was imposed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One morning – a man came to see me at my farmhouse.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Sorry for barging in like this without an appointment –
I intentionally didn’t call – because – I felt you may refuse to see me…” he
said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He introduced himself – he was a business tycoon – he
gave me his business card.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“How did you manage to come here…?” I asked him, “there
is a lockdown…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I managed an e-pass…” he said.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_________</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Well – for the “rich and famous” – normal rules don’t
apply – and after reading his business card – it was evident that he was quite
an influential man)</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_________<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then </span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– he looked at me and spoke.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I heard that you are “No.1” in your field – I
desperately wanted to consult with you – so I have come…” he said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“There was no need to come all the way here – I am doing
online consultations…” I said to him.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I know – but this issue is sensitive – so – I wanted to
discuss with you in person…” he said, “I will pay you whatever fees you want
for your time…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Let’s go and sit outside on the lawns…” I said, “in
these COVID days – it is better to talk in the open air – and we can maintain
social distance – remove our masks – and talk freely…”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">________</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We sat down on the garden chairs on the lawn – with a
table in between – quite a distance between us.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I removed my mask and I looked at him.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Okay – tell me about your problem…” I said to him.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I started “audio record” on my smartphone – and kept my
smartphone on the table in between us.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Are you recording the conversation…?” he asked me.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Yes…” I said, “it will help me later to analyse and
make my notes…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Please don’t record our conversation…” he said, “I want
it to be totally private…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Okay…” I said – and – I picked up the smartphone – I
switched it off – and I kept it in my pocket.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I have switched off my smartphone…” I said to him, “now
you can speak freely…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“My wife wants a divorce…” he said – coming to the point
immediately.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“On what grounds…?” I asked him.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“She says that I am impotent…” he said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Are you…?” I asked him, “You’ve never had sex…?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Of course – I have had sex – in fact – I have had
regular sex with my wife for the last 3 years since we got married…” he said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Then clearly – you are not impotent…” I said, “if you
want – I will talk to your wife…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“No. No. It’s not that – she says that I am the reason
that we can’t have children…” the man said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Oh – so your wife is saying that you are sterile…” I
said, “doesn’t she know the difference between impotence and infertility…?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I
don’t know…” he said, “she wants me to get myself tested…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“It is
very simple…” I said, “you can get a sperm count test done – a semen analysis…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“No – I
don’t want to do it…” he said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“You
don’t want to get yourself tested…? Why…?” I asked him </span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– </span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">curious.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I am
scared that the tests may come true…” he said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“You
are scared that the tests may come true…? Do you fear that you are infertile…?”
I said to him.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Yes…”
he said </span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– matter-of-factly.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“You
must get rid of your fears – get the fertility tests done…” I said to him.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“No…”
he said, “suppose the tests say that I am infertile – that I am sterile and
can’t produce a child – it will be a humiliating “loss of face” for me…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Loss
of face…?” I said – taken aback.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Yes.
We come from a business community – mine is a business marriage – I must be
able to produce an heir…” he said – looking anxious.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Wait…”
I interrupted him, “what makes you think that it is you who is infertile – what
about your wife – has she done fertility tests…?”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“She
says that we should do the tests together…” he said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“And –
you don’t want to do the tests together because you feel nervous – that the
tests would show that it is you who is sterile…” I said to him.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Yes…”
he said </span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– with a nervous expression on his face.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Why
are you so worried…? It is not your fault if your sperm count happens to be low.
There is no stigma attached to infertility nowadays…” I said to him.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“You
don’t know my wife – she will publicly humiliate me – and – as I have already
told you – she will divorce me – and her family – they will spread all sorts of
rumours – and they will demand all sorts of things – I will be ruined –
everyone will know that I am impotent and infertile – not “man enough” – and my
reputation would be totally tarnished in my community…” he said – looking
nervous and distressed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Okay…”
I said in a consoling tone, “I can empathise with you – I will schedule a
private test for you – let’s see the results – then we will decide what to do…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Test…?
Here…?” he looked at me apprehensively.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Not
here – we will do the tests in Mumbai – but you don’t worry – I will be very
discreet – your identity will be confidential and no one will know…” I said to
him.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Okay…”
he said, “don’t call on the numbers on my card – I will give you my private
number – we can connect via WhatsApp…” he said to me.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He gave
me his private number – and – we connected on WhatsApp.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I
walked with the man to his SUV parked on the road outside my farmhouse.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He
smiled a goodbye to me – he got inside his SUV – and – he drove away.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">__________<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I
noticed that my neighbour was observing us – she was standing a few feet away
on the road with her small daughter – a cute girl – around 6 or 7 years old.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My
neighbour waved to me – and – she started walking towards me – with her
daughter in tow.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I looked
at the woman – she looked so chic – blue jeans, bright red tucked-in T-Shirt,
fair creamy flawless complexion, jet black hair neatly tied in a bun – and –
dark Ray-Ban sunglasses of the latest style.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She was
a good-looking woman with smart feminine features – elegant – fashionable –
chic – graceful – well-groomed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She was
“Kiwi-Indian” – an Indian settled in New Zealand.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She had
come on a vacation to India with her daughter – to meet people – and now – she
was stuck here – as all international flights were cancelled due to COVID
Lockdown.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Instead
of living with relatives in the city – she had come to live in the neighbouring
farmhouse – which belonged to one of her friends.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Life
was much better out here in the countryside – than in the crowded city – where
you had to live cooped up in your house with all sorts of lockdown curfews and
restrictions – living in fear – with “COVID Phobia” – whereas here – in the
farmhouse expanse – it was much healthier and safer – and you could move around
quite freely in the fresh air and natural environment.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Due to
COVID social distancing – we hadn’t talked much – just a “hail-fellow-well-met”
type of friendship – and a bit of “small talk”.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She smiled at me and spoke.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“You
had a visitor…” she said to me – matter-of-factly.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Yes…”
I said to her.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“That
man who visited you – is his name Avinash…?” she asked me.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was quite surprised by her question </span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– so </span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– I just looked at her in silence </span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– </span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">curious – wondering what to say </span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– but before I could speak </span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– </span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">she interrupted me.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Please
don’t get me wrong…” she said in a beseeching voice, “I was totally surprised
to see him here – luckily – he didn’t see me…”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Do you
know him…?” I asked her.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Yes –
once upon a time – I knew him very well – he is the father of my daughter…” she
said to me – looking into my eyes.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then
– she glanced at her cute daughter.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">________ </span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: #073763;">VIKRAM KARVE</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 13.91px;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; line-height: 18.2px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><span style="color: #073763;">Copyright © Vikram Karve<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve<br />2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post<br /><b>© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</b></span></div><div><b style="line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="color: #106a1f;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="color: #073763;">Disclaimer:</span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #073763;">1. This story is a fictional spoof, satire, 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. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #073763;">2. </span><span style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;">This story is </span></span><span style="color: #073763; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">a work of fiction. </span><span style="color: #073763; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">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.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #073763; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">3. E&OE</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8400720714775465451" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 586px;"><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;">Copyright Notice:</span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="color: #073763;">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.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><b>Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"> <b></b></span><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><b>© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;">________</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Vikram Waman Karvehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00290102473130246523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710313771389348282.post-22817359996124006322023-09-08T10:27:00.001+05:302023-09-08T10:31:41.728+05:30New Zealand Memories — War Memorials and Military Museums<p><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">NEW ZEALAND MEMORIES BY VIKRAM KARVE</span></b></p><p><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">WAR MEMORIALS and MUSEUM</span></b></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">________</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><b>PART 1</b> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">________ </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><b>WAR MEMORIALS</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">________</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">We (my wife and I) visited New Zealand for the first time 8 years ago in the year 2015. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">After two long flights by Korean Air – the first from Mumbai to Incheon (Seoul) of around 9 hours duration – then – a wait at Incheon Airport for 5 hours – followed by the Incheon to Auckland flight of almost 12 hours – we landed at Auckland International Airport New Zealand at 0800 Hrs (8 AM) local time on the 23<sup>rd</sup> of December 2015 – where our daughter was waiting for us with a friend who had brought his car along.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Since our Hotel ‘check-in’ was as 1400 Hrs (2 PM) – we decided to drive around Auckland and see the sights.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">I fell in love with Auckland immediately.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">From the aircraft we had seen sailboats below in the harbor – and we drove past these too – no wonder Auckland is called “city of sails”.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">The city was very clean – the air was pure – the traffic very disciplined – and the people very courteous – and it was a pleasure to drive around and visit various places – an uplifting experience driving on the superb roads, winding their way in the hilly terrain amidst on the picturesque scenery.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Our magnanimous “host” took us on a drive through Auckland – and then we visited Mission Bay Beach – where we walked on the beach in the warm sun.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Then we drove down to St Heliers which has a magnificent Seafront and breathtaking Beach amidst green foliage.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Here </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">–</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> while walking at St. Heliers </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">–</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> by pure chance </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">– </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">I discovered the Achilles Memorial at Achilles Point </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">commemorating the victory of HMS Achilles in the Battle of River Plate in World War 2. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">I was familiar with this warship – since – HMS Achilles was later transferred to the Indian Navy and commissioned as INS Delhi.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">I discovered this “war memorial” by sheer chance – even our “host” who was driving us around did not know about it – and he had brought us here </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">– </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">since this was a scenic seaside spot and beach.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Achilles was originally built for the Royal Navy, and was commissioned as HMS Achilles on 10 October 1933. She would serve with the Royal Navy's New Zealand Division from 31 March 1937 onwards. Approximately 60 per cent of her crew was from New Zealand.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">The Achilles Point Memorial commemorates the gallant performance of New Zealand Navy Sailors (and the supreme sacrifice of 4 martyrs) on HMS Achilles in the Battle of the River Plate in 1939 and in the South Atlantic in World War 2.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Later, after the creation of the Royal New Zealand Navy, HMS Achilles was transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy in September 1941 and recommissioned HMNZS Achilles.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">HMNZS Achilles was returned to the Royal Navy at the end of the Second World War.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">In 1948 – HMS Achilles was sold to the Royal Indian Navy and recommissioned as HMIS Delhi.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">In 1950 – the warship was renamed INS Delhi and remained in service until decommissioned on 30 June 1978. Most senior citizen Indian Navy Veterans (including those of my vintage) must have seen INS Delhi in service.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">On 16 January 1940, in order to recognize and honour the role the New Zealand Crewed Ship HMS Achilles had played in the Battle of the River Plate, the first major naval battle of World War 2, which lead to the defeat of the German Cruiser Graf Spee, the Auckland City Council resolved to name the tip of the headland on the western side of the Tamaki River as <b>Achilles Point</b>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">This vantage point enjoys commanding views of the Pacific Ocean over the Hauraki Gulf – and of Auckland City too.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">On 13 December 1940 – a memorial was built at Achilles Point to commemorate the victory of HMS Achilles. Its structure took the form of a ship’s bow. The Achilles Point memorial plaque has the inscription:</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">“This Reserve is dedicated to commemorate the gallant performance of HMS Achilles and the bravery of her Captain, Officers and Ship's Company in the victorious naval battle fought in the South Atlantic off the River Plate on December 13<sup>th</sup> 1939...”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">There is also a plaque in remembrance of the four Naval Ratings (Sailors) who sacrificed their lives during the Battle of the River Plate.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Here are a few pictures of the Achilles Memorial which I clicked on the 23<sup>rd</sup> of December 2015. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><b>ACHILLES POINT ST. HELIERS AUCKLAND</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-02-G4jNS-VQ/VtsNX9CO3CI/AAAAAAAAIMw/s7dk8oHljQM/s1600/M1%2BAchilles.jpg" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-02-G4jNS-VQ/VtsNX9CO3CI/AAAAAAAAIMw/s7dk8oHljQM/s400/M1%2BAchilles.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Achilles Memorial</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--IdkffRcikM/VtsOFij9gZI/AAAAAAAAIM0/7wAWlouLs54/s1600/WM1%2BAchilles%2BPoint.jpg" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--IdkffRcikM/VtsOFij9gZI/AAAAAAAAIM0/7wAWlouLs54/s400/WM1%2BAchilles%2BPoint.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Commemorative Plaque - Achilles Point</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nhuBzaOx30Y/VtsPQ14bRBI/AAAAAAAAINE/Au-OzYjopYQ/s1600/WM3%2BAchilles%2BPlate.jpg" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nhuBzaOx30Y/VtsPQ14bRBI/AAAAAAAAINE/Au-OzYjopYQ/s400/WM3%2BAchilles%2BPlate.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Inscription</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U09RGBNLEbk/VtsOoVOZeZI/AAAAAAAAIM8/rpcEeB0zv2E/s1600/WM2%2BAchilles%2BPlaque.jpg" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U09RGBNLEbk/VtsOoVOZeZI/AAAAAAAAIM8/rpcEeB0zv2E/s400/WM2%2BAchilles%2BPlaque.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Remembrance</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cPufcRe-qSA/VtsQFDiYt8I/AAAAAAAAINQ/b627_kWEATM/s1600/WM4%2BAchilles%2BShip%2BCrest.jpg" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cPufcRe-qSA/VtsQFDiYt8I/AAAAAAAAINQ/b627_kWEATM/s400/WM4%2BAchilles%2BShip%2BCrest.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Achilles Ship's Crest</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UnaE9668SI8/VtsQxT7UGkI/AAAAAAAAINU/irGbl1A2x2I/s1600/WM5%2BAchilles%2BEngraving.jpg" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UnaE9668SI8/VtsQxT7UGkI/AAAAAAAAINU/irGbl1A2x2I/s400/WM5%2BAchilles%2BEngraving.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Engraving HMS Achilles</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w4vFItDcUEg/VtsSSpxjy-I/AAAAAAAAINo/4DBfGWSCs48/s1600/WM999%2BAchilles%2BPoint%2BLandscape.jpg" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w4vFItDcUEg/VtsSSpxjy-I/AAAAAAAAINo/4DBfGWSCs48/s400/WM999%2BAchilles%2BPoint%2BLandscape.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Sea View From Memorial</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mEWIrfeeG8o/VtsSR0_mfDI/AAAAAAAAINk/Wj73-gD1q5Y/s1600/WM9999%2BAchilles%2BPoint%2BOverview.jpg" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mEWIrfeeG8o/VtsSR0_mfDI/AAAAAAAAINk/Wj73-gD1q5Y/s400/WM9999%2BAchilles%2BPoint%2BOverview.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">View of Memorial with Pacific Ocean in Background</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EMpTFgPjOfU/VtsTKMdpZOI/AAAAAAAAINw/Sx9lyWUJT8g/s1600/WM8%2BAuckland%2BAchilles%2BMemorial.jpg" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EMpTFgPjOfU/VtsTKMdpZOI/AAAAAAAAINw/Sx9lyWUJT8g/s400/WM8%2BAuckland%2BAchilles%2BMemorial.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Achilles Point Commemorative Plaque</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><b>Parnell Rose Gardens Auckland</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Next morning – we went on a morning walk from our hotel to the nearby Parnell Rose Gardens (Dove Myer Robinson Park) – and – we came across two war memorials in the garden.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RElSbTUrLkc/VtsU-bkcikI/AAAAAAAAIOA/Nw-HJdYYdl8/s1600/M23%2BParnell%2BRose%2BGardens.jpg" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RElSbTUrLkc/VtsU-bkcikI/AAAAAAAAIOA/Nw-HJdYYdl8/s640/M23%2BParnell%2BRose%2BGardens.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Korean War Memorial</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B4T4hbdSw_Y/VtsU_Sul5rI/AAAAAAAAIOE/0_Un6qlptbg/s1600/M24%2BParnell.jpg" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B4T4hbdSw_Y/VtsU_Sul5rI/AAAAAAAAIOE/0_Un6qlptbg/s640/M24%2BParnell.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Inscription</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zn32eTlI97A/VtsV0jKzeQI/AAAAAAAAIOM/uXJBPGblCkI/s1600/M241%2BParnell.jpg" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zn32eTlI97A/VtsV0jKzeQI/AAAAAAAAIOM/uXJBPGblCkI/s400/M241%2BParnell.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Netherlands Memorial</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TG6YX-0XCy8/VtsVxmKBYvI/AAAAAAAAIOI/KKBFqag0Cgk/s1600/M242%2BParnell.JPG" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TG6YX-0XCy8/VtsVxmKBYvI/AAAAAAAAIOI/KKBFqag0Cgk/s400/M242%2BParnell.JPG" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Simple Monument in Tranquil Surroundings</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><b>NEWMARKET AUCKLAND</b></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">In the evening – we walked down to Newmarket – a posh market of Auckland – and – even there – I noticed a memorial in remembrance of soldiers who had laid down their lives for the nation. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zseYJsoEXjQ/VtsX7wd6tsI/AAAAAAAAIOg/jfSViUYmki4/s1600/M4%2BNewmarket.jpg" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zseYJsoEXjQ/VtsX7wd6tsI/AAAAAAAAIOg/jfSViUYmki4/s640/M4%2BNewmarket.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Newmarket Memorial</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jBaCevHdOX4/VtsX4nMr8RI/AAAAAAAAIOc/v-Txhwc7TFA/s1600/M6%2BNewmarket.jpg" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jBaCevHdOX4/VtsX4nMr8RI/AAAAAAAAIOc/v-Txhwc7TFA/s400/M6%2BNewmarket.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wc85Dd2soYw/VtsX9b3vKtI/AAAAAAAAIOk/tRRmsbXqYH0/s1600/M7%2BNewmarket.jpg" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wc85Dd2soYw/VtsX9b3vKtI/AAAAAAAAIOk/tRRmsbXqYH0/s400/M7%2BNewmarket.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">PAPANUI GARDEN CHRISTCHURCH</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">On the 25<sup>th</sup> of December 2015 – we flew down to Christchurch – and – on an evening stroll in Papanui – where our hotel was located – I discovered a memorial in the neighbourhood garden.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xl9-284y9sU/VtsZzJ_5kMI/AAAAAAAAIOw/KKb8t5PQXcU/s1600/M3%2BPapanui%2BChristchurch.jpg" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xl9-284y9sU/VtsZzJ_5kMI/AAAAAAAAIOw/KKb8t5PQXcU/s320/M3%2BPapanui%2BChristchurch.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Papanui War Memorial Monument</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aD4FWr4-CKg/VtsazRtQmyI/AAAAAAAAIO4/zKCMs9bgE2U/s1600/M31%2BPapanui%2BMemorial.jpg" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aD4FWr4-CKg/VtsazRtQmyI/AAAAAAAAIO4/zKCMs9bgE2U/s640/M31%2BPapanui%2BMemorial.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Plaque</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">As I traveled in New Zealand – I saw that every neighbourhood/borough/village has a garden – and in that garden – there is a sublime war memorial – on which are engraved the names of martyrs from the neighbourhood/borough/village.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">These memorials to commemorate the supreme sacrifice of martyrs are simple, sober, solemn and dignified. There is no display of vulgar “jingoism” – and – these elegant unpretentious monuments of remembrance have an ambience of silence, dignity and solemnity about them.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><b>AUCKLAND WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">In addition to these Spartan yet Dignified Memorials – I was fortunate to visit the magnificent <b><a href="https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/about-us/history-of-auckland-museum" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">“Auckland War Memorial Museum”</a><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Completed in 1929 on the highest point on the Auckland Domain – the Auckland War Memorial Museum is an impressive structure – with its</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> imposing neoclassical temple capped with an impressive copper-and-glass dome – dominates the Auckland Domain and is a prominent part of the Auckland skyline – especially when viewed from the Harbour.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(254, 253, 250); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">After World War 2 – the building was extended to encompass war memorials for the over 4,000 Aucklanders who lost their lives in the Second World War. The semicircular extension at the rear of the building was opened in 1960 to provide space for the “World War 2 Hall of Memories” which now also encompasses the names of those martyred in subsequent conflicts and peacekeeping operations.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">I shall write a detailed post on the Auckland War Memorial Museum later in my Blog – with pictures of the war memorial, commemorative halls and military exhibits.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">For now – here are two pictures of the Auckland War Memorial Museum. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Vu7bRdcOeo/VtscKawZocI/AAAAAAAAIPI/zq3ir_v5Dug/s1600/M9%2BAuckland%2BWar%2BMemorial%2BMuseum1.jpg" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Vu7bRdcOeo/VtscKawZocI/AAAAAAAAIPI/zq3ir_v5Dug/s400/M9%2BAuckland%2BWar%2BMemorial%2BMuseum1.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Auckland War Memorial Museum</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WtwvuMdh4dE/VtscqdqQZAI/AAAAAAAAIPM/s5Da4TDl4RI/s1600/M91%2BAuckland%2BWar%2BMemorial%2BMuseum2.jpg" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WtwvuMdh4dE/VtscqdqQZAI/AAAAAAAAIPM/s5Da4TDl4RI/s400/M91%2BAuckland%2BWar%2BMemorial%2BMuseum2.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Auckland War Memorial Museum - World War 2 Hall of Memories</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Seeing these war memorial monuments had a lasting impression on me – whether small or large in size – each memorial was a sublime epitome of reverence, elegance and dignity.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Food for Thought<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">With the exception of the early New Zealand Wars (1843–1872) which were fought on New Zealand soil – the other wars in which New Zealanders participated </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">– these wars </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">were fought far away from its shores – South African War, World War 1 and World War 2 </span><o:p style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></o:p><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">– and </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">– even the subsequent UN Peacekeeping Missions in which the New Zealand Defence Forces participated were in distant lands.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">For many years now – New Zealand is one of the most peaceful nations in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">India’s population is almost 300 times more than New Zealand.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Size-wise </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">–</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> India is 12 times larger than New Zealand.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">India has one of the largest Armed Forces in the world </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">–</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> especially the huge Army.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Compared to India – the size of New Zealand’s Armed Forces (Army Navy Air Force) is minuscule.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">India has faced many wars and conflicts – and – there is always some Low Intensity Conflict (LIC) due to terrorism/militancy/insurgency going on due to which soldiers are martyred quite frequently.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">In contrast – New Zealand is a peaceful country.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">If you exclude the early New Zealand Wars, there have hardly been any direct wars on New Zealand territory – however – New Zealand made a significant contribution to Allied Forces in World Wars 1 and 2 and Peacekeeping Operations later by deploying its Armed Forces abroad.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">However – one thing is evident: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">New Zealand respects its Martyrs – soldiers, sailors and airmen who laid down their lives fighting under the New Zealand Flag – the 900 War Memorials located throughout the length and breadth of New Zealand – in each neighbourhood, borough, village, town and city – bear testimony to the reverence accorded to the military.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Yes – there are more than <b>900 War Memorials</b> in New Zealand – meticulously recorded in the <b><a href="http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/the-memorials-register" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">New Zealand Memorials Register</a></b> which has <b><a href="http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/memorials" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">historical information and images</a> </b>and <b><a href="http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/map/memorials-register-map" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">accurate locations with maps</a></b> for over <b>900 memorials</b> throughout the country.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">There are a few War Memorials in India </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent;">– including the recently built impressive war memorial in New Delhi. But there are hardly any memorials in villages </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of our military men in uniform. I feel it would be a noble idea to emulate New Zealand in this regard and we too can have similar simple, sublime and elegant war memorials </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">–</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> in each village </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">–</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> in each locality in every city </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">–</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> engraved with the names of martyrs from that village or locality </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">–</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> as a remembrance to martyred soldiers, sailors and airmen who perform the supreme sacrifice and lay down their lives for the nation.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">References: </span></div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">'New Zealand Wars memorials', URL: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/new-zealand-wars-memorials, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 20-Dec-2012</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">'Memorials register', URL: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/the-memorials-register, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 19-Nov-2013</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">'NZ memorials register map', URL: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/map/memorials-register-map, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 20-Dec-2012 </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">'HMS Achilles memorial, St Heliers', URL: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/hms-achilles-memorial-st-heliers, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 3-Jul-2014<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Auckland War Memorial Museum, URL: https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/about-us/history-of-auckland-museum</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">I have written this travelogue based on my own personal experience during my visit to New Zealand in December 2015/January 2016 – of course – I have referred to References cited above for cross-checking and background information. </span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="line-height: 18.2px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="line-height: 18.2px;">However </span><span style="line-height: 18.2px;">– all the photographs in the travelogue have been clicked by me on my smartphone. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">________________________</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-size: 13px;">______ </span></span><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-size: 13px;"><b>PART 2</b> </span></span><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">______</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><b>AUCKLAND WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM</b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Impressive Display of the Military Heritage of New Zealand</b><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"> </span></div><div><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">______ </span></div><div><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">MUSINGS ON MILITARY MUSEUMS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">India’s first Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant was decommissioned in 1997 – and – as a fitting tribute to the warship’s yeoman’s service to the nation – it was decided to preserve INS Vikrant as a “Museum Ship” based in Mumbai.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">Accordingly – INS Vikrant was converted into a Naval Museum Ship IMS (Indian Museum Ship) Vikrant.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">The Museum Ship was very well conceived – the Indian Navy put in a lot of effort – and IMS Vikrant had a fascinating display of Naval Artifacts.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">This interesting “afloat” Navy Museum had an added novelty of being on a famous ship – and this tribute to Naval Heritage attracted many visitors – despite not being easily accessible due to the security restrictions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">It was proposed to anchor this floating Navy Museum off Mumbai harbour to make it a top attraction to citizens, visitors and tourists.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">However – all these noble plans never materialized – and – after a few years – the Navy Museum was dismantled – and the grand old ship INS Vikrant was scrapped.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">Sadly – our Politicians and Civilian Citizens do not seem to be interested in preserving our military heritage – despite the fact that – India has fought major wars – and our Military Forces are in a constant state of combat – continuously engaged in counter-insurgency operations and action against militants/terrorists.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">In contrast - even a small peaceful country like New Zealand has impressive War Memorials and Military Museums – to commemorate the few wars and peacekeeping missions in which its citizens participated </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">–</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> mostly overseas.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">The remarkable Military Museums in New Zealand are prominent landmarks and top attractions – for citizens and visitors.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">For example – if you open any visitor guide or tourism brochure – you will see that the magnificent Auckland War Memorial Museum is highlighted as a top sightseeing attraction.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">Other Military Museums like the New Zealand Maritime Museum, Torpedo Bay Navy Museum and Aviation Display (at MOTAT) are hyped as “must see” sightseeing attractions in Auckland and figure prominently on all visitor guides and tourist itineraries – and so is the case with the Air Force Museum of New Zealand at Christchurch – and all the other Military Museums at various places in New Zealand.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">The general public is well-informed of these Military Museums – and any tourist visiting New Zealand will be made aware and encouraged to visit these museums.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">By the way – there are number of good Military Museums in India too – created in a piecemeal manner at various military locations </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">–</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> but – unfortunately </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">– </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">most civilians are not aware of these museums.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">For example – let me ask you: “Have you visited Goa?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">If so – you must have visited the excellent beaches and other attractions in Goa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">But – are you aware that there is an impressive Naval Aviation Museum in Goa?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">Does this Navy Museum figure prominently in any visitor guide or tourist itinerary?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">Similarly – there are Military Museums (created by the Army, Navy and Air Force) at various places in India – in New Delhi, Ahmednagar, Jaisalmer, Port Blair, Pune – and maybe in a few other places – but – is the civilian public aware of these military museums – and are these military museums publicized as top tourist attractions?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Why is it </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">– </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">that there are many Military Museums in India – but most of these are unknown to civilian citizens and not easily accessible to the general public...?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">This is just “food for thought” – shouldn’t we be proud of our military heritage as other nations rightly are?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">AUCKLAND WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">Now – let me tell you a bit about the impressive Auckland War Memorial Museum – a magnificent structure with a superbly commanding presence as it stands tall and mighty atop the Auckland Domain in the heart of Auckland.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">Auckland War Memorial Museum, one of New Zealand’s finest heritage buildings, stands on the hill known by Māori as Pukekawa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">The War Memorial Museum has occupied this site since 1929 when subscriptions raised by Aucklanders in remembrance of their war dead (in World War 1) enabled the construction of what is considered one of New Zealand’s best monuments.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">After World War 2 – the Museum building was extended to encompass war memorials for the over 4000 Aucklanders who lost their lives in the Second World War – and to accommodate the ever-increasing artifacts in the Museum's collections.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">The semicircular extension at the rear of the building was opened in 1960, providing more floor space and the World War 2 Hall of Memories which now also encompasses the names of those lost in subsequent peacekeeping missions and conflicts.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"></span><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">Auckland War Memorial Museum is a sacrosanct monument of remembrance for families and returned service personnel who wish to honor their loved ones and fallen comrades. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif""><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">This imposing neoclassical temple, capped with an impressive copper-and-glass dome, dominates the Auckland Domain and is a prominent part of the Auckland skyline, especially when viewed from the harbour.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">The Auckland War Memorial Museum features a very interesting, informative and educative display of New Zealand’s heritage.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">There a 3 levels:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">1. People of the Pacific - which features artifacts and information about the pioneers who explored and settled down in New Zealand.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">2. Stories of our Land and Sea - which has fascinating information about the geological origins and natural history of New Zealand before the advent of human settlers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">3. New Zealand War Stories - which is the most impressive section of the museum - comprises a fascinating display of the military heritage of New Zealand and highlights the gallant participation of New Zealanders in wars worldwide through history and their significant contribution to peacekeeping forces throughout the world. The Halls of Memory commemorate the supreme sacrifice of soldiers, sailors and airmen - and bear testimony to the rest respect and admiration the armed forces have in New Zealand.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">This museum is so interesting that you must take out an entire day for seeing this impressive museum during your stay in Auckland New Zealand.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">Here are a few photos I clicked during my visit to the Auckland War Memorial Museum on 31 December 2015.</span></div><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"><b>Pictures of the Impressive War Museum</b></span><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pKKxHOpj288/Vu2VKVmj_bI/AAAAAAAAIP4/ObQ4RXdPS0geaqHAeG0vpPPqLMfS_wnxg/s1600/A1%2BMain%2BNorth%2BEntrance.jpg" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pKKxHOpj288/Vu2VKVmj_bI/AAAAAAAAIP4/ObQ4RXdPS0geaqHAeG0vpPPqLMfS_wnxg/s400/A1%2BMain%2BNorth%2BEntrance.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">Auckland War Memorial Museum - Main (North) Entrance</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6X6-nlnvg70/Vu2VKwmD6xI/AAAAAAAAIP8/-9vWS92s2G8j8Jf7qi-yBD7b6D6T9e97w/s1600/A2%2BSouth%2BEntrance.jpg" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6X6-nlnvg70/Vu2VKwmD6xI/AAAAAAAAIP8/-9vWS92s2G8j8Jf7qi-yBD7b6D6T9e97w/s400/A2%2BSouth%2BEntrance.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">Auckland War Memorial Museum - South Entrance</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4DUc1yBUAY8/Vu2W8ViaVYI/AAAAAAAAIRA/s5newT77DyIm3OTu7I4OCzXjGpTYuSoFQ/s1600/A3%2BWW1%2BHall%2Bof%2BMemories.jpg" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4DUc1yBUAY8/Vu2W8ViaVYI/AAAAAAAAIRA/s5newT77DyIm3OTu7I4OCzXjGpTYuSoFQ/s400/A3%2BWW1%2BHall%2Bof%2BMemories.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">World War 1 - Hall of Memories</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SKQuKmCeZNU/Vu2WPy_hNfI/AAAAAAAAIQM/FoKXVW1H4rASilF6ePxjJNlUjUg9zaTQA/s1600/A4%2BWW2%2BHall%2Bof%2BMemories.jpg" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SKQuKmCeZNU/Vu2WPy_hNfI/AAAAAAAAIQM/FoKXVW1H4rASilF6ePxjJNlUjUg9zaTQA/s400/A4%2BWW2%2BHall%2Bof%2BMemories.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0hmnM4EVILc/Vu2WP-xAy5I/AAAAAAAAIQI/S6CpzBXh08UImhSW41gsfplrrc-e3kmjQ/s1600/A5%2BWW2%2BMemorial.jpg" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0hmnM4EVILc/Vu2WP-xAy5I/AAAAAAAAIQI/S6CpzBXh08UImhSW41gsfplrrc-e3kmjQ/s640/A5%2BWW2%2BMemorial.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">World War 2 - Hall of Memories</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--nO_hNre2h4/Vu2WVxajPZI/AAAAAAAAIQQ/cGIjAbbtWMwDfi9w7TG55jH5QwTrRJUZg/s1600/A6%2BMartyrs%2BRemembrance%2BIncription%2Band%2BRecord%2Bof%2BFallen.jpg" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--nO_hNre2h4/Vu2WVxajPZI/AAAAAAAAIQQ/cGIjAbbtWMwDfi9w7TG55jH5QwTrRJUZg/s400/A6%2BMartyrs%2BRemembrance%2BIncription%2Band%2BRecord%2Bof%2BFallen.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">World War 2 - Remembrance Inscriptions and Record of Fallen</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UplFuY1xIAI/Vu2WdPKY0VI/AAAAAAAAIQY/DYPGGU_rDoIfIEYE-uqV9cmvqCuBBwyzQ/s1600/A7%2BAchilles%2BBell.jpg" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UplFuY1xIAI/Vu2WdPKY0VI/AAAAAAAAIQY/DYPGGU_rDoIfIEYE-uqV9cmvqCuBBwyzQ/s400/A7%2BAchilles%2BBell.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">HMS Achilles Bell</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g0tYWTmouNg/Vu2WcWkTIRI/AAAAAAAAIQU/qXBcHr7lDOkWrF0patQHr8U6UIb4__kOg/s1600/A8%2BSpitfire.jpg" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g0tYWTmouNg/Vu2WcWkTIRI/AAAAAAAAIQU/qXBcHr7lDOkWrF0patQHr8U6UIb4__kOg/s400/A8%2BSpitfire.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2C17BfjbD8/Vu2Wi1idI9I/AAAAAAAAIQg/ycQYyD74cQMLWnrSAMlZ8dNGi6iZ4M9Og/s1600/A9%2BSpitfire.jpg" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2C17BfjbD8/Vu2Wi1idI9I/AAAAAAAAIQg/ycQYyD74cQMLWnrSAMlZ8dNGi6iZ4M9Og/s400/A9%2BSpitfire.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">Spitfire Fighter Aircraft - World War 2</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lDuBKS1GIL0/Vu2Wi4iXVNI/AAAAAAAAIQc/iBvXtyqFIS8Yt50GKZ5BWiEk8NNVi9Ljg/s1600/A91%2BZero.jpg" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lDuBKS1GIL0/Vu2Wi4iXVNI/AAAAAAAAIQc/iBvXtyqFIS8Yt50GKZ5BWiEk8NNVi9Ljg/s400/A91%2BZero.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3iqvbSKPBNs/Vu2WpZez8MI/AAAAAAAAIQo/oACp_LUSsLUrxQxIzT8wB8EIf_g0nAY4A/s1600/A92%2BZero.jpg" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3iqvbSKPBNs/Vu2WpZez8MI/AAAAAAAAIQo/oACp_LUSsLUrxQxIzT8wB8EIf_g0nAY4A/s400/A92%2BZero.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">Zero (Japanese) Fighter Aircraft - World War 2</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i6WGw1fuuwg/Vu2WpW3q01I/AAAAAAAAIQk/iK6vrWa4X244e9SL7JUG902h0SRyqc-Uw/s1600/A990.jpg" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i6WGw1fuuwg/Vu2WpW3q01I/AAAAAAAAIQk/iK6vrWa4X244e9SL7JUG902h0SRyqc-Uw/s400/A990.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bi6havinIrQ/Vu2WvgPWqFI/AAAAAAAAIQs/1XtdJmungWYVEiCKGI1FskP748OSImyEg/s1600/A991.jpg" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bi6havinIrQ/Vu2WvgPWqFI/AAAAAAAAIQs/1XtdJmungWYVEiCKGI1FskP748OSImyEg/s400/A991.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9vXTCGD9Rvc/Vu2WvscNuCI/AAAAAAAAIQw/DUG4arppqwA3TwzXxVk3663jKY2rKCtAw/s1600/A992.jpg" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9vXTCGD9Rvc/Vu2WvscNuCI/AAAAAAAAIQw/DUG4arppqwA3TwzXxVk3663jKY2rKCtAw/s400/A992.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">Memorial Hall - World War 2</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OHvTQARgRaI/Vu2W2yBwVBI/AAAAAAAAIQ4/qRV0mPCEEW8yO_yaE5hD6tfQq3AzdxcpQ/s1600/A993.jpg" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OHvTQARgRaI/Vu2W2yBwVBI/AAAAAAAAIQ4/qRV0mPCEEW8yO_yaE5hD6tfQq3AzdxcpQ/s400/A993.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Uc05N76zjo/Vu2W2juAZxI/AAAAAAAAIQ0/9jSJgOkTdcI69euE_W9oboCjfdixFEBjg/s1600/A994.jpg" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Uc05N76zjo/Vu2W2juAZxI/AAAAAAAAIQ0/9jSJgOkTdcI69euE_W9oboCjfdixFEBjg/s400/A994.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-diNwQb6IQWU/Vu2YjjZT0kI/AAAAAAAAIRY/Ph27iIiFWTcNFdEk5yS56c58UMcnlEmXQ/s1600/A995.jpg" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-diNwQb6IQWU/Vu2YjjZT0kI/AAAAAAAAIRY/Ph27iIiFWTcNFdEk5yS56c58UMcnlEmXQ/s640/A995.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">Navy Artifacts</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iWmoDBCSAIk/Vu2YjrLuB5I/AAAAAAAAIRQ/XOIf9s0jngUMSx4MMY4bQL8nnfQMMDT4g/s1600/A996.jpg" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iWmoDBCSAIk/Vu2YjrLuB5I/AAAAAAAAIRQ/XOIf9s0jngUMSx4MMY4bQL8nnfQMMDT4g/s400/A996.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Maori Wars Artifacts</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SX22yBa1GiA/Vu2Yrpv-2wI/AAAAAAAAIRg/nCriUZCs0KoT6GPgl3WWAZu58UDJmktcg/s1600/A997.jpg" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SX22yBa1GiA/Vu2Yrpv-2wI/AAAAAAAAIRg/nCriUZCs0KoT6GPgl3WWAZu58UDJmktcg/s640/A997.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Above and Below - Random Photos of Displays</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4O8IyXq-OyM/Vu2Y7yPAQAI/AAAAAAAAIR4/MD5CsU6nKUg0RwtbK_9C1o_cI0A_nXU6A/s1600/A998.jpg" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4O8IyXq-OyM/Vu2Y7yPAQAI/AAAAAAAAIR4/MD5CsU6nKUg0RwtbK_9C1o_cI0A_nXU6A/s400/A998.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; 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clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EBFlLqCaebM/Vu2Yzq24gjI/AAAAAAAAIRs/l53l5b24ixAshpsf7CWssC3Q9tnre3U6Q/s1600/A9974.jpg" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EBFlLqCaebM/Vu2Yzq24gjI/AAAAAAAAIRs/l53l5b24ixAshpsf7CWssC3Q9tnre3U6Q/s400/A9974.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L-fOo3qZxMo/Vu2Y0E-sugI/AAAAAAAAIRw/uypfsRGX_NElq86nB7OtfyyYMX8YLMUMQ/s1600/A9975.jpg" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L-fOo3qZxMo/Vu2Y0E-sugI/AAAAAAAAIRw/uypfsRGX_NElq86nB7OtfyyYMX8YLMUMQ/s400/A9975.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FtZ2WcTHNOM/Vu2Y7ybQSzI/AAAAAAAAIR0/KqJik648NzEGyI3bF7S5JLc02isueg8mA/s1600/A9981.jpg" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FtZ2WcTHNOM/Vu2Y7ybQSzI/AAAAAAAAIR0/KqJik648NzEGyI3bF7S5JLc02isueg8mA/s400/A9981.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nPDS7MftHxg/Vu2ZHbtQYnI/AAAAAAAAISI/7JX8M9hmO3URAa4bsPzzllBwiYRauV2yg/s1600/A9999.jpg" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nPDS7MftHxg/Vu2ZHbtQYnI/AAAAAAAAISI/7JX8M9hmO3URAa4bsPzzllBwiYRauV2yg/s400/A9999.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">View of South Entrance of Museum </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UW_2xkUad0o/Vu2ZCcAPVvI/AAAAAAAAISA/d5tl3yJax7I-6kfembNHZZ3N0N2YyaD5g/s1600/surrender.jpg" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UW_2xkUad0o/Vu2ZCcAPVvI/AAAAAAAAISA/d5tl3yJax7I-6kfembNHZZ3N0N2YyaD5g/s400/surrender.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">Instrument of Surrender with Japan - End of WW2</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">I could click very few photos since many displays were quite elaborate with subdued lighting and my smartphone battery ran out </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">– but </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">– I can say that this museum is the most impressive Military Museum I have seen so far. Indeed </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">– the Auckland War Memorial Museum is one of the best museums I have ever visited. </span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">I hope India emulates New Zealand in this regard to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of our military men in uniform – and we too create and proudly publicize similar impressive Military Museums in India to showcase our Military Heritage and inspire future generations </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">– </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">and build sublime War Memorials as a remembrance to martyred soldiers, sailors and airmen who perform the supreme sacrifice and lay down their lives for the nation. </span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Most importantly </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"><span style="line-height: 18.2px;">– we must make these military museums easily accessible to the public and tourists. </span></span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">I have written this travelogue based on my own personal experience during my visit to the </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent;">Auckland War Memorial Museum </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 18.2px;">New Zealand on 31 December 2015 </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 18.2px;">– and </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 18.2px;">–</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 18.2px;"> of course </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 18.2px;">– I have referred to the references cited below for cross-checking and background information. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="line-height: 18.2px;"><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif">References: </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="line-height: 18.2px;"><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 18.2px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif">Military and War Museums in India at url: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Military_and_war_museums_in_India" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Military_and_war_museums_in_India</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif">Auckland War Memorial Museum Website at url: <a href="https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/about-us/history-of-auckland-museum" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/about-us/history-of-auckland-museum</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 18.2px;">However </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 18.2px;">– all the photographs in the travelogue have been clicked by me on my smartphone. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 18.2px;">Dear Reader: Do let me know if you know of any Military Museums and War Memorials </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 18.2px;">– and </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 18.2px;">– hope you enjoyed the virtual tour of the </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 18.2px;">Auckland War Memorial Museum </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 18.2px;">New Zealand.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 18.2px;">________ </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">I visited a number of Museums and Art Galleries during my New Zealand visits (Pictures in my Social Media Accounts)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">These</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> military museums are definitely worth a visit when you visit New Zealand:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">New Zealand Maritime Museum Auckland</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Torpedo Bay Navy Museum Devonport</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">MOTAT (Museum of Transport and Technology) Auckland</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Air Force Museum Christchurch</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">_________ </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxCHTiqGSx86Cce6B-7eW91iHOD8A50Fs5KRGwzhmaWM2BXWFKT2_nflQPO2DhslwofO7oC6D4X3yqQ0zLJ90k13lZVBy4cq__a9Z2thKH8W7REHpIufFxJ99gMyg0rdjvfaHVV0CDLyP1ACsl0rpAvJM1aHPLU40F-jbQZ4e05Kwuyu2hKgb2blf0kDG/s1080/aucklandmaritimemuseum.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxCHTiqGSx86Cce6B-7eW91iHOD8A50Fs5KRGwzhmaWM2BXWFKT2_nflQPO2DhslwofO7oC6D4X3yqQ0zLJ90k13lZVBy4cq__a9Z2thKH8W7REHpIufFxJ99gMyg0rdjvfaHVV0CDLyP1ACsl0rpAvJM1aHPLU40F-jbQZ4e05Kwuyu2hKgb2blf0kDG/s320/aucklandmaritimemuseum.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maritime Museum</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuvjrUsNEQWToDW2n8HAYG7dt3pFGTMWdeOLjUVsHqARDM82Lwae4t_lDyqmzsnQrrFNhPpQSpb6R-zoovTY37b1eT-t7SRLMCBDd34Ob2ME0PM31DEA8kYOLCL8gv7fGHgrXXA7M1Xk1mCLGaxxR5TaJ5CB2HmOxAxnCudM7L9yCDOBwmi7wi_kIQSvR/s960/AucklandTorpedoBay.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuvjrUsNEQWToDW2n8HAYG7dt3pFGTMWdeOLjUVsHqARDM82Lwae4t_lDyqmzsnQrrFNhPpQSpb6R-zoovTY37b1eT-t7SRLMCBDd34Ob2ME0PM31DEA8kYOLCL8gv7fGHgrXXA7M1Xk1mCLGaxxR5TaJ5CB2HmOxAxnCudM7L9yCDOBwmi7wi_kIQSvR/s320/AucklandTorpedoBay.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Torpedo Bay Navy Museum</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiin3too7KzQDznGCDUl0XO3Gb0NhL-1l8Y6gtxPxRW0JYVDS1iUAFT6cx7GSpcg3PVrNTergmGqwacl12PP13lfIB6oaN6F71rc7Nru5WMDHWCj-_hkOIAHJ-cC2VxANC8K8o6AHStxdyJQjS5ESPvQkfjhNox8wdV8aeZS41jLSphSXmZ_3uxYLPVh4ca/s2048/AucklandMOTAT.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiin3too7KzQDznGCDUl0XO3Gb0NhL-1l8Y6gtxPxRW0JYVDS1iUAFT6cx7GSpcg3PVrNTergmGqwacl12PP13lfIB6oaN6F71rc7Nru5WMDHWCj-_hkOIAHJ-cC2VxANC8K8o6AHStxdyJQjS5ESPvQkfjhNox8wdV8aeZS41jLSphSXmZ_3uxYLPVh4ca/s320/AucklandMOTAT.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MOTAT</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Be7geFPUTLxgh7wXijW3qbbwNGoSxJWOlj23Mh9FYWSb8tYs5qHDNtFDdnuB2hlSnpNjgT5-SnbEJxcP-S-PHTdMIxsF6PKoGk67tm99a-cx6hu0X7Yt4IzoeY8w7uljGsC_3suv5xI08rKl7ItIwvR-RGkvq4YDm6GeLhf0qkeuzUDCB4Ei9Dq8mUJN/s940/ChristchurchAirForceMuseum.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="940" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Be7geFPUTLxgh7wXijW3qbbwNGoSxJWOlj23Mh9FYWSb8tYs5qHDNtFDdnuB2hlSnpNjgT5-SnbEJxcP-S-PHTdMIxsF6PKoGk67tm99a-cx6hu0X7Yt4IzoeY8w7uljGsC_3suv5xI08rKl7ItIwvR-RGkvq4YDm6GeLhf0qkeuzUDCB4Ei9Dq8mUJN/s320/ChristchurchAirForceMuseum.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Air Force Museum</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">_________<br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 18.2px;"><br />______________________________ </span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b style="line-height: 18.2px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="color: #073763;">VIKRAM KARVE</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="color: #073763;">Copyright © Vikram Karve<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve<br />2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post<br /><b>© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</b></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><div style="line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><b style="background-color: #fefdfa; line-height: 18.2px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></b></div><div style="line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><b style="background-color: #fefdfa; line-height: 18.2px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)</span></b></div><div style="line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><b style="background-color: #fefdfa; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></span></b></div><div style="line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><b style="background-color: #fefdfa; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: 400; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana, sans-serif">This Blog Post is an updated re-post of my travel blogs posts </span></span><b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">WAR MEMORIALS IN NEW ZEALAND</span></b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-weight: 400;"> written by me Vikram Karve on March 6, 2016 and posted by me online earlier in my blog at url: <a href="http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2016/03/war-memorials-in-new-zealand.html" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2016/03/war-memorials-in-new-zealand.html</a> and AUCKLAND WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM at url: <a href="http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2016/03/auckland-war-memorial-museum-military.html" target="_blank">http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2016/03/auckland-war-memorial-museum-military.html</a> etc.</span></b></div><div style="line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><b style="background-color: #fefdfa; line-height: 18.2px;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</b></b></div><div style="line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><b style="background-color: #fefdfa; line-height: 18.2px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-weight: 400;">____________</span></b></div><div style="line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><b style="background-color: #fefdfa; line-height: 18.2px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Vikram Waman Karvehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00290102473130246523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710313771389348282.post-78349498934397428822023-08-25T16:13:00.002+05:302023-08-25T16:13:43.487+05:30Humor : Toothache <p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><b>TOOTHACHE : a story </b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">_________ </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">A Man had such a terrible toothache that he thought he was going to die because of the toothache.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">_________</span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">He asked his friend: </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i>“I have got a dreadful toothache and the pain is unbearable. </i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i>Tell me, what can I do to relieve the pain...?”</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i>________</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">“I will tell you what I do...” his friend said, “Whenever I have a toothache and am in pain, I go over to my wife, and she puts her arms around me, and caresses me, and soothes me until finally I forget all about the pain...”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">________</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The man brightened up and said: </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i>“Oh, that’s wonderful. </i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i>Hey, tell me, your wife, is she home now...?”</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">_____________</div>Vikram Waman Karvehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00290102473130246523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710313771389348282.post-8198869710011969022023-06-30T14:08:00.001+05:302023-06-30T14:08:27.632+05:30Redevelopment <p>___________</p><p><strong><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia;">SHORT FICTION by VIKRAM KARVE</span></strong></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><strong><span style="color: red;">REDEVELOPMENT</span></strong> </span></p><p><!-- wp:paragraph -->
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<!-- /wp:paragraph --></p><p><strong><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: georgia;">A STORY </span></strong></p><p>___________ </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPn0ZZEtzBE5RA8rC8D0iSScYLge3otYgoVeqUHKt05GX_1bfplshIDauADFcA6mFveaRAGVBfJI7nz1zhS6fUXTjtLOhQlEPMYKN3Ge9nS71aDzlepA7ZekHf3UZt4K2IXg64D6bAGemdxYnfvZ_X_u_zFywoPqhsAUulD0n4N5EmUgmzQOTNmger0_ht/s315/40172245_10157095762785982_8755404400421240832_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="315" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPn0ZZEtzBE5RA8rC8D0iSScYLge3otYgoVeqUHKt05GX_1bfplshIDauADFcA6mFveaRAGVBfJI7nz1zhS6fUXTjtLOhQlEPMYKN3Ge9nS71aDzlepA7ZekHf3UZt4K2IXg64D6bAGemdxYnfvZ_X_u_zFywoPqhsAUulD0n4N5EmUgmzQOTNmger0_ht/s1600/40172245_10157095762785982_8755404400421240832_n.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">___________</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">REDEVELOPMENT<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fiction Story<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">By<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">VIKRAM KARVE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">________<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I have decided to
give the bungalow for redevelopment…” his mother says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Re-development…?” he
asks – surprised.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes – redevelopment
of our old bungalow into modern high-rise apartments – I discussed it with your
sister – she wants it too…” his mother says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">He looks at his
sister and smiles at her sarcastically.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Oh – so this is why you
have come to Pune all the way from the US – after a gap of 3 years…” he says to
his sister.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“We were busy…” his
sister says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“So busy that you
couldn’t come for father’s funeral last year…?” he says in an accusatory tone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I wanted to come –
but couldn’t – and you were here to do everything…” his sister says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Oh – Yes – I am
always here to do everything…” he says with sarcasm in his voice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">His mother looks at
him and speaks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Let’s talk about the
redevelopment of our bungalow…” his mother says to him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I am not interested
in redevelopment – I love living in this bungalow…” he says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“But your sister
wants redevelopment…” his mother says to him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“What has she got to
do with this…?” he says, “father had clearly said that this bungalow was mine…”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“No – but…” his sister
starts speaking.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">He gestures for her
to be silent.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then – he looks at
both his mother and his sister – and he speaks in a firm voice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“10 years ago – in this
very room – father had said that this bungalow would be mine after he died – do
you remember…? I wanted to buy a flat near Baner – and move out to live independently
– but father said there was no need for me to buy a flat – that I should live
here and look after him and mother – and after his death – I would be the owner
of this bungalow…” he says to his mother and sister.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“That was 10 years
ago…” his sister says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“So…? He gave me his
word. Doesn’t his word of honour have any significance to you…? In fact – knowing
that I would be living here permanently – I got the bungalow renovated – I built
two extra rooms – improved the terrace – beautified the garden – now – the bungalow
is in good condition – and – we are quite comfortable here – so – there is no
need to demolish this beautiful bungalow…” he says to his mother and sister.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Those are your views
– we feel redevelopment is the best option – the builder is giving us a very
good deal too – one 3 BHK flat for each of us – and quite a nice amount of
money…” his mother says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“What…? You have
already talked to a builder for redevelopment…? You didn’t even bother to tell
me…” he says – shocked. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“He had come here in
the afternoon – when you were at work – so – I am telling you now – the moment
you have come back from work…” his mother says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You should have
asked me before speaking to him…? And – did the builder land up here suddenly
on his own…? Someone must have spoken to him…” he says – curious – looking at
his mother and sister.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">His sister speaks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“My husband spoke to the
builder – he is a classmate of my husband…” his sister says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Oh – so it is your
husband who is the culprit – sitting in the US – and creating mischief here…” he
says to his sister – contemptuously.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Don’t speak like
that about your brother-in-law – he is elder to you…” his mother says to him –
in a tone of admonishment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Then tell him to
mind his own business…” he says curtly – then he looks at his mother and sister
– and he says, “I am the owner of this bungalow now – and I have decided that
there is going to be no redevelopment – that is final…”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">His sister looks at
him and speaks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You are not the owner
of this bungalow – this bungalow was originally built by our grandfather – so –
it is ancestral property – after father’s death – the bungalow belongs to all 3
of us – mother, you and me…” his sister says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“But father clearly
promised me that he would be giving me this bungalow…” he says – assertively.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Father is dead now…”
his sister says – matter-of-factly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I know he is dead – I
was the one who performed his last rites – but you didn’t even bother to come
for his funeral…” he says reproachfully to his sister.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Their mother
intervenes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Please stop arguing…”
his mother says to him, “that fact is that your father didn’t make a will – and
even if he did – you won’t be the sole owner of this bungalow since it is
ancestral property…” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“But he promised me –
in front of you – doesn’t his promise have any credence…?” he asks his mother
emphatically.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“We have to be
practical in these matters – we feel that redevelopment is the best option – we
are getting a good deal – so – we should go ahead…” his mother says to him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I am not interested
in redevelopment – I want to live this bungalow…” he says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">His sister looks at him
and speaks in a combative tone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“What do you mean <i>“I
want to live in this bungalow”</i>…? You can’t always dictate terms and
bulldoze your way. I have an equal share – as much as you have – so you have to
listen to my views too…” his sister says insistently.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">He looks at his sister
coldly and speaks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Oh – “equal share” –
okay – so – from now on – you look after mother…” he says to his sister.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“What do you mean…?”
his mother interjects.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You keep out of this…”
he says to his mother sternly, “I am talking to her…” he says pointing to his
sister – then – he turns to his mother and says, “till now – I looked after you
and father – now – father is dead – and – and you say that his promise is dead
too – so – your daughter will look after you from now on…”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">His sister is taken
aback.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“How can I look after
mother – I don’t live in Pune…” his sister says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Then – you relocate
to Pune and live here…” he says to his sister.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I am an American
Citizen – I am happy living in the US – why should I relocate to Pune – I don’t
want to live in Pune…” the sister says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“If you don’t want to
live in Pune – why do you want a house in Pune…?” he says to his sister.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Why not…? It is my
right to have a share in my parents’ property…” the sister says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes – and it is your
responsibility to look after your parents too – I looked after them for the
last 10 years – now – it is your turn…” he says to his sister.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“My turn…? What do
you mean…?” the sister says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well – rights and responsibilities go
together – if you have equal rights to your parents’ property – you have equal
responsibility of looking after them too – I have done my bit – I looked after
both father and mother for 10 years – now – only our mother is alive – so – it
is your responsibility to look after mother for an equal duration…” he says to
his sister.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“And you – what about
you…?” his sister asks him – questioningly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I am moving out of
the bungalow soon – so you can stay here and look after mother…” he says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Moving out…?
Where…?” his sister asks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“That’s none of your
business…” he says rudely.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“What do you mean…?
How can you just go away like that…?” his sister says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Don’t worry about me
– you worry about doing your duty – rest assured – I’ll be back after 10 years
once your turn is over…” he says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I told you that I
can’t come and stay here in Pune for such a long time…” his sister says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Then – you can take
mother to America to live with you – anyway – that’s none of my business – it
is your prerogative how to look after mother…” he says firmly to his sister.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then – he walks out
of the room – before his mother can react. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_________ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">He means what he says
– and – he walks his talk.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A few days later – he
moves out of the bungalow and relocates to another city – taking up a new job.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">His mother pleads
with him to not to go – but doesn’t pay any heed to her entreaties.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_________ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Meanwhile – his
sister has returned to the US – back to her husband and family.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_________<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">His mother keeps
beseeching him to come back to Pune – but it is of no use – he doesn’t come
back.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then – a few months
later – he migrates overseas for better career prospects.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_________<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So now – with her son
and daughter both abroad in foreign countries – the mother lives all alone in
the bungalow – lonely and desolate.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_________<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And – the bungalow…?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Well – though his
mother and daughter are keen on redevelopment and building high-rise apartments
in place of the bungalow – the redevelopment cannot happen without his NOC – which
he consistently refuses.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">He also makes it clear
to his sister that she is responsible for looking after their mother for the
next 10 years – when it will be his turn again – as per the <i>“equal rights –
equal responsibility”</i> hypothesis.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_________<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Living in the US –
the sister can’t look after her old mother living in the bungalow in Pune – and
– taking her old mother to the US doesn’t seem practicable – and – neither is
her old mother inclined to relocate to America – so – the old mother leads a
lonely existence in the bungalow.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_________<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The daughter does
whatever she can – remotely – from the US – to arrange caretakers for her old
mother – who is becoming infirm day by day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_________<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When the daughter realises
that her mother can’t live alone – she moves her mother to an “assisted living
facility” – and the bungalow lies unoccupied – locked up – uninhabited.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_________ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dear Reader:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I wonder what will
happen to the bungalow…?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Will the son come
back and live in the bungalow…?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Will the bungalow be
demolished and redeveloped into high-rise apartments…?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I really don’t know.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Let’s see what
happens.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_________ <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><b><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">VIKRAM KARVE</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 13.91px;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Copyright © Vikram Karve<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve<br />2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post<br /><b>© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</b></span></span></div><div><b style="line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="color: #106a1f;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div><b style="line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Disclaimer:</span></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">1. This story is a fictional spoof, satire, 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. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #073763;">2. </span><span style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;">This story is </span></span><span style="color: #073763; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">a work of fiction. </span><span style="color: #073763; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">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.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #073763; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">3. E&OE</span></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8400720714775465451" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 586px;"><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Copyright Notice:</span></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">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.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <b></b></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">________</span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Vikram Waman Karvehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00290102473130246523noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710313771389348282.post-88731168697594663182023-06-13T13:56:00.000+05:302023-06-13T13:56:15.031+05:30Romance : “Tete-a-Tete” with a Pretty Techie Girl<p class="MsoSubtitle"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: verdana;">SHORT
FICTION STORY<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">__________<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Tete-a-Tete” with a Pretty Techie Girl<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Story<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">By<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">VIKRAM KARVE<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_________<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I love walking – and – I love talking.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">That’s why no one wants to come for a walk with me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Oldie Goldies” of my age feel that I walk too much.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Youngsters” feel that I talk too much.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">That’s why I was pleasantly surprised when a pretty techie girl smiled
at me and asked me if she could join me in my evening walk.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Hello Uncle…” she said, “can I walk with you…?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Of course…” I said, “I would love your company – come along…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Thank you…” she said – and – she started walking beside me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">______ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dear Reader – after my retirement – I live in a modern residential
complex in a posh suburb of Pune.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is a well-designed gated community – quite expansive – comprising of
a number of high-rise buildings – well laid out – in verdant environment – and with
good amenities – gym, swimming pool, sports facilities, walking and jogging
track lined with trees, soothing green lawns, a lovely garden, nice shopping
complex, basement parking <i>et al</i>. – located in beautiful spacious
environment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Most of the residents are young “IT Software Techies” who work in the IT
Park nearby – young couples – Double Income Single Kid (DISK) – or – Double
Income No Kid (DINK) – who lead busy lives – and believe in maintaining a “hail-fellow-well-met”
type of relationship with fellow residents of the gated community.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The pretty techie girl who was walking with me – she was around 35 –
married to another “IT Techie” – they were a “DISK” couple.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I had seen her in the mornings – with her school-going son – waiting for
the school bus – along with other parents.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She lived in our building – or “Tower” as the builder had named it – and
– we met each other quite often – but – as I said – it was a “hail-fellow-well-met”
acquaintance. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Her name was Nisha.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For some time – Nisha and Me – we walked in silence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then – Nisha spoke.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Uncle – I wanted to talk to you…” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Okay – go ahead…” I said to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“It’s about your tweet about “quiet quitting” in relationships…” she
said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Oh – so you follow me on Twitter…” I said – feeling a bit elated.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes, Uncle – and – I read your blogs too…” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“So nice to hear this…” I said, “which blogs did you like…?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I read your blog on “How to Survive Incompatible Marriage” – and then –
I saw your tweet on “Quiet Quitting” in relationships – so – I thought you were
the best person I should talk to…” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Okay – I am all ears…” I said to her – guessing that she probably
wanted to talk about her marriage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was right.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She spoke about her marriage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“It’s about my married life…” she said, “I am feeling suffocated…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Suffocated…?” I said to her – with a questioning look.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Last evening – it was so bad – that – I was seriously thinking of
divorce – then – I remembered your blog “To Divorce or Not to Divorce” – I read
it again – I thought of all the stakeholders – I read your tweet on “Quiet
Quitting” – and – I thought it would be best to talk to you…” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“So – you want to “quiet-quit” your marriage…?” I asked her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes…” she said, “I want to know exactly how to do it…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“It’s simple…” I said, “reframe your marriage as a “job” – you know how to
do “quiet quitting” in a job – you put in the “bare minimum inescapable effort”
to keep your job – similarly – you do the minimum required to maintain your
marriage…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She gave me a thoughtful look – maybe she was confused – trying to
digest what I had said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So – I decided to help her out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Tell me – when did all this start – when did you start feeling
“suffocated” – as you put it…?” I asked her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“It was always there – but it became worse during the COVID Lockdown –
my in-laws came to live with us – then “Work-From-Home” started – for both me
and my husband – and online school classes for my son – and – I had to bear the
whole burden – overload of “work from home” – they expected us to be on our
laptops 24/7 – and then – cook – clean – shop – do all the housework – cater to
the idiosyncrasies and never-ending demands of my in-laws – my son’s school
work – everything – it became too much for me – and now – it continues – my
in-laws have moved in with us permanently – I am totally stressed out and
suffocated…” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“And – your husband – doesn’t he help…?” I asked her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“He is in his own world…” she said – with a tinge of contempt in her
voice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“So – you can be in your own world too…” I said to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She looked at me – confused – so – I decided to elaborate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Are both of you are still “working-from-home” – aren’t you…?” I asked
her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“My husband works from home – I work “hybrid” – for 4 days a week – I
work from home – and one day – on Friday – I go to office…” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You must start going to office every day…” I said to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Every Day…?” she exclaimed, “you want me to go to office every day…?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Will they object…?” I asked her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Object…? I don’t think so. In fact – my boss will be very happy…” she
said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“So – start doing it – go to office every day – you don’t feel
suffocated at work – do you…?” I said to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Not at all – I love my work – and the office environment…” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“So – start going to office 5 days a week…” I said to her. Start working
from office – I have experienced that “out of sight – out of mind” does work…”
I said to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“But what will happen at home…?” she said – a bit anxious.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Don’t worry – once you are not physically at home – things will take
care of themselves…” I said to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She looked a bit apprehensive – so – I assured her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Disentangle yourself – emotionally – that’s “quiet quitting” – you go
to office – things will work out at home on their own…” I said to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She smiled – she seemed to have accepted my suggestion.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I decided to change the topic a bit and ask her about her relationship
with her husband.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You said that you were seriously considering divorce – is your
relationship with your husband that bad…?” I asked her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I don’t want to live with him – but divorce is a difficult decision for
me…” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Observing the expression on her face – I could infer that she didn’t
want to talk about it in detail – so – I decided not to delve further – but keep
it simple.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I smiled to comfort her and spoke to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“If you don’t want to divorce your husband legally – you can divorce him
emotionally – that’s what “quiet quitting” is all about…” I said to her. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Emotional Divorce…?” she said – curious. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes – “Quiet Quitting” is akin to “Emotional Divorce” – sometimes –
when it is not be feasible to physically quit your marriage – it may be wise to
emotionally “quit” instead – so – “quiet-quit” your marriage – you emotionally
disentangle from your husband – you leave emotionally – instead of leaving
physically…” I said to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She looked at me – a contemplative look – as if she was seriously
thinking about what I had told her. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You make so much sense…” she said to me, “and you think so differently –
well – I had never looked at marriage from this angle…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“If you carefully observe – you will see that all married persons practice
“quiet quitting” – in varying degrees – at some time in the marriages – and
some have settled down to a “quiet-quitting” equilibrium” in the married life…”
I said to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Like you…?” she said – with a smile.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Maybe…” I said – smiling back at her, “I have just posted one tweet
about quiet quitting in relationships – the one you saw – now – I think I will
write a detailed blog on how to “quiet-quit” relationships – especially marriage…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes – you must write blog on “How to Quiet Quit Marriage” – it will
help so many who are in a similar situation as me…” she said to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I will certainly do that…” I said to her, “and you think about what we
discussed – take your time – do what you think is best for you…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Of course, Uncle…” she said with a genuine smile, “thank you so much
for talking to me…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">________<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For some time – we walked in silence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was already dark.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then – Nisha looked at her smartphone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I think it’s time for me to go home…” Nisha said – and – we smiled a “goodbye”
to each other – she walked towards our building – and – I walked towards my usual
bench in the park to do some meditation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">________</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>ONE DAY LATER </b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">________ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On the next day – as I started my evening walk – I saw Nisha coming towards
me – it seemed she was waiting for me – she looked happy and cheerful. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We started walking together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I must tell you something…” she said, excitedly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Good News…?” I said to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes…” she said, “I am going to New Zealand…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“New Zealand…!!!” I exclaimed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Normally – I refuse to go abroad to work on onsite projects – but –
this morning – I asked my boss if there was a foreign assignment – and – he
said there was one in Auckland, New Zealand – and I immediately volunteered to
go…” Nisha said, elatedly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nisha was so excited that she ran out of breath – so – she took a pause
before continuing to speak.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“My Boss was surprised – and so delighted too – he said I was the best
person for it – so – I am off to New Zealand for 6 months…” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Wow – 6 months…?” I exclaimed, “congratulations…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I must thank you…” she said to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Thank me…? For what…?” I said to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Last night – before going to sleep – I was thinking about the “quiet
quitting” concept you told me in the evening – and – I thought – wouldn’t
physical distance help me emotionally disentangle myself…?” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Long Distance Marriage – excellent – that’s taking “quiet quitting” to
another level...” I said to her. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes – physical distance will make emotional detachment easier – “out of
sight – out of mind” – as you said…” she said. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“What about your son…? Will you take him to New Zealand with you…?” I
asked her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“No – he will stay here – my husband and in-laws will look after him…”
she said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Oh – that’s good…” I said to her, “your son is big enough now – he is 9
– I had gone to boarding school when I was 9 – he will manage – but he will
miss you – since you are such a doting mother…” I said to her. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You know – like my marriage – I am too involved with my son – I think
it is better for me to do a bit of “quiet quitting” on the parenting front
too…” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I marveled at her ingenuity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: center 225.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Indeed – she was taking “quiet quitting” to the next level. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>___________</span></span><div><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><p style="color: #333333;"><b><span style="color: #073763;">VIKRAM KARVE</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 13.91px;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><span style="color: #073763;">Copyright © Vikram Karve<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve<br />2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post<br /><b>© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</b></span></div><div><b style="line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="color: #106a1f;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="color: #073763;">Disclaimer:</span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #073763;">1. This story is a fictional spoof, satire, 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. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #073763;">2. </span><span style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;">This story is </span></span><span style="color: #073763; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">a work of fiction. </span><span style="color: #073763; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">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.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #073763; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">3. E&OE</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8400720714775465451" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 586px;"><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;">Copyright Notice:</span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="color: #073763;">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.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><b>Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"> <b></b></span><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><b>© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;">________</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></span></span></div>Vikram Waman Karvehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00290102473130246523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710313771389348282.post-64000075988452556552023-05-29T11:20:00.007+05:302023-05-29T12:00:51.254+05:30What is the “Value” of Knowledge<p> <span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana;">TEACHING STORY </span></p><p>________ </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvsamJQ8ANGTSycjeJjcEimoVCh5pddh2W9WXWNUg04jPUiXxduXYP4AJ-OGkXJtuYKFgIil6XvcyY-g9uCRQZwRzTBcIePeVi4pXtNdqnEh7bZOWusJnvNhGO5l9RysEKdHw_gg7vQB3Fbq6zLsOPFO9L2wc1z2k_nYGhqKBYRukYo-1QlDmVcxdeA/s1440/cannonball.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvsamJQ8ANGTSycjeJjcEimoVCh5pddh2W9WXWNUg04jPUiXxduXYP4AJ-OGkXJtuYKFgIil6XvcyY-g9uCRQZwRzTBcIePeVi4pXtNdqnEh7bZOWusJnvNhGO5l9RysEKdHw_gg7vQB3Fbq6zLsOPFO9L2wc1z2k_nYGhqKBYRukYo-1QlDmVcxdeA/s320/cannonball.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">________ </span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">VALUE OF KNOWLEDGE</span></b></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Teaching Story</span></b></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">By</span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: verdana;">VIKRAM KARVE</span></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: verdana;">______</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">I love teaching </span></span>– and – I got plenty of opportunity to train and teach during my Navy days and thereafter. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">______</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have encountered two types of students:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">1. Students interested in learning (knowledge oriented students)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">and </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">2. Students interested in marks/grades (examination oriented students)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">______</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This second category of examination-oriented students would often say that I taught much more beyond the syllabus – and – they would ask me of what use was all this extra knowledge from the “examination point of view”. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">To these students – I would often narrate this classic Teaching Story.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">______</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">VALUE OF KNOWLEDGE </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">TEACHING STORY RE-TOLD BY VIKRAM KARVE</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">______</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There was once a wise man – a </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">“</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Guru” – who narrated “teaching stories” to explain his points.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">______</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span">One day </span>– a<span class="Apple-style-span"> man</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> interrupted his sermon </span>– <span class="Apple-style-span">and he rudely said to the </span><span style="background-color: transparent;">”Guru</span><span style="background-color: transparent;">”:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You are talking all nonsense. </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">I cannot understand head or tail of what you are saying.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">And – your so-called “teaching stories” are at best poor jokes – they don’t make sense or have any meaning...”</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span">On hearing this </span>– the<span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent;">”Guru</span><span style="background-color: transparent;">” smiled at the man.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Then </span>– the <span style="background-color: transparent;">”Guru</span><span style="background-color: transparent;">”</span> calmly removed the diamond studded gold ring on his finger.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">The </span><span style="background-color: transparent;">”Guru</span><span style="background-color: transparent;">”</span> politely called the man who had interrupted him.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When the man came – the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: verdana;">”Guru</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: verdana;">”</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> gave the ring to the man – and he told the man: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Go outside to the flea market and roadside stalls </span></i><span style="font-family: verdana;">–</span><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"> and ask them the cost of this ring.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Ask them for how much will they will buy this ring.</i> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">I want to sell this ring.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>So </i></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">– </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">if you get a good price </i><i style="font-family: verdana;">– </i><i style="font-family: verdana;">you sell the ring.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">The minimum price is One Lakh Rupees. </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Don’t sell it for less than a lakh of rupees...”</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_________</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The man returned after some time and he angrily said to the </span><span style="background-color: transparent;">”Guru</span><span style="background-color: transparent;">”:</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You have made me a laughing stock. </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>No one is prepared to pay One Lakh Rupees for this ring.</i> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">They say this ring is not worth even a hundred rupees...”</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_________</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The </span><span style="background-color: transparent;">”Guru</span><span style="background-color: transparent;">”</span> then told the man: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Now go to the best jeweller in town and ask him...”</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_________</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span">After some time </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">– </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">the man returned dumbfounded.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span">And </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">–</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> he said to the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: verdana;">”Guru</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: verdana;">”</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I just can’t believe it – the jeweller paid Rupees Two Lakhs for your ring...”</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_________</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The <span style="background-color: transparent;">”Guru</span><span style="background-color: transparent;">”</span> looked the man in the eye and said: </span></span></p><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">“Just as only a good jeweller can understand the true value of my ring </span>–</i><i> only the truly wise can understand the true meaning of my teaching stories.</i> </span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yes – only the truly wise can understand the value of genuine knowledge...”</span></i></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_________</span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><p><b><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">VIKRAM KARVE</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 13.91px;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Copyright © Vikram Karve<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve<br />2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post<br /><b>© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</b></span></span></div><div><b style="line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="color: #106a1f;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div><b style="line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Disclaimer:</span></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">1. This story is a fictional spoof, satire, 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. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #073763;">2. </span><span style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;">This story is </span></span><span style="color: #073763; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">a work of fiction. </span><span style="color: #073763; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">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.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #073763; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">3. E&OE</span></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8400720714775465451" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 586px;"><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Copyright Notice:</span></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">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.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <b></b></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</span></b></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;"><img src="http://banners.copyscape.com/images/cs-gy-3d-234x16.gif" style="background: white; border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px;" /> </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-weight: 400;">Parts and Versions of this story have been posted by me earlier posted in my various writing blogs - including at urls: <a href="https://karvediat.blogspot.com/2011/08/real-wisdom-and-fake-wisdom.html" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">https://karvediat.blogspot.com/2011/08/real-wisdom-and-fake-wisdom.html</a> and <a href="http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2021/12/value-of-knowledge.html" target="_blank">http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2021/12/value-of-knowledge.html</a> etc</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</span></b></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______</span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div>Vikram Waman Karvehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00290102473130246523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710313771389348282.post-74520500294633828322023-05-21T22:58:00.001+05:302023-05-21T22:58:22.359+05:30Short Fiction Story : Parenting <p><span style="font-family: verdana;">________</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana;">Short Fiction</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8eoq0M4DsR97ohmSkmGqSfTHcrjXy-Wi_jXH2NJSmBRKQgiRjE5TD0BlANXlPNsMGTyYzPlPkQJhjo6nn_vr_kyTz724ub3WUDqfcRZypb-faW9Vrj1K-udDHNdCrgYZSb0Ve_Ni8MIxTgA1EAJ1qIOwyS8qmgvYWbSHTo8ZUMJF_zn1PROhUX1_RQ/s1440/cannonball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8eoq0M4DsR97ohmSkmGqSfTHcrjXy-Wi_jXH2NJSmBRKQgiRjE5TD0BlANXlPNsMGTyYzPlPkQJhjo6nn_vr_kyTz724ub3WUDqfcRZypb-faW9Vrj1K-udDHNdCrgYZSb0Ve_Ni8MIxTgA1EAJ1qIOwyS8qmgvYWbSHTo8ZUMJF_zn1PROhUX1_RQ/s320/cannonball.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">PARENTING<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Story<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">By<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">VIKRAM KARVE<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">________ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">PART 1<o:p></o:p></span></b> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She comes out of the College Principal’s
Office – she goes to her best friend’s room – and – she tells her friend the exciting
news.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“It’s a chance of a lifetime –
don’t refuse…” her friend says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“But – what about my daughter – I
can’t take her with me…?” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Your daughter Nisha – she can
stay at your husband’s place…” her friend says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“My husband’s place…? Why should
Nisha stay at my husband’s place…?” she says – taken aback by her friend’s
suggestion.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Where else can she stay for 6
months…? There is no place in the hostel – there is a huge waiting list – and –
I don’t think she can manage living all alone in your flat – besides<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- it may not be safe for a young girl to live
all alone too – you know how the environment is nowadays…” her friend says, “I
would have kept her with me – but I live in a huge joint family – you know my
situation – so – I think keeping Nisha with your husband seems the only
option…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“But – will my husband look after
her for six months…?” she says – looking skeptical.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Why not…? He is her father…” her
friend says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“But – he doesn’t know anything
about her – he hasn’t met Nisha for 5 years…” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“That’s because you didn’t allow
him to meet her – your husband has visitation rights – but you told him that
you didn’t want him to meet your daughter…” her friend says, “I am surprised
how he agreed…?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“That’s because I gave up
everything – no alimony – no maintenance – no child support – I didn’t take a
single rupee from him – not even my share in the house – nothing – absolutely
nothing – when I walked out – I took nothing from him – I just wanted my
daughter for myself – that’s all…” she said. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“It must have been painful for
him – for a father to be separated from his daughter who he loved so much…” her
friend says, “anyway – forget about the past – you call him and ask him…” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Right now…? You want me to call
him right now…?” she says to her friend – feeling a bit uneasy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You told me that the Principal
wants your consent by closing hours today – so – it is better you call your
husband immediately and settle your daughter’s issue…” her friend says, “you
have your husband’s number – don’t you…?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I don’t know…” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“What…? You don’t know…? Don’t
you ever call your husband…?” her friend says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I called him around 3 years ago
regarding some banking issue – I haven’t spoken to him after that…” she says. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Look in your contacts…” her
friend says, “otherwise – we can find out from somewhere…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She looks in her contact list on
her smartphone – and – she finds her husband’s number.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“It’s there – should I call him
now…?” she asks her friend.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes – call him right now – if
you want – I’ll leave you alone…” her friend says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“No. No. I want you to stay
here…” she says – and – she calls her husband.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She hears her husband’s voice on
the phone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Is everything okay…?” her
husband asks her – he is surprised that she has suddenly called him out of the
blue – and that too – after 3 years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes – all is well – how are you…?”
she asks her husband.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I am fine…” her husband says,
“is there anything I can do for you…?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Actually – yes – I called you because
I wanted your help…” she says to her husband.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You want my help…? How much…? I
will transfer it today – is it the same account…?” her husband asks.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“No. No…” she interrupts her
husband, “I don’t want your money – I want to you to look after Nisha…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You want me to look after
Nisha…?” her husband says, surprised and a bit confused.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes – can you keep her with you for
6 months…?” she says to her husband.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Six Months…?” her husband says,
flabbergasted.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Her husband is baffled – because
– when they split – she didn’t want him to meet their daughter – she said that
she didn’t want their daughter to come under his influence – he had meekly
accepted – after “hints” and “subtle threats” were given to him by her lawyer –
so – for 5 years – he had not met his daughter Nisha – and now – she wanted him
to look after Nisha for 6 months – it is all very confusing to him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">His thoughts are interrupted by
his wife’s voice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I have been selected for a
“Faculty Exchange Program” – I am going to New Zealand to teach at a prestigious
university over there for one semester – I can’t take Nisha with me – besides –
she can’t miss her college for 6 months – so – I thought it was best if she
could stay with you…” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Can’t you make some other
arrangements…? Maybe – in a hostel – or – you can hire a full-time maid…” he
says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“There is no time for all that – there
is no place in the hostel – and – I don’t want her living all alone in the flat
– it’s not safe – Nisha is still a teenager – she’s just 19 – please let her
stay with you – after all – you are her father…” she says. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Okay…” he says, “let me ask
Monika…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Monika…? Who is Monika…?” she
asks – surprised.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“She has moved in with me – we
are living together…” he says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“A woman has moved in with you…?
Living together…? I didn’t know all this…” she says in a scandalized tone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You haven’t spoken to me for 3
years – you are happy with your career and life – you have moved on in life –
and you don’t seem to be interested in us getting back together – well – I have
to move on in life too – isn’t it…?” he says. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She remains silent – trying to
digest the fact that her husband is living with another woman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then – she remembers her urgency
– she has to confirm her consent to the Principal before closing time today –
she has a just few hours.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So – she pleads with her husband.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“About Nisha staying with you – please
tell me as quickly as possible – I will wait for your call – I have to give my
consent immediately – before closing hours today – and please say “Yes” and let
Nisha stay with you for 6 months – this is a life changing career opportunity
for me…” she says – with desperation in her voice, “if you want – I can come
there and speak to Monika – there is very little time – I am in a hurry – I
have to tell the Principal today itself…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Her husband senses her
desperation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So – he decides to say “Yes”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Okay – yes – Nisha can stay with
us for 6 months – you can give your consent right now to your College
Principal…” he says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“But – you were going to ask
Monika…?” she says – a bit wary.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I don’t want to disturb her at
work – but – you don’t worry about all that – I’ll tell her in the evening –
Nisha can stay with us…” he says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Thank you so much…” she says to
her husband – she says – feeling relieved.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then – she hears her husband’s
voice on the phone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I hope Nisha has no issues staying
over here…” he says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“No. No. I will convince her –
she has no choice – Nisha will stay with you – she is a good girl – she will
behave herself – she will be no trouble at all…” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You go ahead and give your
consent – and – let me know when you are going to New Zealand…” he says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes. Yes. I will go right now to
the Principal and give my consent – I think I’ll have to leave next week – they
said they would fast track the visa etc. – I will call you once my travel plans
are finalized…” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Keep me updated…” he says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes – and – thank you so much…”
she says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“It’s okay – she is my daughter
too…” he says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After the call is disconnected –
she puts the smartphone on the table – and – she smiles at her friend.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“He agreed…” she says to her
friend.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I heard…” her friend says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“There is a woman who has moved
in with him – some Monika…” she says to her friend.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I heard…” her friend says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I’ll go to the Principal’s
Office and give my consent…” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Aren’t you going to tell
Nisha…?” her friend asks.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I’ll tell her later…” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I think it’s better you tell her
now before you give your consent – you never know how teenagers will react…”
her friend says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Okay – I’ll speak to her at
lunchtime…” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“No. You better speak to Nisha
right now. I will bring her from the classroom. You sit here and rehearse what
you are going to say to her…” her friend says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ten minutes later – her friend
arrives with Nisha. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Congratulations…” her daughter Nisha
says to her – and she hugs her lovingly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You told her…?” she questions
her friend.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes – and – I told her about the
other thing too…” her friend says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Don’t worry, Mamma – I will stay
with Papa…” Nisha says to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She feels relieved.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She thought it would be so
difficult to convince Nisha to stay at her father’s place – especially as he
has a new partner now. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But – Nisha seems to have agreed
so easily.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She wonders how her friend
managed to convince Nisha so easily.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She feels grateful to her friend.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then – she wishes she could have
told her daughter herself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">While she is experiencing these
conflicting emotions – she hears her friend’s voice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Come on – go to the Principal’s
Office and give your consent – then – there will have to do the paperwork for
your visa etc.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">________ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the evening – her husband and
Monika come to her flat. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She looks at her husband’s
live-in partner Monika.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Monika looks ordinary – very
ordinary – a podgy unpretentious looking homely woman – in short – she is a “Plain
Jane”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She feels disappointed – her
husband could have chosen someone much better than this pedestrian woman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The woman smiles at her – and
speaks very politely.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She wonders if it is genuine or
just fake courtesy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Her thoughts are interrupted by
her husband’s voice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Call Nisha…” he says, “I want to
see her – and I want to her to meet Monika…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes…” she says to her husband –
and she calls Nisha from inside.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She wonders how her daughter will
react – meeting her father after five years – and – if Nisha will accept Monika
– her father’s girlfriend.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She observes that the three of
them – her daughter – her husband – and her husband’s girlfriend – they are decorous
to each other – cordial – but not very friendly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A daughter meeting her father
after five years – it may take some time for the ice to melt.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But it seems Nisha has accepted
the situation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">They talk about Nisha’s college –
her routine – and – her husband and Monika says that they will be most happy to
have Nisha stay with them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One week later – she is on her
way to New Zealand – with Nisha settled in her husband’s house.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">___________ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">PART 2<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">__________<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">SIX MONTHS LATER<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">__________ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She arrives from New Zealand six
months later – her flight arrived in the wee hours of the morning – she takes
the Airport cab from Mumbai reaches Pune – she asks the driver to drive via her
husband’s house – so – she can pick up her daughter Nisha and take her home.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It’s 8 AM in the morning when she
reaches her husband’s house.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Her husband, his girlfriend Monika
and her daughter Nisha are having breakfast.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Come on, Nisha – finish your
breakfast quickly and go get your bag – the taxi is waiting outside…” she says
to her daughter Nisha.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I am not coming with you…” Nisha
says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“What do you mean “I am not
coming with you”…? I had told you to pack your bags and be ready – and I will
be picking you up in the morning on my way home…” she says to her daughter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I have decided to stay here…”
Nisha says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You have decided to stay here…?
What nonsense are you talking…?” she shouts at her daughter Nisha – then – she
gives her husband a questioning look and asks him, “what is all this…?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Before her husband can answer –
Nisha interrupts. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You don’t ask him…” her daughter
Nisha says to her, “it is my decision…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“When did you decide…? I have
been talking to you every day from New Zealand – you never told me anything…”
she says to her daughter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I knew you would be very busy
focusing on your work – so – I didn’t want to upset you…” her daughter Nisha
says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You can’t decide these things –
I am your mother – you will have to come with me – get your things quickly –
the taxi is waiting…” she says to her daughter – emphatically.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I am not coming with you – I am
staying here…” her daughter says – unequivocally.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You have to come with me – you
have no choice…” she shouts at her daughter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I am an adult now – you can’t
dictate terms to me any longer – I will decide for myself – and – I have made
my choice – I want to live with my father…” Nisha says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“But why…?” she asks her
daughter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I like it here – my father is such
a nice person – and Monika is so friendly – she is not a control freak – like
you…” Nisha says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Control Freak…? I love you so
much – I have given you the best of everything – I look after you so well – and
you are calling me a “control freak”…?” she says angrily to her daughter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You are so domineering – living
with you – I felt suffocated. Here – with Papa and Monika – I feel free…” Nisha
says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She trembles with anger on
hearing her daughter’s words and raises her hand to slap her daughter – when
she hears her husband’s voice. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Cool down – you go home now and
settle down – we will talk later…” her husband says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“No – I am taking my daughter
with me right now…” she says assertively.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But her daughter Monika is
defiant.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I am not coming with you – I
told you I want to stay here – and we are getting late – I have to go to
college – and – they have to go to work – to their offices – you please go…”
her daughter Nisha says firmly – and she goes inside.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She feels faint – the ground
slipping below her feet – and – she senses her husband’s hand on her arm –
supporting her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You go home and relax – we’ll
sort this out later…” her husband says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She observes Monika looking into
her coffee mug – sipping coffee – as if she hasn’t seen anything – or heard
anything.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She feels shattered – overcome by
a sense of defeat – as her husband guides her out of the house towards the
waiting taxi.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">PART 3<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A FEW HOURS LATER<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She and her best friend – they
sit on a bench in a secluded place in the expansive university garden – and
they have a discussion – about her daughter, her husband, her marriage. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Nisha called me a “control
freak”…” she says to her friend.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“It’s okay – you were too
attached to her – you tried to monopolize her – let her be – she is at a
difficult age – and she is an adult now…” her friend says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Monopolize…? I love her so much
– I wanted her to do well in life – and – as a single parent – I had to be
careful – so – I was a bit strict – that’s all…” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“A child needs the love of both
parents – you deprived her of that – I feel you hastily walked out of your
marriage – you could have been less rigid…” her friend says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“So – you are blaming me for
everything – you are saying it is my fault that my marriage broke up…” she says
– feeling hurt.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Please try to understand me
correctly – I am not saying it is your fault that you and your husband split up
– but then – you could have been a bit accommodating – isn’t it…?” her friends
says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I could have been
“accommodating” …? What do you mean…?” she asks her friend.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“He told me you were too
dominating – you always imposed your will on him – and – he said he felt
suffocated in the marriage…” her friend says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“My husband told you…? When did
he tell you all this…?” she asks – irked. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“After you two split – I met him
once at the airport – he seemed relieved that you had walked out on him…” her
friend says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You met my husband behind my
back…? And – you didn’t bother to tell me…?” she says – upset and extremely
annoyed with her friend.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Was there any point…? You are so
headstrong…” her friend says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Headstrong…? How dare you call
me headstrong…? Just because I am gracious to you – that doesn’t give you the
license to say anything you want about me, make nasty comments and cast
aspersions about my personal life…” she shouts angrily at her friend, “Who the
hell do you think you are…? I will not tolerate such slander from lowlifes like
you – do you understand…?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Her friend seems taken aback and
hurt by this outburst.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I am sorry – I will not talk to
you again…” her friend says – and – her friend gets up and walks away. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">__________ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She sits on the bench in the
garden – all alone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Her husband is gone – her
daughter is gone – her best friend is gone. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She has no one now.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Never before has she felt so
lonely – so alone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">__________<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">EPILOGUE<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">__________ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">While she sits in the park –
feeling depressed and lonely – her friend calls up Monika.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You did well…” she says to
Monika, “Nisha seems very happy with you…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes…” Monika says, “how is her
mother…?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“She is fretting and fuming all
alone – you don’t worry about her…” the friend says to Monika, “now that you
have her daughter Nisha on your side – you can go ahead with your plans – I
think he will agree…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes – I will try to convince him
– thank you so much – everything is working out so nicely – he loves me so much
– and – Nisha is such a friendly girl – she seems to have accepted me. You know
– that’s what he was afraid of – what would be his daughter’s reaction if he
got remarried…? So now that everything seems okay on that front – hopefully –
it will be wedding bells soon…” Monika says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Don’t forget to invite me for
your wedding…” the friend says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Of course – but – you listen –
your friend – Nisha’s mother – she shouldn’t know that you and me knew each
other – I think we need to keep our friendship under wraps for some time – at
least till the wedding…” her friend says to Monika.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You don’t worry about her – she
has broken up with me – and – I am never going to speak to her again…” the
friend says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">__________ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">VIKRAM KARVE</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Copyright © Vikram Karve<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve<br />2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post<br /><b>© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</b></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><span style="color: #073763;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><b style="color: #073763; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Disclaimer:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8400720714775465451" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 586px;"><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #073763;">This story is </span><span style="color: #073763; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">a work of fiction. </span><span style="color: #073763; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">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.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Copyright Notice:</span></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">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.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <b></b></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</span></b></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img src="http://banners.copyscape.com/images/cs-gy-3d-234x16.gif" style="background: white; border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px;" /></span></span></b></div></div></div>Vikram Waman Karvehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00290102473130246523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710313771389348282.post-16605162705711098982023-05-15T22:48:00.003+05:302023-05-15T22:49:48.007+05:30Lawrence School Lovedale : Investiture Ceremony 2023<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/hqiFCwEJn5g" width="480"></iframe><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hqiFCwEJn5g" width="320" youtube-src-id="hqiFCwEJn5g"></iframe></div><br />Vikram Waman Karvehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00290102473130246523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710313771389348282.post-63664039750809280972023-05-06T18:20:00.002+05:302023-05-06T18:20:24.718+05:30Short Fiction : The Woman at the Book Fair<p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana;">Short Fiction</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">WOMAN AT THE BOOK FAIR<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: black;">Story by Vikram Karve</span></b><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">MUMBAI <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Circa – January 2003<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I reached my home opposite the Oval – after work – as
usual – at 5 PM in the evening.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was opening the door to my house – when my neighbour
opened his door – and – he said he wanted to speak to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Sure…” I said – and – I invited him to come in.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I closed the door – I asked him to sit on the sofa – and –
I sat opposite him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Anything urgent…?” I asked him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Who was that woman with you last evening…?” my neighbour
asked me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Woman…?” I said – confused.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I saw both of you entering the building at 7 PM and I
saw her leaving alone at around 9 PM…” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Oh – her…? I met her at the book fair…?” I said to him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Book Fair…?” he asked me – with a clueless look.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Don’t you know…? The “Strand Book Fair” – it’s held
every year in January near Churchgate…” I said to him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I was asking you about the woman who with you in your
house last evening…” he said – with a questioning look.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I told you – I met her at the Book Fair…” I said to him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“And – you brought her home – you spent two hours with
her all alone – just the two of you…” he said – in a suspicious tone of voice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“What are you trying to imply…?” I asked him – a bit
miffed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You wife is away – and you are having a “good time” with
other women…” he said – his voice full of sarcasm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Well – if browsing books together is your interpretation
of a “good time” – we certainly were having a “good time” together…” I said to
him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Browsing Books…? Who are you trying to fool…? You and
that “dubious” female – you spend two hours shacked up together in your house –
and you are making up all sorts of stories to cover up your hanky-panky…? Do
you think I am a dimwit…?” he said – in a jeering tone of voice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“What nonsense are you talking…? Dubious Female…? She is
a respectable person – a decent lady…” I said to him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My neighbour smiled – a derisive smile – and spoke in a
sarcastic tone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Respectable…? Decent…? Are you sure…?” he asked me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Of course – she is a book lover – she has been coming to
the book fair for the last 3 days – we were browsing similar books – literature,
fiction, short stories – so – we got talking – I told her about my book
collection – she wanted to see it – so – I invited her home to see my books…” I
said – truthfully.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Are you telling me that she was looking at your books
for over 2 hours last evening…?” he asked me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes – we browsed books together – she showed interest in
short fiction – so – I told her about my favourite short stories – we discussed
literature – that’s all…” I said – trying to convince him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You pick up a woman at the book fair – you bring her
home – you spend two hours with her in private – do you even know who the woman
is…?” my neighbour asked me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“She is a counsellor…” I said to him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Counsellor…!!!” my neighbour exclaimed – with a laugh.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes – she told me she is a personal counsellor and
therapist – in fact – she told me she had an appointment at 9 PM nearby…” I
said to him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Appointment…? At 9 PM at night…?” he said – looking
incredulous.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes – she told me she does private therapy at home for
some special patients…” I said – telling him what the woman had told me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Private Therapy…? At Home…? Special Patients…?” he said
breaking into a laugh, “instead of making up tall stories – why don’t you admit
the truth – that you picked up this woman – brought her home – and you fucked
her…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">________<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Till now – I had been tolerating his nonsense because he
was my neighbour – and – my wife and his wife were close friends – but now – he
was getting on my nerves – so – I decided to end the conversation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I think you should go now…” I said to him, “I have to go
for my evening walk on Marine Drive…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“And – I am sure you are going to visit the Book Fair –
on your way back…” he said sarcastically.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes – I may browse books…” I said to him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“And you will pick up that female and bring her over here
for a special therapy session in your bedroom…” he said with a sneer – and then
– he said to me with a wicked smile, “but – hats off to you – I never imagined
you could pick up females at a Book Fair…!!!” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Please go…” I said angrily. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I will go – but – before I go - let me tell you – this book-lover
woman friend of yours – she not a counsellor or therapist – and she is
certainly not a “respectable” lady – she is a “dirty” woman…” he said – with disdain.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Dirty Woman…?” I said – with a questioning look.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“She is a woman of
“ill repute” – do you understand…?” he said – in a firm voice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“She is a woman of “ill repute” …? What do you mean by
that…?” I asked him<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Don’t act dumb – she is a woman of “easy virtue” – but –
since you will feign ignorance – I will put it more bluntly – that woman is a
“call girl” – an “escort” – a bloody “whore” – do you understand…?” he said – contemptuously.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“That’s not possible…” I said, “I found her to be a
decent woman – quite well-read, erudite and refined…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“That I will concede…” he said, “she is a refined and
polished “hooker” – a high class “prostitute” – I wonder how you could afford
her…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_________<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I couldn’t believe what my neighbour was saying – also –
I was feeling uncomfortable with the conversation – so – I decided to get rid
of my neighbour.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Please go now – I don’t want to discuss all this…” I
said to my neighbour. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I hope you are not bringing her home for a “therapy”
session this evening…” he said – sarcastically. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Of course, I am going to bring her home…” I said to my
neighbour, “we are going to meet at the book fair at 6 PM – and then – I will
bring her home – I have already decided the short fiction anthology I want to
tell her about – and she has to return the book she borrowed yesterday and take
this one…” I said to him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 238.0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“She won’t be coming…” my neighbour said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 238.0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“What do you mean <i>“she won’t be coming”</i> …?” I
asked him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 238.0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I meant <i>“she won’t be coming to meet you today” </i>…”
my neighbour said – unequivocally.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 238.0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Well – let me tell you that I am sure she is going to
come to meet me – she promised me that she would return my book today – when I
told her that I normally don’t lend my books because people forget to return
them – she said she would 100% meet me at the book fair at 6PM – and then she
would come home to browse my books – return my book – and maybe – borrow a new
one …” I said to my neighbour.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You seem to be so sure of her…? Do you even know her
name…?” he asked me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Nisha…” I said, “she told me her name is Nisha…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My neighbour gave me a sardonic smile.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Nisha…? This is the first time I am hearing this. As far
as I know – her name is Rita – but even that may be a fake name – I wonder how
many names she has – one for each client – perhaps…” he said to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I looked at him – a bit befuddled – wondering what to say.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But – before I could speak – he started talking.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I warned her not to come here again – or to meet you
again…” he said. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“What…? You told her not to meet me…? Why…?” I asked him
– feeling miffed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“For your sake…” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“For my sake – what do you mean…?” I asked him – curious.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You are a married man – with a nice wife and grown-up
children. Is it proper of you to indulge in hanky-panky with such wanton
women…? Why do you want to ruin everything due to your peccadillos with such
sleazy women…?” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Hanky-Panky…? Peccadillos…?” I said – peeved.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Don’t worry – I won’t tell anyone about your fucking her
in your house yesterday evening – after all – you are my neighbour – our wives
are close friends – I am your well-wisher – so – I will overlook your one
indiscretion yesterday – but – I don’t want you getting entangled with that filthy
whore…” he said, “that’s why I called her last night and told her not to meet
you…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I looked at him – wondering how my neighbour had that
woman’s number – so – I questioned him about it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You called her…? You have her number…? How do you know
her…? You called her a filthy whore – you say she is a woman of ill-repute – a
sleazy woman – how do you so much about her…?” I asked him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Don’t delve too much…” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Ah – so you are jealous – and possessive – tell me – are
you having an affair with her…?” I asked him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Don’t talk nonsense…” he said angrily, “I have nothing
to do with her – our company hires her once in a while – to service some of our
top clients and business associates – and officials who we have to please…” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“And – how are you involved in all this…?” I asked him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Well – in our business – we have to do all sorts of
things…” he said – nonchalantly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“So – that’s the job you do – pimping…!!! It is
disgusting…!!!” I said to him, “under your high-sounding title – all you are is
a bloody pimp…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Be careful what you say…” he said – in a threatening
tone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I thought you were a respectable man – but you are worse
than a prostitute – you are a slimy pimp – that’s what you are…” I said to him
in a most disparaging tone of voice. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“How dare you compare me with than dirty woman…?” he said
– giving me an accusing look.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I looked at him – and – I gave him a piece of my mind. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I said in a stern voice to my neighbour:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You keep calling her a “dirty” woman…? <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Well – even if – as you say – she is a “dirty woman” –
her thoughts are certainly much “cleaner” than yours.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You put on an act of being a “clean man” – but you have a
“dirty mind” – you masquerade as a moral puritan – but your mind is full of
lecherous thoughts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We were browsing books together – but you were
fantasizing that we were fucking each other – weren’t you…? <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="color: black;">You are a disgusting man with a perverted mind – don’t
you talk to me ever again…”</span></i><span style="color: black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">__________ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After admonishing him – I gripped his hand – I literally forced
him out of my house – and – I closed the door.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">__________ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">That evening – I waited for Nisha at the Book Fair.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But – she didn’t come.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I couldn’t call her as I didn’t have her number.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">__________<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Of course – after my tiff with my nasty neighbour in the
evening – there was no question of asking him for her number.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">__________<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I wish I had asked Nisha for her number the previous
evening – but – she had left in a hurry – and – she hadn’t given me her number
– nor – had she asked for mine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">________ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I waited for Nisha till the closing time of the Book Fair
– hoping against hope that Nisha would come.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But – she didn’t come<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So – at night – I came home – disappointed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">___________<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was the end of a short and sweet friendship – all
because of my nasty neighbour. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">___________<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Next evening – a courier arrived – a packet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I opened the packet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was the book she had borrowed – and inserted inside –
there was a note written in cursive feminine handwriting. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I read the note:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You must have come to know about me from your neighbour.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is true – but – with you – I wanted a nice clean
relationship – a friendship based on books – but – sadly – that was not to be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And yes – I told you my name is “Nisha”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yes – Nisha is my real name – you are one of the few
persons who knows my real name.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thank you for lending me your book.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I felt good when you lent me the book – though you said
that you normally don’t lend your books.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I really wish we could become “bookish friends” – but it
is not destined.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was so nice talking to you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Wish you All the Best in your life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Good Bye Forever.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border: none; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="color: black;">Your Bookish Friend, Nisha…”</span></i><span style="color: black;"> <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">__________ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">EPILOGUE<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">__________<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A few months later – I saw Nisha in the lobby of a posh
hotel – where my wife and I had gone for dinner.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I looked yearningly at Nisha – wondering if I should say
“Hello” to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nisha glanced at me – no trace of recognition – and – she
looked away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My wife seemed to have noticed everything.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She pressed my hand and smiled at me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Is that the same woman you had told me about – the woman
you met at the Book Fair…?” my wife asked me – as we walked towards the
restaurant.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">__________ </span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">VIKRAM KARVE</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Copyright © Vikram Karve<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve<br />2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post<br /><b>© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</b></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><span style="color: #073763;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><b style="color: #073763; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Disclaimer:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8400720714775465451" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 586px;"><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #073763;">This story is </span><span style="color: #073763; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">a work of fiction. </span><span style="color: #073763; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">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.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Copyright Notice:</span></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">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.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <b></b></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</span></b></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img src="http://banners.copyscape.com/images/cs-gy-3d-234x16.gif" style="background: white; border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px;" /></span></span></b></div></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p>
</div>Vikram Waman Karvehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00290102473130246523noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710313771389348282.post-68493628484706445102023-03-15T12:09:00.003+05:302023-04-09T18:08:21.011+05:30Mumbai Food Memories - Paradise Cafe - Colaba Causeway <p> MUMBAI FOOD MEMORIES</p><p>Nostalgic Article on Paradise Cafe - Colaba Causeway </p><p><a href="https://antoinelewis.com/2018/08/06/remembering-paradises-chicken-roll-and-other-temptations/">https://antoinelewis.com/2018/08/06/remembering-paradises-chicken-roll-and-other-temptations/</a></p><p>I loved the Temptation </p><p><br /></p>Vikram Waman Karvehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00290102473130246523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710313771389348282.post-43264911175296298862023-03-10T14:18:00.003+05:302023-03-10T14:18:32.952+05:30Nisha and Monika<p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia;"><b>SHORT FICTION</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">NISHA and MONIKA <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fiction Story<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">By<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">VIKRAM KARVE<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_____ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Are you going to marry me…?” Nisha asked me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Of course…” I said to Nisha.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nisha looked relieved.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She gave me a loving smile.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was nonplussed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Monika was here a few moments ago…” Nisha said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Monika…?” I said – confused.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes – Monika had come to meet me – I called you the moment she left…”
Nisha said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“That’s surprising…” I said, “I thought she was on “sick leave” today…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“She is “sick” – lovesick…” Nisha said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Lovesick…? What do you mean…?” I asked Nisha.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Monika is in love with you…” Nisha said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I know…” I said, “she asked me to marry her…” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“When…?” Nisha asked me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Last evening – when I was dropping her home after office…” I said to
Nisha.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“She proposed to you last evening…?” Nisha asked me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes…” I said to Nisha.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You didn’t tell me when you called last night…” Nisha said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Oh – that’s why she was talking about love and arranged marriages…”
Nisha said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“What was she saying…?” I asked Nisha.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“That was during the arranged marriage interview three months ago…” Nisha
said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“So…? Nothing has changed…” I said, emphatically.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Monika joined your office…” Nisha said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Just two months ago…” I said to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“She is head over heels in love with you – she desperately wants to
marry you…” Nisha said to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Please stop it…” I said to Nisha.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was taken aback by her words – so – I paused for a moment before I spoke
to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I don’t love her more than you – in fact – I don’t love her at all…” I
said to Nisha – emphatically.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“But – she loves you – Monika really loves you…” Nisha said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US">__________ </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">VIKRAM KARVE</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Copyright © Vikram Karve<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve<br />2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post<br /><b>© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8400720714775465451" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 586px;"><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Disclaimer:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #073763;">This story is </span><span style="color: #073763; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">a work of fiction. </span><span style="color: #073763; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">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.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Copyright Notice:</span></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">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.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <b></b></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</span></b></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img src="http://banners.copyscape.com/images/cs-gy-3d-234x16.gif" style="background: white; border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px;" /></span></span></b></div></div></div>Vikram Waman Karvehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00290102473130246523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710313771389348282.post-76590118271913045872023-02-26T23:34:00.004+05:302023-02-26T23:34:44.726+05:30A Candid Picture <p><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">FICTION STORY</span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">________<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">THE CANDID PHOTO<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fiction Short Story<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">By<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">VIKRAM KARVE<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">PUNE <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Circa – February 2023 <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">PART 1<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">FILM FESTIVAL AT A MULTIPLEX CINEMA<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">PUNE<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“The photo you asked me to click yesterday morning – the one where you
pose next to the Film Festival Poster – I saw it on Instagram…” the girl said
to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Oh Yes – I have uploaded that photo everywhere – on Facebook – on
Twitter – on Instagram – even on LinkedIn – I must say you clicked a good photo
– I look so impressive standing next to the Film Festival Poster…” I said to
her – pompously<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Shall I say something…?” the girl said – a bit hesitant.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Of course – please feel free to speak…” I said to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Well – I feel the photo looks contrived…” she said – candidly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Contrived…?” I asked her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“In fact – all your photos look contrived – your standard pose – your
typical pokerfaced smile – it all looks fake and artificial – you are an
influencer with huge following – you must post candid photos…” she said to me –
matter-of-factly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Candid Photos…?” I said – confused.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I have clicked a candid photo of you just a few moments ago…” she said
with a naughty smile.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You clicked a photo of me…? You didn’t even tell me…” I said to her –
feeling a bit anxious. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“If I told you – and you knew I was clicking your photo – then it
wouldn’t be a candid photo at all – there would be no naturalness and
spontaneity – as you would be self-conscious if you knew that you are being
photographed…” she said to me, “a candid photo is one where you aren’t aware
that you are being photographed – so that your expressions are captured true to
life…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Candid…? True to Life…?” I said – a bit confused.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She smiled at me and spoke in an assuring tone of voice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Don’t worry – the photo has come out very well – it’s a lovely candid
picture…” she said. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Show me…” I said to her – curious – and eager to see my candid photo.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Tell me your WhatsApp Number – I will send the photo to you…” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I told her my WhatsApp Number. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She sent the “candid photo” to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I looked at the photo on my smartphone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was a lovely picture – my profile had come out very well – I looked good
– with a very natural and genuine expression – as I looked slightly upwards at
the film festival banner which had been captured beautifully. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And – the candid picture had captured the panoramic scene so beautifully
– the young couple standing ahead of me in the queue – they looked so lifelike and
natural – engrossed in conversation with each other – it all looked so authentic
and realistic – the candid photo was indeed a masterpiece.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“It is a lovely photo…” I said to the girl, “thank you so much…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You are welcome…” she said with a smile, “this is the type of photo you
must post on your social media – instead of your usual posed appearance with your
fake smile…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes – Yes…” I said excitedly, “I’ll post this picture straightaway…” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As an influencer – I believe that posts must be uploaded in real-time or
near real-time with proper location and appropriate tags – this adds to their
spontaneity and authenticity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I posted the candid photo on Instagram – with a caption “Yours Truly at
the Film Festival” – and since all my social media is connected – the candid
photo was instantly shared and posted on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr etc. – and I
posted the “candid photo” once again on Twitter – with a bit of description of
the film festival with appropriate hashtags – and tagging some of my friends too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">________<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I have posted the photo…” I said to the girl. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes…” she said – looking at her smartphone, “I have liked it on
Instagram – I’ll retweet it on Twitter too…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">________<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Suddenly – the queue started moving – the door to Auditorium must have
opened.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Someone standing behind said to the girl: “Please come in the queue…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I looked at him and said: “We are together…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The girl smiled at me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The least I could do in return for the candid picture was to help her
jump the queue.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">________<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After the movie was over – I invited the girl for a cup of coffee in the
food court – as there was around half-an-hour for the next movie I wanted to
see in Auditorium 1 – but – she wanted to see another movie in Auditorium 6
which was about to start – so – we parted ways – she went to Auditorium 6 – and
– I went down to the food court for a quick snack and cup of coffee.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_________<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On my way down to the food court – I looked at my smartphone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It must have been around 2 hours since I posted the candid photo on
social media – and – there were quite a large number of “likes” “comments”
“shares” “retweets” etc. on various social media – the candid photo had
especially gone viral on Twitter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">That is the power of social media – your posts are instantly seen
worldwide – by a large number of people – especially if you are an “influencer”
with a widespread following – like me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">An influencer yearns for appreciation – I was really delighted that my candid
photo had gone viral and it was liked and appreciated so much on the social
media.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_________<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">PART 2<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_________ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">FOOD COURT OF THE MALL <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">(IN WHICH THE MULTIPLEX CINEMA IS LOCATED)<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_________ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I placed my order for a Bun Maska and Chai – sat down at a vacant table
– and while I was waiting for my order to be called out – I looked at the
“candid photo” on my smartphone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There were 3 persons in the “candid photo” – me – and the handsome
couple – a young man and a woman – and – of course – the film festival banner
in the background. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It all looked so natural – my profile as I looked at the poster – and
the affectionate expressions on the faces of the man and women – the intimate
way in which they were talking – it seemed to me that they were probably
husband and wife – or – close friends.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The girl had clicked a really good photograph – so clear and distinct.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And it was truly “candid” – none of us were aware that we were being
photographed – that’s why we were looking so natural and spontaneous –
oblivious of our surroundings.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_________<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Unbeknownst to me – the young couple in the “candid photo” – they were
also sitting in the food court – but they were seated in a different section of
the huge food court – and – I could not see them – and – neither could they see
me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The couple – the handsome young man and the beautiful woman – they were
sitting opposite each other – probably waiting for their food order to be
ready.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The woman was looking at her smartphone – scrolling – when her
expression changed from a smile to one of disbelief.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Our photo is on Twitter…” she says to the man, “open your Twitter…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I don’t have Twitter…” the man says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You are not on Twitter…?” she asks him – a bit surprised.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“No – I avoid all Social Media…” he says to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Are you on WhatsApp…?” she asks him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes – on the same number I gave you before the movie…” he says to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I am sending you a screenshot of the tweet – just look at the photo…”
she says to him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She sends him the “candid photo” on WhatsApp.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The man looked at the photo appreciatively.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“The photo is really nice – we look so good – I wonder who clicked it –
and this bearded guy in the picture – he was standing behind us in the queue –
I think…” the man says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“He is the one who posted this photo on Twitter – here – see his profile
picture…” the woman says – and shows the screen of her smartphone to the man.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“How has this photo come on your Twitter…?” the man asks the woman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I don’t know – I don’t follow this guy…” the woman says looking curious
– and she starts scrolling her Twitter Timeline and Notifications – and
suddenly – her expression turns to one of horror. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Someone has posted the photo on our office WhatsApp group – it’s Nisha –
that bitch – and she has commented “How to enjoy Sick-Leave” – and put a
naughty emoji…” the woman says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Sick Leave…?” the man asks the woman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I had told my boss that I want sick leave today – now she will come to
know – thanks to Nisha and that stupid idiot who posted the picture everywhere…”
the woman says – looking worried.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“But – how did Nisha see the picture…?” the man asked the woman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“That guy is an influencer – he has a huge following on Social Media –
Nisha must be following him on Twitter…” the woman says, “I am in deep shit –
as it is my boss hates me…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The man’s smartphone vibrates – he looks at the screen – it is his wife –
so – he takes the call.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Who is that woman with you…?” the man hears his wife screaming from the
other end.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I am at the Film Festival – I told you…” the man tries to say but his
wife interrupts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I am not asking about the film festival – I am asking you about that
woman with you in the photo…” the man’s wife says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Which photo…?” the man stammers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Don’t try to act dumb – the photo of you and that woman on Twitter…”
the man’s wife says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I am not on Twitter – you know that I avoid all social media…” the man
mumbles, “how did you see the photo…?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I am on Twitter…” the man’s wife shouts at him, “Look at your WhatsApp –
I am sending you the photo…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The man disconnects the call and looks at the “candid photo” on
WhatsApp.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then he looks at the woman in front of him and speaks.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“My wife has seen the photo on Twitter…” he says to the woman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“He has posted it everywhere – the photo is all over social media – the
whole world must have seen it by now…” the woman says with an exasperated look.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“What do I do…?” the man asks the woman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Just tell your wife that I am your classmate from college – and we met
unexpectedly at the Film Festival…” the woman says to the man.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The man’s phone vibrates – it is his wife again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Why did you disconnect my call…?” the man’s wife screams.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I was seeing my WhatsApp…” the man says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Who is that woman with you in the photo…?” the man’s wife asks forcefully.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“She is my classmate – we met unexpectedly…” the man is saying when his wife
interrupts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“What is her name…?” the man’s wife asks.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Menaka…” the man says. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Ah – Menaka – she looks like one for sure – trying to seduce you…” the
man’s wife says sarcastically.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“What are you saying…?” the man says, perturbed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Just see the way she is flirting with you – giving you the sultry look…”
the man’s wife says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“What nonsense…? We were just talking…” the man tries to explain to his
wife.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Just Talking…? So intimately…? Standing so close to each other…? With
your arm is around her….?” the man’s wife says angrily.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“There was a crowd – so – I was just trying to be protective…” the man
says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You never put your arm around me so lovingly...” the wife says
acerbically, “tell me – are you having an affair with her…?” the man’s wife asks.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Affair…? I told you – she is just my classmate – I met her after 10
years – I have not seen her since college…” the man says, trying to convince
his wife.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For a moment – there is silence – then – the man hears his wife’s voice
on the phone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You liar and cheat – just look at this comment on your photo tweet – “college
sweethearts rekindling the flame of their love” – now I am sure you two are
having an affair…” the man’s wife yells.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“It must be some mischievous classmate…” the man says irately, “and that
idiot who posted the photo – I will kill him…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Oh – you are cheating on me – you are the one at fault – and – you want
to shoot the messenger…? In fact – I am grateful to him – it is because he exposed
you that I have come to know the truth that you are cheating on me and having
an affair with that nympho bitch – I won’t spare you – and as far as that
nympho bitch is concerned – I will destroy her totally – finish her off…” the
man’s wife says furiously – and she disconnects.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The man looks at the woman in front to him – his classmate Menaka.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She is looking at her smartphone screen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Suddenly – the expression on her face changes – and she shouts at the
man.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Your wife has gone crazy – she has found out my Twitter handle and she is
writing all sorts of filthy comments on that photo tweet – “keep your hands off
my husband you nympho bitch” – and she has tagged me – I hope my husband doesn’t
see all this…” the woman says, anxiously.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Husband…? You told me you are divorced…” the man says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“We are separated – almost divorced – but the alimony and custody cases
are in court – and he will use all this against me…” the woman says, nervously.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then – the woman looks at the man and speaks angrily.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“It’s all your fault – you shouldn’t have waved out to me…” the woman
says to the man.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“My fault…? You are the one who wanted to jump the queue so you came and
stood next to me…” the man says to the woman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I saw you after so many years – so – I came to talk to you – out of
courtesy…” the woman says, “we were friends in college – weren’t we…?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I wish I had never waved out to you – you are a “Panauti”…” the man
says scornfully to the woman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“<i>Panauti</i>…? How dare you call me a <i>Panauti</i>…?” the woman
says angrily to the man.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And they start talking heatedly to each other – a fiery argument –
accusations and counter-accusations – blame and counter-blame.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">________<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">While the man and woman were engaged in their intense conversation –
unknown to them – I had surreptitiously clicked a “candid photo” of them – hotly
engrossed in each other – and the photo had come out so well – their “candid”
expressions captured so beautifully – that – I could not resist the temptation
to post the photo instantly on Social Media – so – I posted it immediately. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And soon – the “candid photo” of the man and the woman having an
impassioned discussion was going viral of Twitter, Facebook, Instagram,
WhatsApp – and all Social Media.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_________ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">VIKRAM KARVE</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Copyright © Vikram Karve<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve<br />2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post<br /><b>© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8400720714775465451" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 586px;"><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Disclaimer:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #073763;">This story is </span><span style="color: #073763; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">a work of fiction. </span><span style="color: #073763; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">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.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Copyright Notice:</span></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">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.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <b></b></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</span></b></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img src="http://banners.copyscape.com/images/cs-gy-3d-234x16.gif" style="background: white; border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px;" /></span></span></b></div></div></div>Vikram Waman Karvehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00290102473130246523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710313771389348282.post-74364789951403741162023-01-30T23:09:00.002+05:302023-01-30T23:09:22.649+05:30Short Fiction – The Cruise<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>THE
CRUISE</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Story<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">By<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">VIKRAM
KARVE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">______
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">THE
CRUISE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">______
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">He
waited for her at the cruise terminal.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It
was the first time he would be alone with her – just the two of them – for the
entire weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The
cruise ship would leave Mumbai on Friday evening – sail to Goa – and – after a
lovely Sunday in Goa – they would return to Mumbai on Monday morning.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It
was going to be a weekend of love and romance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">He
was especially looking forward to the three nights they would spend together –
in the cosy romantic cabin he had specially selected – an ideal seductive setting
to get intimate with her – yes – he was yearning to make passionate love to
her.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Though
they had been dating and seeing each other for quite some time – they hadn’t even
kissed – but she had given him tacit hints that she desired to take their relationship
to the next level.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And
– when he suggested that they go on a romantic getaway – she enthusiastically agreed
– and he selected the exquisite weekend cruise on the luxury liner – rather than
one of those archetypical “resorts” around Mumbai.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">He
had booked a premium suite on the top deck – with a private balcony – for cosy
romance with a panoramic sunset view of the ocean – as a prelude to passionate
lovemaking at night.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">He
was sure that it was going to happen – because she had given him profuse
signals via her eyes that she desired him – and he desperately yearned for her too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">He
thought of the diamond ring he had bought for her – and he wondered if he
should propose to her before they made love – or after making love to her for
the first time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The
taxi stops near him and she gets out of the taxi.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">He
looks at her – his heart thumping with the giddy glee of a man who sees his
lady love and finds her a thousand times more beautiful than when he had seen
her last.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She
flatters him by looking steadily into his eyes and giving him a loving smile.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then
– she looks into the taxi and signals.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A
boy steps out of the taxi – it is her son.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The
man is taken aback – surprised to see the boy – and he feels a deep sense of disillusionment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The
taxi driver takes out the woman’s bag from the boot and keeps it beside her.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The
man walks to the taxi driver and pays him – and – the taxi drives off.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then
– the man looks at the woman with a question in his eyes – disappointment writ
on his face.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I
am sorry…” she says – contrite, “I had to bring him…” gesturing with her eyes
at her son.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Wasn’t
he going to spend the weekend at his father’s place…?” the man asks her.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“He
ditched me at the last moment – he called and said he had to suddenly go to Delhi
for an urgent meeting…” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“But
you didn’t tell me anything…” the man says to her – in a slightly accusing tone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“He
called me just half an hour ago – when I was on my way to his house – I was going
to drop my son at his place and come over here – so – I just diverted the taxi
and came straight over here…” the woman says, “there was not point calling you when
we were going to be meeting in a few minutes – I thought I would tell you over
here…”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“It
was going to be just the both of us – for the first time…” the man says –
feeling let-down.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I
know – I was looking forward to being with you – all by ourselves – I can understand
your anger – but – what can I do…?” the woman says – looking penitent.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">________<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">While
the man and woman are talking – the 6-year-old boy is engrossed in looking at
the cruise ship berthed on the jetty.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Uncle
– is that the cruise ship on which we are going…?” the excited boy asks the
man.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes…”
the man says to the boy – and then – he looks questioningly at the woman.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The
woman smiles at the man and speaks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“We
can take him with us – can’t we…? He is so excited…” the woman says to the man.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I
don’t know…” the man says, “the cruise may be fully booked…”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“But
he is just a small boy – we can adjust him in our cabin…” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Please
Uncle – I want to go – I have never gone on a ship before…” the boy says – beseechingly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Please…”
the woman says, “you are in the Navy – I am sure you can do something…”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Okay
– I’ll try and do something – you two just sit over there in the waiting lounge…”
the man says – and he walks towards the cruise ship.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The
man returns after 15 minutes and smiles at the excited boy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“It’s
done – you are going on the cruise with your mother…” the man says to the boy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yay…!!!”
the boy exclaims happily in excitement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The
woman seems happy but she looks a bit confused.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“So
– the three of us are going on the cruise…” she says to the man.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“No
– you and your son are going on the cruise – he is going instead of me – I have
spoken to the Manager and the Captain – they’ll cancel our ticket and issue a
fresh one for you and your son – come quickly – there is a bit of paperwork to
be done…” the man says – and he leads the woman and her son towards the cruise
ship.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">______
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The
woman and her son stand on the deck as the cruise ship slowly casts off from
the jetty.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Her
son – the 6-year-old boy – he is full of thrill and joy – looking excitedly at
everything.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The
woman looks at the jetty – her eyes search for the man – hoping he would be
there – waving to her.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But
– the man is not there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She
feels an ache in her heart – and – a tear rolls down her cheek.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">______ </span></span><div><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="line-height: 107%;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">VIKRAM KARVE</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Copyright © Vikram Karve<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve<br />2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post<br /><b>© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8400720714775465451" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 586px;"><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Disclaimer:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #073763;">This story is </span><span style="color: #073763; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">a work of fiction. </span><span style="color: #073763; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">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.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Copyright Notice:</span></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">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.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <b></b></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</span></b></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img src="http://banners.copyscape.com/images/cs-gy-3d-234x16.gif" style="background: white; border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px;" /></span></span></b></div></div></div></span></div>Vikram Waman Karvehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00290102473130246523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710313771389348282.post-68856673499536400102023-01-29T00:31:00.002+05:302023-01-29T00:31:26.217+05:30Lawrence School Lovedale Class of 1971 Reunion - Ootacamund Club - 7 January 2023 <iframe style="background-image:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/p4aDSmJFrkY/hqdefault.jpg)" width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/p4aDSmJFrkY" frameborder="0"></iframe>Vikram Waman Karvehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00290102473130246523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710313771389348282.post-33658039149410579622023-01-29T00:04:00.001+05:302023-01-29T00:04:48.708+05:30<p> <span style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">__________</span></p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><strong>THE LAWRENCE SCHOOL – LOVEDALE</strong></p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><strong>CLASS OF 1971 – GOLDEN JUBILEE REUNION</strong></p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">(7<sup>th</sup> January to 12<sup>th</sup> January 2023)</p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><strong>Memories of the Reunion by Vikram Karve</strong></p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">__________</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://karve.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lawrenceschoollovedalemainbldg.jpg" style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-27213" data-attachment-id="27213" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="lawrenceschoollovedalemainbldg" data-large-file="https://karve.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lawrenceschoollovedalemainbldg.jpg?w=540" data-medium-file="https://karve.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lawrenceschoollovedalemainbldg.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://karve.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lawrenceschoollovedalemainbldg.jpg" data-orig-size="960,720" data-permalink="https://karve.wordpress.com/2023/01/18/lawrence-school-lovedale-class-of-1971-reunion-part-1/lawrenceschoollovedalemainbldg/" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" src="https://karve.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lawrenceschoollovedalemainbldg.jpg?w=960" srcset="https://karve.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lawrenceschoollovedalemainbldg.jpg 960w, https://karve.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lawrenceschoollovedalemainbldg.jpg?w=150 150w, https://karve.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lawrenceschoollovedalemainbldg.jpg?w=300 300w, https://karve.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lawrenceschoollovedalemainbldg.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 0px none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a></figure><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">___________</p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><strong>PROLOGUE</strong></p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">__________</p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Before I tell you about our wonderful reunion – let me make a confession.</p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Apropos of the Class of 1971 reunion – my role was akin to that of “Yossarian” of Catch-22 – and – while participating in various events of the reunion – I probably had the same feelings as Yossarian may have experienced when he visited the officers’ club that he did not help build.</p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I am sure you have read Catch-22.</p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">All Officers posted in Pianosa decide to build a club on their own and they put in a tremendous amount of effort to build a good Officers’ Club in Pianosa.</p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">However – the sole exception is Yossarian – who is proud of his ability to avoid work – he contributes nothing to help build the club – he does not go for even a single day to work on building the officers’ club.</p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">But once the Officers’ Club is ready – Yossarian visits the club almost every day – and he makes maximum use of the facilities – which he had not helped build.</p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Let me quote a paragraph from Catch-22 which encapsulates this sentiment (emphasis mine):</p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><em>“Actually there were many officers’ clubs that Yossarian had not helped build – but he was proudest of the one on Pianosa.</em></p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><em>It was a sturdy and complex monument to his powers of determination.</em></p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><em>Yossarian never went there to help until it was finished – then he went there often – so pleased was he with the large, fine, rambling shingled building.</em></p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><em>It was a truly splendid building – and – Yossarian throbbed with a mighty sense of accomplishment each time he gazed at it – and reflected that – none of the work that had gone into it was his…”</em></p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">___________</p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">For me – it was a similar equation as far as the reunion was concerned.</p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Ranjit – from “Down Under” – was the “prime mover” of the reunion – coordinating everything with his indefatigable initiative – and motivating classmates to attend the reunion.</p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Madan – unassuming and assiduous – organized the Kerala leg, our transportation – and so much more – especially the “beverages”.</p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Some of our classmates hosted wonderful evenings of stimulating cocktails and sumptuous dinners at Ooty Club, Coonoor Club and The Culinarium – and – thanks to the redoubtable “Team Bunty” – we enjoyed an unforgettable day of boating and picnicking at Pykara Lake.</p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Everyone contributed – I must have been the sole exception.</p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Effort-wise – I contributed nothing – but – as far as enjoyment was concerned – I was at the forefront – thoroughly enjoying myself to the hilt – eating, drinking, merrymaking and participating in every event with joy, fervor and full gusto.</p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">In hindsight – I feel that the least I can do – as my miniscule contribution – is to write about the reunion on my blog – as a memoir and record for posterity.</p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">________</p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">In the next part – I will write about our visit to the school on the 8<sup>th</sup> of January 2023.</p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">And then – I shall try and tell you about all the events.</p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Meanwhile – here is a group photo of the “Classy Class of 1971”</p><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">________</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://karve.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/aaabestgroupphoto.jpg" style="color: #990000;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-27217" data-attachment-id="27217" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="aaabestgroupphoto" data-large-file="https://karve.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/aaabestgroupphoto.jpg?w=540" data-medium-file="https://karve.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/aaabestgroupphoto.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://karve.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/aaabestgroupphoto.jpg" data-orig-size="960,675" data-permalink="https://karve.wordpress.com/2023/01/18/lawrence-school-lovedale-class-of-1971-reunion-part-1/aaabestgroupphoto/" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" src="https://karve.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/aaabestgroupphoto.jpg?w=960" srcset="https://karve.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/aaabestgroupphoto.jpg 960w, https://karve.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/aaabestgroupphoto.jpg?w=150 150w, https://karve.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/aaabestgroupphoto.jpg?w=300 300w, https://karve.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/aaabestgroupphoto.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 0px none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">(L to R) Madan Pillai, OL Prabhu, Alagapan, Arjun Divecha, Muthappan, Mayur Patel, Rajeev Gupta, Mohan Jacob, Rajeev Verma, Vikram Karve, Valliamma, Shanmugham, Remani Barua, George Varghese, Shireen Cama, Shomir Mukherjee, Theivani, Ajay Desai, Geetha Gangadhar, Phillip Charles, Monty Bopiah, Riad Fyzee, Santosh, MM Sundaram, Ranjit Giri</figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: #467839; color: #343434; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">________</p>Vikram Waman Karvehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00290102473130246523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710313771389348282.post-33430693575766488562023-01-22T23:52:00.004+05:302023-01-22T23:52:35.800+05:30Bibliotherapy<p><b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: blue;">Bibliotherapy – The Ladies’ Oracle – Guide on Matters of Love and Life</span></b></p><p><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-family: Verdana, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">______</span></span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">THE LADIES ORACLE</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">A Fascinating Book </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">By </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">VIKRAM KARVE</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">_______</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">BIBLIOTHERAPY</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Reading can be fun. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Reading can also be therapeutic. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibliotherapy" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Bibliotherapy</a> may be defined as the use of books to help people solve problems</b>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;">Yes </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"> you can benefit from bibliotherapy </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">– use</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"> books to solve issues that you may be facing at a particular time</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Many of us use bibliotherapy without realizing it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Reading is ameliorative in nature </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">– </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">and </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">– </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">an enjoyable read always cheers you up </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> and puts you in a good mood.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Whenever I am in a blue mood </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> I browse through my bookshelves and pick up a good book. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">For me </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">–</span></b><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b> reading is the greatest of all joys</b>.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The moment I start reading a book </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> I enter a different world </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> and this change of environment has a positive effect on my mood and emotion </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> and lo and behold </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> my spirits are uplifted. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Those who do not have the habit of reading remain imprisoned in their moods and immediate surroundings.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I have just picked up a delightful little book called <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/111897.The_Ladies_Oracle" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">“The Ladies Oracle”</a></b> by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinrich_Cornelius_Agrippa" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Cornelius Agrippa</a> from my bookcase.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Here is a picture of the title page of my copy the book: </span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1kTM2k60HG0/V8a7Z6t8RiI/AAAAAAAAIUY/oiMTTBr5DcQNfYslI044GnklsCFcE8g0gCLcB/s1600/Oracle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1kTM2k60HG0/V8a7Z6t8RiI/AAAAAAAAIUY/oiMTTBr5DcQNfYslI044GnklsCFcE8g0gCLcB/s400/Oracle.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.4px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: small;"><b>THE LADIES’ ORACLE </b>B<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.32px; text-align: start;">y</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.32px; text-align: start;"> </span><span itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.8px; text-align: start;"><span style="line-height: 19.8px;">Cornelius Agrippa</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.32px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.32px;"><b>THE LADIES’ ORACLE </b>B</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.32px;">y</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.32px;"> </span><span itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.8px;"><span style="line-height: 19.8px;">Cornelius Agrippa</span></span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Let me tell you about this intriguing book </span></span><strong style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The Ladies’ Oracle</span></strong><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> and you will see how this book can cheer you up and lifts your spirits too </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">– an ideal book for <b>BIBLIOTHERAPY</b></span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> .</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Whenever I buy a book </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> I write down the date and place of purchase on its first page. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I have duly recorded that I bought <b>The Ladies Oracle</b> on 14 February 1989 </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">– on Valentine</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">’s Day </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">– more than 28 years ago </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">on the pavement bookstalls opposite the Central Telegraph Office (CTO) near Hutatma Chowk (Flora Fountain) at Fort in Mumbai (then called Bombay).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br />I don’t remember what prompted me to buy <b>The Ladies Oracle</b>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Maybe </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> I wanted to present the book to my darling wife </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">O</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">r maybe </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> because there was no such book as </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">“The Gentleman’s Oracle”</b><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">– </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">at the pavement bookstall.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">But that is not important now.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">So </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">–</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> let’s talk more about this amusing little book.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b>HOW TO USE THE LADIES ORACLE FOR BIBLIOT</b></span></span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">HERAPY</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Let’s get down to using this delightful oracle.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">First choose a question from the ninety five listed in the book from pages (v) to (viii) numbered 5 to 100</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">(I wonder where the first five questions are?)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I select question number 35: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Shall I always enjoy good health...?</b><b></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Now as per the the instructions </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> I turn to page (i) </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">– I</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> close my eyes </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">– </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">and I put my finger on the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">“T</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">able of S</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">igns</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I open my eyes and I see that </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I have placed my finger on the </b><b><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">“</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">sign</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">”</span></span></b><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> representing a single square.</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Now </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">– </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I consult the table starting from page 10 </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">– I</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> follow the line marked by the number of the question (35</span><sup style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">th</sup><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> line) </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> till I arrive at the column which has the chosen </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">“</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">sign</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">”</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> over it </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> and this figure gives me the number of the page (74) on which the answer is written.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I open page 74 </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">– </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">and I look the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">“</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">sign</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">”</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> traced by my finger (a single square) </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">– </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">and alongside the </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">“</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">sign</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">”<b> </b></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I find my answer: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">You will always have joy, health and prosperity...!!!</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Fantastic...!!! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I am feeling good already. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Bibliotherapy seems to be working.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Now the next question, number 15: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>How many lovers shall I have...? </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I follow the same earlier procedure as stipulated in the instructions </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">– </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">and </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">– </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">the Oracle gives me the answer: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">You will have a great many lovers </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> but those that have so many lovers </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">– they</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> generally choose the worst...!!!</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Hey </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> I have to be careful in love…!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The next question, number 91: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>What opinion has the world of me...?</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The Oracle answers: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>You are thought to have had more than one adventure...!!!</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Wow...! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Have I really sown my wild oats that much...?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I ask the oracle: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Shall I be happy in love...?</b><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">And the oracle says: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>You will find more pain than pleasure...!</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Oh, Dear…!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I better steer clear of falling in love...!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">So I ask the oracle:<b> </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Will my reputation be always good...?</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The oracle answers: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>It will always be as you make it...!!!</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I must take care to build up a good reputation!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I ask the oracle:<b> </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Shall I go many long voyages...?</b><b></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The oracle answers:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>You will do well not to voyage farther than round your own room...!!!</b><b></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Great...!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">That puts an end to all my travel plans...!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">All I am going to do my entire life is go round and round in my room...!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">What a gloomy answer...!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">And I thought browsing books was supposed to lift my spirits...!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Okay </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">– </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">just one last question </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> and the answer better be something good to cheer me up </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">– </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">or else no more ‘bibliotherapy’ for me...!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I select question number 74: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>What is the person that I am thinking about doing at this moment...? </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">and the Oracle answers: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>She regrets not being with you...!!!</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Really…? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">My, My...!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">It seems to good to be true…!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">So I call her up (the </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">“</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">girlfriend I am thinking about at that moment)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">She says in her sweet loving voice:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">“What a coincidence. I was just thinking of you and the good times we had together – I wish you were here with me…”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Wow…!!! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Bibliotherapy really works.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I feel thrilled, jubilant, ecstatic, on cloud nine, in seventh heaven </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">– </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">and right on top of the world </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">– </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">as I rush off to surprise my beloved sweetheart.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">And just imagine </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> I thought that she never even thought about me...!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">It looks like it is the end of what I thought was my one way unrequited love </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> and the beginning of a new exciting romantic relationship with her. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Yes </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> things are looking up…!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Long live <b>The Ladies Oracle</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Oh, Yes </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">– </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b>The Ladies Oracle</b> is a delightful little book you can consult from time to time on matters of love and life.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Believe me </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> you will enjoy reading and using this marvellous book.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">It may be called The “Ladies” Oracle </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> but I feel that even men can consult it with satisfying results. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Dear Reader </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> why don’t you try it out…?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I am sure you can easily get a copy of <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ladies-Oracle-Henry-Cornelius-Agrippa/dp/1596910496" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">THE LADIES ORACLE</a></b> online or at your bookstore.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">It is delightfully entertaining reading </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> guaranteed to lift your spirits. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I always carry this oracle in my pocket to enliven my moments of waiting – waiting at airports, railway stations, while travelling. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Take it with you everywhere and you will never be bored. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">It is a small book </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> pocket-size </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> easy to carry everywhere.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Get a copy of this interesting book – <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/111897.The_Ladies_Oracle" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">The Ladies Oracle</a> </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Then just<b> </b>ask the questions you always wanted to ask </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> and enjoy the answers…!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Do tell us whether you found the oracle useful in matters of love and life.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Long live </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Bibliotherapy </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">_______</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;">VIKRAM KARVE</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">Copyright © Vikram Karve<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve<br />2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post<br /><b>© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</b></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8400720714775465451" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: #fefdfa; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 586px;"><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><b>Disclaimer:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">All stories in this blog are </span></span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4;">a work of fiction. </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4;">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.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">Copyright Notice:</span></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">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.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, sans-serif;"><b></b></span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</span></b></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; line-height: 18.2px;"><b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><img src="http://banners.copyscape.com/images/cs-gy-3d-234x16.gif" style="background: white; border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px;" /></span></span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">This Article was Written By Me around 30 years ago in the early 1990s and first posted on my creative writing blog in the year 2004 at url:</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"> </span><b style="color: #7d181e;"><a href="http://creative.sulekha.com/bibliotherapy_173419_blog" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://creative.sulekha.com/bibliotherapy_173419_blog</a> </b>and reposted a number pf times in my blogs including at urls: <a href="http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/11/bibliotherapy-aka-book-therapy.html" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/11/bibliotherapy-aka-book-therapy.html</a> and <a href="http://creative.sulekha.com/bibliotherapy_173419_blog" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://creative.sulekha.com/bibliotherapy_173419_blog</a> and <a href="http://creative.sulekha.com/the-ladies-oracle_290719_blog" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://creative.sulekha.com/the-ladies-oracle_290719_blog</a> and<a href="http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/02/oracle-for-valentines-day.html" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/02/oracle-for-valentines-day.html</a> and <a href="http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2010/04/bibliotherapy-ladies-oracle-by.html" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2010/04/bibliotherapy-ladies-oracle-by.html</a> and <a href="http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/05/bibliotherapy-made-simple.html" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/05/bibliotherapy-made-simple.html</a> and <a href="http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/08/bibliotherapy-ladies-oracle-guide-on.html" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/08/bibliotherapy-ladies-oracle-guide-on.html</a> and <a href="http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/08/a-book-for-my-girlfriends-ladies-oracle.html" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/08/a-book-for-my-girlfriends-ladies-oracle.html</a> and <a href="http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2017/08/the-ladies-oracle-book-for-my.html" target="_blank">http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2017/08/the-ladies-oracle-book-for-my.html</a> etc</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">__________</span></div></div></div>Vikram Waman Karvehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00290102473130246523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710313771389348282.post-19594773407867314802022-12-28T20:53:00.004+05:302022-12-28T20:53:56.719+05:30Unfinished Story – A Quick Bite – Part 1<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Unfinished Story – A Quick Bite –
Part 1 <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span lang="EN-US">A QUICK BITE</span></b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">SHORT STORY By VIKRAM KARVE <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Circa – 1970’s <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">PART 1 <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A QUICK BITE<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">IGATPURI RAILWAY STATION<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Punjab Mail started from Bombay
VT (now called Mumbai CSMT) at 4:30 PM in the evening – one hour later – after
a brief halt at Kalyan Junction – the train turned on the North East Main Line
– stopped at Kasara for attachment of banker locomotives – to help push the
train up the steep gradient of the Kasara Ghat (Thal Ghat) – and – around 7:30
PM – the Punjab Mail approached Igatpuri Railway Station – the locomotive
changeover station from Electric to Diesel Locomotive.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the 1970’s – there were two mail
trains from Bombay (Mumbai) to New Delhi – the Frontier Mail on the Western
Railway Route via Surat Baroda (Vadodara) Ratlam and Kota – and – the Punjab
Mail on the Central Railway Route via Bhusaval Itarsi Jhansi and Agra – and –
of course – the Superfast Rajdhani Express was introduced in 1972 – but – we
were not entitled to travel by AC First Class Sleeper in Rajdhani – and – the
Chair Car was quite uncomfortable – so – we preferred the Frontier Mail which
started at around 7 PM from Bombay Central or the Punjab Mail which started at
4:30 PM from Bombay VT. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It seems both trains have been
speeded up and the Punjab Mail now starts at around 8 PM from Bombay VT (Mumbai
CSMT). <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Also - in the 1970’s – only very
senior officers were entitled air travel – so – most of us travelled by train –
both on duty and while proceeding on leave.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span lang="EN-US">I was told in the morning that I
required to go to Naval Headquarters for some urgent work – and – I would have
preferred to travel by the Frontier Mail – but it was absolutely full – and the
MCO managed a first-class berth for me on the Punjab Mail.</span></i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">________ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As the Punjab Mail approached
Igatpuri – the Train Conductor (TC) advised me to have a quick dinner at the
refreshment room at Igatpuri Railway Station – since – there was no dinner halt
later. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The train would halt for over 20
minutes for detaching the banker engines at the rear and for main locomotive
changeover from Electric Traction to Diesel Traction.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">At Igatpuri – the Electric
Locomotive would be detached and a Diesel Locomotive would be attached which
would haul the Punjab Mail till Jhansi – from where – a Steam Locomotive would
haul the train to Delhi.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The TC said he could get a “thali”
served in the compartment – but it would be much better to have a fresh hot
biryani at the refreshment room – which would be very near where our
first-class bogie would halt.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">________ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span lang="EN-US">Punjab Mail didn’t have a restaurant
car – so food had to brought from railway refreshment rooms at the meal halts –
whereas the Frontier Mail had a lovely restaurant car – where you could sit and
dine in comfort while watching the scenery.</span></i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">________ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The train halted – the refreshment
room was right in front of me – the non-veg section to the left – and – the
vegetarian section to the right.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I entered the non-veg section –
bought a token for mutton biryani – picked up a plate of piping hot mutton
biryani – and – I looked for a place to sit in the crowded refreshment room –
all tables were occupied.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I spotted a vacant chair.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There was a couple sitting on a
table for four – the man and woman sat opposite each other – and – there was a
vacant chair on the side.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I recognized the man – he was a
Naval Officer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Though I didn’t know him well – I
had seen him on a sister ship of our frigate squadron – and I knew that his
name was “Khanna” – and – I assumed that he was a few years senior to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I walked towards their table.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Sir – may I sit on the vacant
chair…?” I asked Khanna.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Khanna looked up at me – and smiled
at me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">He seemed to have recognized me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Oh – Hi – you are on Nilgiri –
aren’t you…?” he said to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes, Sir…” I said to him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Come. Come. Sit down and join us…”
he said in a friendly voice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I sat down on the vacant chair –
with Khanna to my left – and the woman to my right.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I smiled at the woman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Good Evening, Ma’am…” I greeted
her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The woman smiled at me – a sweet,
warm, genuine smile. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“This Biryani is really good…” the
woman said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Khanna was so engrossed in eating
his Biryani that he forgot to introduce me to the lady – presumably his wife.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So – I decided to introduce myself
to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Hello Mrs. Khanna – I am Vikram…” I
said to her politely.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The woman laughed – a vivacious
laugh.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I am not Mrs. Khanna…” she said, “I
am Mrs. Puri…” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Oh …” I said to her, taken aback. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was confused and non-plussed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">From their friendly and intimate demeanor
– they seemed husband and wife.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I felt contrite – and – I apologized
for my <i>faux pas.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I am so sorry – you were sitting
together – so – I thought you were husband and wife…” I said to both of them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“It’s okay…” Khanna said to me, “we
are both “non-veg” – so we are eating together over here in the non-vegetarian
refreshment room – my wife and her husband are both vegetarians – so – they are
eating a vegetarian meal in the vegetarian refreshment room next door…” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Oh – a “food-swap”…!!!” I blurted
out – imprudently – without thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Food-Swap…?” Khanna looked at me –
questioningly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Sir – I meant you are non-veg –
your wife is vegetarian – and – for Mrs. Puri – it is opposite – so…” I was
explaining – when Khanna interrupted me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Okay – okay – you don’t have to
spell it out…” Khanna said to me, “there is no “swap” going on over here – it’s
just a matter of convenience – they have two separate refreshment rooms – you
don’t get vegetarian food over here – so – the vegetarians have gone to the
vegetarian refreshment room – that’s all…” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I regretted using the word “swap” –
it gave a wrong connotation – and – I felt contrite.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I am very sorry – it was very
indiscreet of me…” I said to both of them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Come on – it’s okay – now – let’s
finish our Biryani – before our train starts…” Mrs. Puri said to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I focused on my Biryani.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lieutenant Khanna and Mrs. Puri were
finishing their Biryani.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A waiter announced: <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span lang="EN-US">“Punjab Mail Passengers – Please
Finish Quickly – Your Train will leave in 5 minutes…”</span></i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I quickly finished my Biryani.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lieutenant Khanna got up from his
seat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Let’s go…” he said to us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We walked outside onto the platform.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We saw a couple coming out of the
Vegetarian Refreshment Room.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I rightly guessed that they were the
“Vegetarian Couple” Lieutenant Puri and Mrs. Khanna. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Both of them – the “Vegetarian Couple”
<a name="_Hlk123151657">Lieutenant Puri </a>and Mrs. Khanna - they seemed rather serious types – whereas –
the “Non-Vegetarian” couple I had dined with – Lieutenant Khanna and Mrs. Puri - they
were more friendly and cheerful – in fact – I liked Mrs. Puri a lot –
she was quite bubbly and talkative.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My coach was right in front of where
we were standing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“This is my bogie…” I said to them, “are
you in the same bogie…?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“No – we are in the one ahead…” Lieutenant
Khanna said to me, “okay – Bye – see you in Bombay after a month when we return
from leave…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span lang="EN-US">(Mumbai was known as Bombay in the
1970’s)</span></i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I smiled at the vivacious Mrs. Puri with
whom I had shared a table in the Refreshment Room – eating Biryani.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She gave me a vivacious smile.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Her husband – the serious type Lieutenant
Puri – he seemed to be observing us – and – seeing his rather disapproving look
– I started walking towards my coach – and – I saw them walking ahead to the
First Class Coach ahead.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A few minutes later – the guard blew
his whistle – the engine blew its horn – and – the Punjab Mail started its
journey to its next halt – Devlali (Deolali).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The train was not vestibuled – so –
I did not meet the two couples for the rest of the journey to New Delhi.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">________ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">story to be continued in part 2<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">________ </span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">VIKRAM KARVE</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Copyright © Vikram Karve<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve<br />2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post<br /><b>© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8400720714775465451" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 586px;"><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Disclaimer:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #073763;">This story is </span><span style="color: #073763; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">a work of fiction. </span><span style="color: #073763; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">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.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Copyright Notice:</span></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">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.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <b></b></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</span></b></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img src="http://banners.copyscape.com/images/cs-gy-3d-234x16.gif" style="background: white; border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px;" /></span></span></b></div></div></div>Vikram Waman Karvehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00290102473130246523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710313771389348282.post-46074105143459735352022-12-25T23:28:00.004+05:302022-12-25T23:28:54.125+05:30The Single Mother<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Short Fiction</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">______<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">THE SINGLE MOTHER<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fiction Short Story<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">By<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">VIKRAM KARVE <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">______<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">THE SINGLE MOTHER<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">______ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“It’s one year since your divorce – have you thought of getting married
again…?” I asked Nisha.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“No…” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Why…? You are so young…” I said to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I want to focus on my son…” she said, “he is the only thing in my life
now…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nisha looked at me and spoke in a resolute voice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“My son means everything to me – I quit my successful career in Mumbai –
and – I took up this modest job as a teacher in this school up here in the
hills – because I want my son to get the best education…” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes – this is a really good school – internationally acclaimed – top
class, elite and famous – it must be very expensive…” I said to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“My son gets free education – that’s the perk I get as a teacher – and –
I am the warden of the girls’ hostel – so – I get free accommodation too…” she
said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You really love your son a lot – you sacrificed your career for him –
and your friends and your active social life in Mumbai…” I said to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I didn’t want him growing up in that bohemian atmosphere – my son is 12
now – he will be 13 soon – a teenager – of impressionable age – over there – in
Mumbai – with me spending long hours at work – he may have drifted – but here –
faraway in the hills – the environment in the school campus is conducive for
studies and all-round development – and – I am there for him 24/7 – remember – as
a single parent – I have to be his mother and father both…” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes – a child needs both mother and father – you shouldn’t have got
divorced…” I was saying – when Nisha rudely interrupted me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“What do you mean <i>“I shouldn’t have got divorced”</i>…? How could I
live with that unfaithful adulterous bastard…? Don’t you know…? He was disloyal
to me – he cheated on me…” Nisha said, angrily.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You cheated on him too…” I said to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Just once – it was “revenge sex” – on the rebound – when I found out he
being unfaithful and was cheating on me – but – his was a full-fledged
extramarital affair – I think he has married that woman too…” she said – and
looked at me – with a question in her eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes – he married her last month – after her divorce came through…” I
said, matter-of-factly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Good for him – let him do what he likes – I don’t care – I just want
him out of our lives…” she said – with a tinge of bitterness in her voice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I believe he gave you full permanent custody of your son…” I said to
her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes – my son is mine – 100% - he can’t even visit him – he has given it
in writing…” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“That’s generous of him…” I was saying – when I saw her flare up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Generous…? What nonsense are you talking…? I gave up everything – no
alimony – no maintenance – no child support – I didn’t take a single rupee from
him – not even my share in the house – nothing – absolutely nothing – I took
nothing from him – I just wanted my son – that’s all…” she said, vehemently.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“It’s surprising that he gave up visitation rights for life – I thought
he loved your son…” I said, confused.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Well – my lawyer “convinced” him…” she said, with a canny look.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Oh My God…!!!” I said, appalled, “don’t tell me you…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Let’s not talk about it…” she interrupted me, “I wanted my son
exclusively for myself – so – we had to use these tactics…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“But…” I tried to say – but she interrupted me again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I don’t want his influence on my son – please try to understand – I
desperately love my son – I will bring him up all by myself – that’s why I have
“burnt my bridges” and come here…” she said, proudly, “I have even told my
father that I want nothing from him…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Why…?” I asked her – I knew that her mother had died in her childhood –
she had no siblings – and her father was her only close living relative.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“My father was vehemently opposed to my marriage with that man – he
didn’t even attend the wedding – and now that my marriage has failed – I don’t
think I will be able to bear his sadistic rebukes and hear him say “I told you
so” – I’d rather struggle myself – rather than be at his mercy…” she said, with
a tinge of haughtiness in her tone of voice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Suddenly – the door opened – and her son came in – a handsome boy –
dressed in sports gear – he had come home after a game of football – his
evening organized sports session. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">He smiled at me – wished me “Good Evening” – and went inside. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nisha looked at me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I think you should go now…” she said to me, “it’s almost 6 PM – and – I
have to supervise the evening study session…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes…” I said, “if you need anything – don’t hesitate to ask me – I’ll
give you my card – you can call me – email – and I’ll be there for you…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“That’s so kind of you – but – I can manage by myself…” she said,
confidently.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I know…” I said, took out my visiting card from my wallet and gave it
to her, “just in case – no harm keeping my card…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nisha took my visiting card and kept it on the table.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then – Nisha looked at me – and she spoke in a polite yet firm tone of
voice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I have one request…” she said to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes…?” I said, wondering what she wanted.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Please don’t come here again – and don’t ever try to contact me…” Nisha
said to me – and then – she escorted me out of her home and closed the door. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">________ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was stunned by her snub – and – I felt hurt at the way she had
rebuffed me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I decided that I would never ever contact Nisha or try to meet her
again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A few years later – while browsing the Sunday Supplement of my Newspaper
– I saw a photo of Nisha.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Below the photo there was a story about Nisha and her son.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The story was all praise for Nisha – and described – how – as a single
mother – she had conquered various tough challenges – and – how splendidly she had
brought up her son – who had performed brilliantly – topped his school exams and
won a prestigious scholarship to study overseas. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There were pictures of Nisha and her son too – who looked a handsome
young man – and his quote that Nisha was the best mother in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There was praise for Nisha from various persons – admiration for how she
had sacrificed her own career ambitions – and dedicated her life to single parenting
her son – who had turned out to be such a brilliant young man.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I felt happy for Nisha – she had achieved what she had wanted to achieve
– her devotion to parenting her son had borne fruit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Out of curiosity – I “Googled” her name – and – I saw that Nisha was quite
active on Social Media – on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I browsed through her recent posts on Facebook – and I saw that she was
obsessed with her son for whom she was all praise – there were so many pictures
of her son – and she had written so much about their love for each other – and eulogizing
her son and extolling his virtues.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The most recent picture – clicked a few days ago – was of her son at the
Delhi Airport – before his flight overseas to study abroad – with a sentimental
comment by Nisha below about how she was already anticipating the “empty nest
syndrome” once her son left and she would be all alone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A few months later – Nisha surprised me by coming to my office unannounced.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You don’t seem to be happy to see me…” Nisha said to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“No. No…” I said to her, “I was surprised at your unexpected visit – you
didn’t call or anything…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I wanted to surprise you…” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“On a visit to Mumbai…?” I asked her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I came to see you…” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Anything urgent…?” I asked her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes – urgent and important…” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Okay – I’ll just tell my secretary to see that we are not disturbed…” I
said to Nisha.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">While speaking to my secretary on the intercom – I looked at Nisha.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She seemed fatigued – her face looked haggard.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was surprised at the metamorphosis in her appearance – her youthful
vivaciousness had gone – and – there was only a slight hint of her earlier beauty.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I wondered how she had managed to look so good in her online photos –
maybe – it was the magic of “filters”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nisha must have noticed that I was looking at her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Why are you staring at me so intently…?” she asked me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You look tired…” I said to Nisha.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I brought up my son single-handedly…” Nisha said, “it was very
difficult – financially – and very exhausting emotionally too…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes – that’s really praiseworthy…” I said to her, “you have succeeded
so well – your son has turned out to be such a bright boy…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Thank you…” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I have been following you on Facebook – on Twitter, Instagram too – and
– I really admire you – you have brought up your son so well – you dedicated
your life to him – and now – he has done you proud by getting that coveted
scholarship overseas – I saw your post saying “goodbye” to him at Delhi Airport…”
I said to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Thank you once again…” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then – Nisha looked at me and spoke.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You said that I look “tired” – didn’t you…? I look terrible – don’t I…?”
she asked me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“No. No…” I tried to say – but she interrupted me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“For so many years – I focused totally on my son – I dedicated my life
100% to bringing him up properly – so – maybe – that’s why I neglected looking
after my own self…” she said, “but don’t worry – I will look after myself now
and become the same beautiful Nisha you knew…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I didn’t know what to say.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I wondered why Nisha had suddenly landed up at my office out of the
blue.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nisha must have sensed my thoughts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You must be wondering why I have come from Delhi to Mumbai to see you –
unannounced – so – let me get to the point straightaway…” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes…” I said, “tell me…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“When you had come to meet me last time – you had asked me to marry
you…” she said, “is the offer still open…?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was taken aback – dumbstruck.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We looked at each other in silence – a grotesque silence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then – I gathered my wits and spoke – mumbling incoherently.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I think you misunderstood – I generally asked you if you wanted to get
married because one year had passed since your divorce – I didn’t propose
marriage to you…” I said, trying to explain.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nisha smiled like a Cheshire Cat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Come on – do you think I am naïve…? I know you are in love with me –
you always were – ever since school…” she said with a loving smile.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I kept quiet – not knowing what to say – because what she was saying was
true.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nisha looked into my eyes and spoke in a candid tone of voice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Do you want to marry me…?” she asked me, matter-of-factly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I am quite confused…” I muttered.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Why…?” she asked me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“By the suddenness of events – you unexpectedly come to my office – and
– out of the blue – you propose marriage to me…” I said to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I thought you would say “Yes” instantly…” Nisha said, “I found out that
you are still unmarried – I suspect it is because of me – you still love me –
don’t you…?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes…” I mumbled, “but please give me some time – I am terribly confused
now…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Okay – we’ll meet for dinner in the evening – you can tell me then…”
she said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Dinner…? Where…?” I asked her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Come to my hotel room…” she said, “we can talk more intimately and
privately than in a restaurant – and bring a bottle of wine…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nisha took out her visiting card and gave it to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“My private mobile number, the name of the hotel and room number – I have
written everything on the reverse…” she said, “call me on my private mobile number…”
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I looked at Nisha’s visiting card. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Impressive…” I said, “I didn’t know you did so many things besides
teaching…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Once we get married – I am going to give up everything – and be a
loving wife – that’s all – I have slogged too much and for too long – I need
relaxation – and love – and plenty of…” she was saying – when there was a knock
on the door. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Come in…” I said in a loud voice. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“My colleague Monika entered. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She smiled at Nisha.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then – she looked at me and spoke.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Sorry to interrupt – but we have our weekly review meeting in five
minutes time…” my colleague Monika said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Oh, yes…” I said to Monika, “you go ahead – I’ll join you soon…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Monika left my office.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I think I’ll go now…” Nisha said to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes…” I said to her, “we’ll meet in the evening…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Come at 8 – I’ll be waiting for you in my hotel room…?” Nisha said with
a loving smile.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After the weekly review meeting was over – Monika walked along with me
to my office. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Who was that woman…?” Monika asked me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Nisha – she was married to one of my friends…” I said to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“What do you mean “was married” – did her husband die – or is she
divorced…?” Monika asked me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Divorced…” I said, matter-of-factly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Monika looked at me in a curious manner.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Tell me everything – about her – about you and her…” Monika said to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dear Reader - knowing Monika – I knew it was best for me to tell her the
whole story – about Nisha and Me – the story I have told you till now.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After hearing the story – Monika gave me a questioning look.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Tell me something…” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“What…?” I asked her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You told me that this Nisha had “revenge sex” – was it with you…?”
Monika asked me – with an inquisitorial look in her eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes…” I said truthfully, “but it was long ago…” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Monika gave me a naughty smile.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“And now – this Nisha – she wants to marry you…” Monika said. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes…” I said, sheepishly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“And you…? Do you want to marry
her…?” Monika asked me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“If I would have married her then
– it would have been because I loved her. If I marry her now – it would be
because I pity her. I don’t want a marriage based on pity – I want a marriage
based on love…” I said to Monika.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Love…? Or – Attraction…?” Monika
said, naughtily. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was amazed at her perception. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Monika was right – then – Nisha
looked so chic and beautiful – and I had been “attracted” to Nisha – now –
Nisha looked haggard and worn-out – and though – I wouldn’t go so far as saying
that I was “repelled” by her – I certainly wasn’t “attracted” to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I smiled at Monika – held her
hand – and spoke.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You are right – it was
“attraction” – now – she certainly doesn’t look “attractive” – at least to me…”
I said to Monika.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“And me – do you love me – or –
are you attracted to me…?” Monika asked me, with a mischievous look.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You certainly look attractive…”
I said to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Monika burst out into a laugh.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You are so brutally honest –
that’s what I love about you…” Monika said with a lovely smile.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Monika got up from her chair –
walked across to me – came close – looked into my eyes – and spoke to me in a
loving tone of voice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Let’s get married…” Monika said
to me – and – before I could react – she kissed me full on the lips – and I
kissed her back.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I looked at Monika – she looked
very desirable – I wanted to take her in my arms and make love to her – but
then – this was my office.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So – I calmed the fires inside me
– and – I looked at Monika.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Is there something you want to
tell me…?” Monika asked me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Nisha has called me for dinner…”
I said to Monika.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Don’t go…” Monika said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“But – I have to tell her…” I
said to Monika.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I will tell her – connect her
number and give me your phone…” Monika said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I picked up Nisha’s visiting card,
turned it around and showed it to Monika.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“She told me to call her on this
number – her private mobile number…” I said to Monika.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I will talk to her from your
number – give me for mobile phone…” Monika said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I gave Monika my smartphone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Monika called Nisha – she spoke
to Nisha in an emphatic voice – and – she told Nisha unequivocally that she
(Monika) was my fiancée – and – in an imperative tone of voice – Monika
“warned” Nisha to keep away from me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was stunned by Monika’s
demeanor – but – before I could recover my wits – Monika disconnected the call
– gave me my smartphone – looked into my eyes – and she said to me in a mischievous
voice: <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span lang="EN-US">“We don’t want ghosts of your past
haunting our marriage – do we…?”</span></i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div>________ </span></span><div><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;">VIKRAM KARVE</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">Copyright © Vikram Karve<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve<br />2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post<br /><b>© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8400720714775465451" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 586px;"><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><b>Disclaimer:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">This story is </span></span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">a work of fiction. </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">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.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">Copyright Notice:</span></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">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.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Part 1 of this story posted in my blog at url:<b> <a href="https://karve.wordpress.com/2022/12/24/the-single-mother-part-1/" target="_blank">https://karve.wordpress.com/2022/12/24/the-single-mother-part-1/</a></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;"><b></b></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</span></b></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img src="http://banners.copyscape.com/images/cs-gy-3d-234x16.gif" style="background: white; border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px;" /></span></span></b></div></div></div></span></div>Vikram Waman Karvehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00290102473130246523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710313771389348282.post-58520325417062498302022-12-24T23:19:00.000+05:302022-12-24T23:19:28.456+05:30Unfinished Story : The Single Mother : Part 1<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unfinished Story <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">______<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">THE SINGLE MOTHER<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fiction Short Story<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">VIKRAM KARVE <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">______ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A short story is a piece of prose fiction which can be read at a single
sitting.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In today’s technology-driven hectic times – the “span of attention” of
the reader is just a few minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So now – a “single sitting” means just a few minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear Reader – let me try to write a very short story that you can read
on your smartphone in a “single sitting” of a few minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">______<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">THE SINGLE MOTHER<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">______ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">PART 1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_____<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“It’s one year since your divorce – have you thought of getting married
again…?” I asked Nisha.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“No…” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Why…? You are so young…” I said to her.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I want to focus on my son…” she said, “he is the only thing in my life
now…”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nisha looked at me and spoke in a resolute voice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“My son means everything to me – I quit my successful career in Mumbai –
and – I took up this modest job as a teacher in this school up here in the
hills – because I want my son to get the best education…” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Yes – this is a really good school – internationally acclaimed – top
class, elite and famous – it must be very expensive…” I said to her.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“My son gets free education – that’s the perk I get as a teacher – and –
I am the warden of the girls’ hostel – so – I get free accommodation too…” she
said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“You really love your son a lot – you sacrificed your career for him –
and your friends and your active social life in Mumbai…” I said to her.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I didn’t want him growing up in that bohemian atmosphere – my son is 12
now – he will be 13 soon – a teenager – of impressionable age – over there – in
Mumbai – with me spending long hours at work – he may have drifted – but here –
faraway in the hills – the environment in the school campus is conducive for
studies and all-round development – and – I am there for him 24/7 – remember – as
a single parent – I have to be his mother and father both…” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Yes – a child needs both mother and father – you shouldn’t have got
divorced…” I was saying – when Nisha rudely interrupted me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“What do you mean <i>“I shouldn’t have got divorced”</i>…? How could I
live with that unfaithful adulterous bastard…? Don’t you know…? He was disloyal
to me – he cheated on me…” Nisha said, angrily.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“You cheated on him too…” I said to her.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Just once – it was “revenge sex” – on the rebound – when I found out he
being unfaithful and was cheating on me – but – his was a full-fledged
extramarital affair – I think he has married that woman too…” she said – and
looked at me – with a question in her eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Yes – he married her last month – after her divorce came through…” I
said, matter-of-factly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Good for him – let him do what he likes – I don’t care – I just want
him out of our lives…” she said – with a tinge of bitterness in her voice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I believe he gave you full permanent custody of your son…” I said to
her.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Yes – my son is mine – 100% - he can’t even visit him – he has given it
in writing…” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“That’s generous of him…” I was saying – when I saw her flare up.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Generous…? What nonsense are you talking…? I gave up everything – no
alimony – no maintenance – no child support – I didn’t take a single rupee from
him – not even my share in the house – nothing – absolutely nothing – I took
nothing from him – I just wanted my son – that’s all…” she said, vehemently.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“It’s surprising that he gave up visitation rights for life – I thought
he loved your son…” I said, confused.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Well – my lawyer “convinced” him…” she said, with a canny look.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Oh My God…!!!” I said, appalled, “don’t tell me you…”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Let’s not talk about it…” she interrupted me, “I wanted my son
exclusively for myself – so – we had to use these tactics…”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“But…” I tried to say – but she interrupted me again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I don’t want his influence on my son – please try to understand – I
desperately love my son – I will bring him up all by myself – that’s why I have
“burnt my bridges” and come here…” she said, proudly, “I have even told my
father that I want nothing from him…”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Why…?” I asked her – I knew that her mother had died in her childhood –
she had no siblings – and her father was her only close living relative.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“My father was vehemently opposed to my marriage with that man – he
didn’t even attend the wedding – and now that my marriage has failed – I don’t
think I will be able to bear his sadistic rebukes and hear him say “I told you
so” – I’d rather struggle myself – rather than be at his mercy…” she said, with
a tinge of haughtiness in her tone of voice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Suddenly – the door opened – and her son came in – a handsome boy –
dressed in sports gear – he had come home after a game of football – his
evening organized sports session. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He smiled at me – wished me “Good Evening” – and went inside. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nisha looked at me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I think you should go now…” she said to me, “it’s almost 6 PM – and – I
have to supervise the evening study session…”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Yes…” I said, “if you need anything – don’t hesitate to ask me – I’ll
give you my card – you can call me – email – and I’ll be there for you…”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“That’s so kind of you – but – I can manage by myself…” she said,
confidently.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I know…” I said, took out my visiting card from my wallet and gave it
to her, “just in case – no harm keeping my card…”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nisha took my visiting card and kept it on the table.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then – Nisha looked at me – and she spoke in a polite yet firm tone of
voice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I have one request…” she said to me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Yes…?” I said, wondering what she wanted.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Please don’t come here again – and don’t ever try to contact me…” Nisha
said to me – and then – she escorted me out of her home and closed the door. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">________ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was stunned by her snub – and – I felt hurt at the way she had
rebuffed me. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I decided that I would never ever contact Nisha or try to meet her
again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_______ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Story To Be Continued in Part 2<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_______<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;">VIKRAM KARVE</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">Copyright © Vikram Karve<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve<br />2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post<br /><b>© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></p><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8400720714775465451" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 586px;"><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><b>Disclaimer:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">This story is </span></span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">a work of fiction. </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">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.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">Copyright Notice:</span></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">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.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;"><b></b></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</span></b></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img src="http://banners.copyscape.com/images/cs-gy-3d-234x16.gif" style="background: white; border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px;" /></span></span></b></div><div><b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div></div></div>Vikram Waman Karvehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00290102473130246523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710313771389348282.post-90792579937910607002022-12-13T20:25:00.000+05:302022-12-13T20:25:03.078+05:30Short Fiction : Who is my husband...?<p><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WHO IS MY HUSBAND...?</span></b></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Fiction Short Stor</span><span lang="EN-US">y</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">VIKRAM KARVE </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_______</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">THE OLD LAB JOURNAL</span></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">_______</span></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“See this...”</span> I say to my friend Priti.<span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“It’s a lab journal...”</span> Priti says <span lang="EN-US"></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– looking at the old laboratory journal.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I picked it up at the </span><i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">raddiwala</span></b></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...”</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“Hey </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I sent you to sell old newspapers </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> not collect </span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>raddi</b></span></i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...</span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">”</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“Open it </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> read the name...”</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I say to Priti.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“John Morris...”</span> she reads the name on the first page of the journal.<span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“John Morris. That is my husband’s name...”</span> I say<span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“Wow </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US"> your</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> husband’s name on this old journal. It</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">’s unbe</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">lievable </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> isn’t it...? Just imagine – your husband’s science lab journal </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> after so many years – and that too here </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> at a </span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>raddiwala</b></span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> in Delhi...”</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“Let’s go to Mussoorie...”</span> I say.<span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“Mussoorie...? Now...? Are you crazy...?”</span> Priti says to me <span lang="EN-US"></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– surprised.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“Yes. </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let’s go to Mussoorie </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– t</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">o John’s school. He studied in a boarding school in Mussoorie </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> but he never tells me anything about his schooldays. I’m dying to know – let’s go </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> please...”</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I say to Priti.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“Annie </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> be sensible. You have got to catch the flight back home to New York early tomorrow morning...”</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Priti pleads with me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“Please Priti </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I have to go – this old lab journal with my </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">husband’s name</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> serendipity </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> it’s a signal. Let’s go in your car – Mussoorie is only a 5 hour drive – we can easily be back by evening...”</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I say.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Okay </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> let</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">’</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">s go...</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">” Priti says. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">________</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">MUSSOORIE</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">_______</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">That afternoon </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the two women are seated in the office of the Headmaster of a famous school in Mussoorie.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“I wonder how this school journal surfaced after twenty years </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and that too in Delhi...” the Headmaster says, with an expression of awe.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“I would love to know about my husband’s schooldays – photos, anything…”</span> <span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“Well </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US"> I have joined recently </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US"> most of the staff too has joined recently. Why don’t you ask the Bursar </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> h</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">e is an old timer,”</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> the Headmaster suggests.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Annie and Priti walk to the Bursar’s office.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">They show him the science lab journal.</span> <span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“Mrs. Bhalla must have taken this journal with her to Delhi as remembrance when she retired...” the Bursar says wistfully.</span> <span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“Remembrance...? Mrs Bhalla...?”</span> <span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“Mrs. Bhalla was our previous Science Teacher. John Morris was her favourite student. She treated him like a son.”</span> <span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“Son...?”</span> <span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“Yes. John was an orphan – he lost both his parents in a car accident…”</span> <span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“I know.”</span> <span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“…and </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Mrs. Bhalla was a childless widow. They lived for each other – like mother and son.”</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“It’s surprising – John never told me about Mrs. Bhalla…”</span> <span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“John told you...? When did you meet John Morris...?”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“Two weeks back.”</span> <span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“Two weeks back...? That is impossible. Where did you meet John...?”</span> <span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“In New York. At home. John Morris is my husband.”</span> <span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“John Morris is your husband...? That is just not possible…”</span> <span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“Not possible...? Why do you say that...? I am Annie Morris – I have been married to John Morris for 5 years.”</span> <span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“Look here young lady. There seems to be some mistake…”</span> <span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“Mistake...? No. No. There is no mistake. Everything fits perfectly. John told me he studied here. 20 years back </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> in 1988 </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> he must have been in class 9 </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> like it is written on this lab journal. I know he was born in 1974.”</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“1974...? Are you sure...?”</span> <span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“Yes. He was born on the 7th of September 1974...”</span> Annie Morris says.<span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 18px;">“Oh, My God. How do you know all this...? Tell me </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">–</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> do you remember when you first met John Morris...?”</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> the Bursar asks.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“Of course I remember – I first met him in May 2001. In New York. Why are you asking me all this...?”</span> <span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“Come with me...” the Bursar says.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">The two women follow the podgy old man up the slopes of Landour to the cemetery near Lal Tibba.</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">________</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>THE TOMBSTONE</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">_______</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">The two women </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Annie and Priti </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> freeze with shock as they read the large bold letters engraved on the tombstone:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <span lang="EN-US"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-style: inherit;"><b>JOHN MORRIS</b></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-style: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> BORN: 7 SEPTEMBER 1974</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-style: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> DIED: 15 DECEMBER 1988</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"> RIP</span></span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">________</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Annie Morris stares at the tombstone. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Her brain goes into a tizzy </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">suddenly </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> she blurts out:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>“Who is my husband...?</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If this is the real John Morris </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> then </span></b><b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> who is that man living with me in New York...? </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> if that man living with me in New York is the real John Morris </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> then </span></span></b><b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– </span></b><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">who is this man lying dead for twenty years in this grave...?</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">”</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">_________</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;">VIKRAM KARVE</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">Copyright © Vikram Karve<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve<br />2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post<br /><b>© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8400720714775465451" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 586px;"><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><b>Disclaimer:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">This story is </span></span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">a work of fiction. </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">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.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">Copyright Notice:</span></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">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.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;"><b></b></span></span><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</span></b></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px;"><b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img src="http://banners.copyscape.com/images/cs-gy-3d-234x16.gif" style="background: white; border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px;" /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px;"><b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">This Story written by me in the year 2008 for a flash fiction contest and later posted online a number of times in my creative writing blogs including at urls: <a href="http://creative.sulekha.com/who-is-my-husband-a-suspense-story_458633_blog" style="color: #7d181e; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://creative.sulekha.com/who-is-my-husband-a-suspense-story_458633_blog</a> AND <a href="http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2010/09/is-my-husband-actually-my-husband.html" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><b>http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2010/09/is-my-husband-actually-my-husband.html</b></a> and <a href="http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2011/05/tombstone.html" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><b>http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2011/05/tombstone.html</b></a> and <a href="http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/02/who-is-my-husband.html" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><b>http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/02/who-is-my-husband.html</b></a> and <a href="http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2016/08/who-is-my-husband-short-fiction-story.html" target="_blank">http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2016/08/who-is-my-husband-short-fiction-story.html</a> etc </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">_________</span></span></div></div></div></div>Vikram Waman Karvehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00290102473130246523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710313771389348282.post-69428593742098124062022-11-11T00:08:00.003+05:302022-11-11T00:08:56.406+05:30My Name is “Nisha” – Short Story <p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span lang="EN-US">My Name is
“Nisha”</span></b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_____ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">MY NAME IS
“NISHA”<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Story<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">By<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">VIKRAM KARVE <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_____ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">MY NAME IS
“NISHA”<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_____ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My Home in Pune<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_____<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">10 AM – Monday
Morning – I am busy writing my latest story on my laptop.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am disturbed
by the sound of the doorbell.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Irritated – I
get up and walk to the door – wondering who it is who is disturbing my
solitude.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I open the
door.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is a woman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I look at her.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She looks so
chic. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Blue Jeans,
bright red tucked-in T-Shirt, fair creamy flawless complexion, jet black hair
neatly tied in a bun – and – dark Ray-Ban sunglasses of the latest style. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She is a
good-looking woman with smart feminine features – elegant – fashionable – chic
– graceful – well-groomed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Good
Morning…” I greet her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Good Morning
to you…” she says with a sweet smile.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I wonder who
she is – maybe – she has come to meet my wife.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My thoughts
are interrupted by her mellifluous voice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Won’t you ask
me to come in…?” she says to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I am all
alone in the house…” I say to her, “my wife has gone to work – she will come at
5 in the evening…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I have come
to meet you…” she says with a smile.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Me…?” I say –
taken aback.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">From her bag –
she pulls out a copy of my book – my anthology of short stories.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She points a
finger at my name on the cover and looks at me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“This is your
name – isn’t it…? You have written all these stories…” she says to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes…” I say
to her. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“My name is
“Nisha”…” she says to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Nisha…?” I
repeat. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Does my name
ring a bell…?” she asks me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“No…” I say to
her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Oh really…?”
she says, “that’s surprising…!!!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I don’t know
you – or anyone named Nisha…” I say to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I am the
“heroine” of most of your stories – <b>Nisha</b>…” she says matter-of-factly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On hearing her
words – I am flummoxed – dumbstruck.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Since you
haven’t asked me to come in – I am inviting myself in…” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And – she pushes
past me – walks to the sofa – sits down – and – she looks at me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am still at
the door. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Come and sit near
me – I want to talk to you…” she says to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I go and sit
near her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Would you
like to have a cup of tea – or – a cool drink…” I ask her – but – she interrupts
me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Thank you for
asking – but – no – I just want to talk to you for a few minutes – and then – I
have to go back to Mumbai – I have a flight to catch tonight…” she says, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Mumbai…? Flight…?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ask –
confused.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I drove down from Mumbai just to meet you…” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Taxi…? How did you get my address…?” I ask her – curious.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Your contact details are all over the internet – you are a blogger – an
influencer – you keep updating your status and location on Twitter, Facebook,
Instagram, Google – everywhere – it is very easy to track you down…” she says
matter-of-factly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She pauses for a moment before speaking.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Let’s get to the point – I just want to know one thing – <b>“Who is Nisha…?”</b>…”
she asks me – looking directly into my eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Who is Nisha…?” I repeat her question – feeling a bit nonplussed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I told you when I introduced myself – my name is “Nisha”…” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes…” I murmur.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“In all your stories – the name of the heroine is “Nisha” – my name…”
she says, “I want to know why…” she asks me in an imperative voice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Well – just like that…” I stammer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“What do you mean “just like that…?” Why are you using my name again and
again…?” she questions me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“It’s nothing, really – just like Hemingway used the name “Nick” for the
protagonist of his early short stories – I use the name “Nisha”…” I explain to
her, “Nisha is a fictional character…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I don’t think so…” the woman named Nisha says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I remain silent – confused what to say.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nisha opens the book in her hand – to the contents page – looks at me –
and speaks in a serious voice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You are writing about me. You have selectively taken incidents from my
life and dramatized them into stories…” she says, accusingly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“How can I write about incidents in your life…? I don’t even know you.
This is the first time I am meeting you…” I say to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Exactly…” she counters, “without even meeting me – how do you know so
much about me…?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I don’t know…” I start mumbling – but she interrupts me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“There is a slice of my life in all your “Nisha” stories – it is outrageous
– why are you writing stories about my personal life…? How do you know so many
things about me…?” she says – in an accusing voice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“How can I write
about incidents in your life…? I don’t even know you. This is the first time I
am meeting you…” I say to her.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Then how do you know so much about me…? About my past…?
Who is telling you all those private and intimate things about my life…? “Why
are you prying into my personal life…?” she asks me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“No one is telling me anything about you – and – I am not
prying into your personal life…” I say to her, “Can you give me a specific
example…?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“How did you know I was “Bi” …? she asks me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Bi…?” I say, confused.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Don’t act dumb – you know what “Bi” means – I like both
men and women – just like your heroine “Nisha” does…” she says, sardonically.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I try to speak – but – she cuts me short – and – she continues
speaking.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“In three of your stories – Nisha makes love to women – the
way you have described these incidents in your stories is similar to what
happened in my life – of course – you have been smart enough to change the
names of the other women – but your main protagonist is always “Nisha” – why…?”
she asks me, pointedly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I don’t know…” I say, unthinkingly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You are very cunning…” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Cunning…?” I say – taken aback – no one has called me
“cunning” before.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You change the names of all the other characters – or
write in first person – but the name of the protagonist is always “Nisha” –
me…” she says, resentfully.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nisha opens my book and points to a story.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“And – this is the bloody limit of your brazenness – in this
story – you haven’t even bothered to change the other woman’s name…” she says,
angrily.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Which woman…?” I say, confused.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Anjali – my lover in the story – and – you have
described things exactly as they actually happened – how did you know we made
love in the railway retiring room at Dehradun…? You have even mentioned the year
correctly – Anjali read the story and she was aghast – she called me – she is furious
with me – she thinks I told you about our affair…” Nisha says to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Show me…” I say – and – I take the book from her hand – I
look at the story – and speak to Nisha.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I wrote this long back – I really don’t remember…” I try
to explain – but Nisha interrupts me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She grabs the book from my hand – looks at the contents –
and opens the page to another story.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“And this one – lovemaking in train…” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“In this you are making love to a man…” I am saying –
when she interrupts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Me…?” she shouts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“No. No. I meant the heroine of the story…” I say, contrite.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For some time – there is silence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then – Nisha speaks.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Do you have the power of clairvoyance…?” she asks me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“No…” I say to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I don’t believe it – how can you know about my secret
tattoo – about my lesbian affairs that I have tried to keep secret…” she says,
looking anxious.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I told you – it’s my imagination…” I say to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“It’s bizarre – you seem to have some supernatural powers
to peep into my life…” she says, giving me a strange look.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“No. No…” I begin to say, when she interrupts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Why are you writing stories about my personal life…?”
she asks me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I don’t know…” I say to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Why is the heroine of your stories named “Nisha” – who is
Nisha…?” she asks, desperately.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I don’t know…” I say, exasperated. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We look at each other for some time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then – I speak.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You have a really complicated life…” I say to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes – fodder for your stories…” she says with sarcasm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Please…” I say, “I am being honest with you – it is just
a coincidence…” I say, sincerely.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I don’t believe you – but then – I have no choice – if
you keep insisting that all these real-life stories about me are products of
your imagination…” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Please believe me…” I say to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nisha looks at the wall-clock.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I have to go now – I don’t want to be late for my flight…”
she says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Where are you going…?” I ask her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Auckland – New Zealand – I live there – like the “Nisha”
of some of your stories…” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You migrated there…” I ask her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes – a few years ago…” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then – she looks at me and speaks in a beseeching voice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I have one request – from now on – please don’t have “Nisha”
in your stories – I am sure you can find much better names…” she says to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I smile at her. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She picks up her bag and stands up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“You’ve forgotten the book…” I say to her – picking up
her copy of the anthology of my short stories. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I don’t want to read about my own life…” she says, “you can
keep it – to remind you not to have any “Nisha” in your stories…” she says –
and – she walks towards the door.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After she leaves – I sit down at my desk.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I decide to write a new story – a murder mystery.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The name of the murderer – “Nisha”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yes – “Nisha” – a devious wicked woman – the “heroine” of
my story.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A few days later – I get a call from a friend – a retired
police officer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I read your latest story…” he says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“The murder mystery…?” I ask him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Yes…” he says, “tell me – is the story based on a true
incident…?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“No…” I say, “it is fiction – my imagination running wild…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Amazing coincidence…” he says, “there was a murder case
a few years ago – exactly as you have described it – a man died from poisoning –
with Ricin – a woman was the suspect – but we could do nothing – as the trace couldn’t
be established – just like in your story…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Oh…” I remarked, “quite a coincidence…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Hear the next part…” he says, “the name of the woman was
“Nisha” – yes – the murder suspect was a woman called “Nisha” – exactly like in
your story – that’s the bizarre coincidence…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">________ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b style="line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">VIKRAM KARVE</span></span></b></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 17.12px;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 13.65pt; text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Copyright © Vikram Karve<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve<br />2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post<br /><b>© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8400720714775465451" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 586px;"><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Disclaimer:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">1. <span style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">This story is a 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.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">2. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. </span><span style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;">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.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">3. E&OE</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Copyright Notice:</span></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">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.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><b><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><b><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8400720714775465451" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 586px;"><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</span></b></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img src="http://banners.copyscape.com/images/cs-gy-3d-234x16.gif" style="background: white; border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px;" /></span></span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Vikram Waman Karvehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00290102473130246523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710313771389348282.post-24889061271801606192022-11-09T08:45:00.000+05:302022-11-09T08:45:05.247+05:30Maharshi Karve : His Life Story in His Own Words<p><b style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">MAHARSHI KARVE</span></b></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px;"><b>His Life Story in His Own Words</b></span></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">_____<br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px;"></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px;"><b>LOOKING BACK by DK KARVE (1936)</b></span><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;" /></span><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Autobiography of Bharat Ratna Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve</span></b></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">______</span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">(Book Review by Vikram Waman Karve)</span></b></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">______</span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #333333;">Today – the 9</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; line-height: 16.8667px;"><sup>th </sup></span><span style="color: #333333;">of November – is the </span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;">पुण्यतिथि</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;">(</span><span style="color: #333333;">Death Anniversary) of Bharat Ratna <b>Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve</b> </span><span style="color: #333333;">(18.04.1858 </span><span style="color: #333333; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><span style="color: #333333;"> 09.11.1962).</span></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I feel that <span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span> on this occasion <span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span> it would be apt to tell you about his life and work as written by him in his autobiography titled <b>LOOKING BACK</b> published in 1936. </span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here is a picture of my copy of the book. </span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X4TBdYVSM84/WtV_HqbM2dI/AAAAAAAAJfU/xcLQATqquxwAUyUAM9fFpbJO_N6eW7v_QCLcBGAs/s1600/Maharshi%2BKarve_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1104" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X4TBdYVSM84/WtV_HqbM2dI/AAAAAAAAJfU/xcLQATqquxwAUyUAM9fFpbJO_N6eW7v_QCLcBGAs/s640/Maharshi%2BKarve_1.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="441" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looking Back by Dhondo Keshav Karve </span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 18px;">_______</span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 18px;">Dear Reader </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">you must be wondering why I am reviewing an autobiography written in 1936.</span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 18px;"><br />Well </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 18px;"> around 20 years ago </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 18px;"> from 2000 to 2006 </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 18px;">for 6 years of my life </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 18px;"> I stayed in a magnificent building called Empress Court on </span><st1:street style="line-height: 18px;"><st1:address><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Maharshi <b>Karve</b> Road</span></st1:address></st1:street><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 18px;"> opposite the Oval at Churchgate in Mumbai.</span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 18px;"><br />I share the same surname (<b>Karve</b>) as the author.<br /><br />Also </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"> I happen to be the great-grandson of Maharshi Dhondo Keshav </span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;">Karve</b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;">. </span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">But </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> beyond that </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> compared to him </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> I am a nobody – not even a pygmy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">_______</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 18.2px;">Maharshi Karve clearly knew his goal, persisted ceaselessly throughout his life with missionary zeal and transformed the destiny of the Indian Woman.<br /><br />The first university for women in India </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </b><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 18.2px;">SNDT Women’s University </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 18.2px;"> and educational institutions for women under the aegis of the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Hingne Stree Shikshan Samstha </span></span><st1:city style="line-height: 18px;"><st1:place><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Poona </span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><st1:city style="line-height: 18px;"><st1:place><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> later renamed </span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Samstha (MKSSS) Pune </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">covering the entire spectrum ranging from pre-primary schools to post-graduate, engineering, vocational and professional colleges </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– all these institutions </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">bear eloquent testimony to his indomitable spirit, untiring perseverance and determined efforts.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">________ </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">LOOKING BACK by DK KARVE (1936)</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">(Book Review)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">_______ </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">In his preface </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> Frederick J Gould, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">renowned rationalist and lecturer on Ethics, writes that <i>“the narrative is a parable of his career”</i> – a most apt description of the autobiography. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The author tells his life-story in a simple straightforward manner, with remarkable candour and humility </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> resulting in a narrative which is friendly, interesting and readable.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Autobiographies are sometimes voluminous tomes </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> but this a small book </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> just </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">200 pages. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">It is a very easy comfortable enjoyable read </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> written from the heart in engrossing storytelling style </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">that makes the book unputdownable.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />Dr. Dhondo Keshav Karve writes a crisp, flowing narrative of his life, interspersed with his views and anecdotes </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> in simple, straightforward style </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> which facilitates the reader to visualize through the author’s eyes the places, period, people and events pertaining to his life and times and the trials and tribulations he faced and struggled to conquer.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Dr. Dhondo Keshav Karve was born on </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">18</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16.8667px;"><sup>th</sup></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> of April 1858. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">In the first few chapters he writes about Murud, his native place in Konkan, </span><st1:place><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Maharashtra </span></st1:place><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> his ancestry and his early life – the description is so vivid that you can clearly “see” through the author’s eye.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">His struggle to appear in the public service examination (walking 110 miles in torrential rain and difficult terrain to Satara) </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">and his shattering disappointment at not being allowed to appear for the examination (because <i>“he looked too young”</i>) </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">– all this</span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">make poignant reading.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><i>“Many undreamt of things have happened in my life and given a different turn to my career”</i> he writes </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> and then </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">he goes on to describe his high school </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">and later </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> his college education at The Wilson College Bombay (Mumbai) </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">narrating various incidents that convinced him of the role of destiny </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">and the role of serendipity in shaping his life and career as a teacher and then Professor of Mathematics.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">_______</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">He married at the age of 14 </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> but began his marital life at the age of 20...!!! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">This was the custom of those days. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">_______</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Let’s read the author’s own words on his domestic life:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> <i>“… I was married at the age of fourteen and my wife was then eight. Her family lived very near to ours and we knew each other very well and had often played together. However after marriage we had to forget our old relation as playmates and to behave as strangers, often looking toward each other but never standing together to exchange words ... We had to communicate with each other through my sister ... My marital life began under the parental roof at Murud when I was twenty…” </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">_______</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Their domestic bliss was short lived </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">as his wife died after a few years leaving behind a son.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><i>“Thus ended the first part of my domestic life...”</i> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">he concludes in crisp witty style.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">_______</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">An incident highlighting the plight of a widow left an indelible impression on him and germinated in him the idea of widow remarriage.<br /><br />He married Godubai </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> who was widowed when she was only 8 years old </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– she </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">was a sister of his friend Mr. Joshi </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> and now </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– she was a 23 years old widow </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> she was studying at Pandita Ramabai’s Sharada Sadan as its first widow student.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Let’s read in the author’s own words how he asked for her hand in marriage to her father: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><i>“I told him </i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– </span><i style="font-family: Verdana;">I had made up my mind to marry a widow. He sat silent for a minute and then hinted that there was no need to go in search of such a bride...”</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">______</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">He describes in detail the ostracism he faced from some orthodox quarters and systematically enunciates his life work - his organization of the Widow Marriage Association, Hindu Widows Home, Mahila Vidyalaya, Nishkama Karma Math, and other institutions, culminating in the birth of the first Indian Women’s University (</span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family: Verdana;">SNDT </span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Verdana;">University</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: Verdana;">).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The trials and tribulations he faced in his life-work of emancipation of education of women (widows in particular) and how he overcame them by his persistent steadfast endeavours and indomitable spirit makes illuminating reading and underlines the fact that Dr. DK Karve was no arm-chair social reformer but a person devoted to achieve his dreams on the ground in reality.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">These chapters form the meat of the book and make compelling reading. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">His dedication and meticulousness is evident in the appendices where he has given date-wise details of his engagements and subscriptions down to the paisa for his educational institutions from various places he visited around the world to propagate their cause.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">He then describes his world tour, at the ripe age of 71, to meet eminent educationists to propagate the cause of the Women’s University, his later domestic life and ends with a few of his views and ideas for posterity. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">At the end of the book, concluding his autobiography, he writes:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><i>“Here ends the story of my life. I hope this simple story will serve some useful purpose”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">_______</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><i> </i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve wrote this book in 1936. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">He lived on till the 9th of November 1962 </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">achieving so much more on the way </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> and was conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) by the famous and prestigious Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Varanasi in 1942, followed by University of Poona (Pune) in 1951, SNDT Women’s University in 1955, and the LL.D. by Bombay (Mumbai) University in 1957.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve received the Padma Vibhushan in 1955 and the </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-family: Verdana;">India</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: Verdana;">’s highest honour the “Bharat Ratna” in 1958 </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> a fitting tribute on his centenary at the glorious age of 100.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">_______</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">“LOOKING BACK</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">” </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">is an engrossing and illuminating autobiography </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> written in simple witty readable storytelling style </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> and it clearly brings out the mammoth contribution of Maharshi Karve and the trials and tribulations he faced.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">______</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">PERSONAL EPILOGUE </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">______</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– Vikram Waman Karve </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– I </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">was born in 1956 </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and I have fleeting memories of my great grandfather Maharshi Karve </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">when I was a small boy </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> during our visits </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> till 1962 </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> to the Hingne Stree Shikshan Samstha (now called Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Samstha).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />My mother tells me that I featured in a Films Division Documentary on him during his centenary celebrations in 1958.</span></div></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is a picture of me with my great grandfather Maharshi Karve taken in the year 1958 when he was 100 years old.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XWQ20ZdDSDg/UW7DG3Lse2I/AAAAAAAAARg/6LBQSNN4fVY/s1600/Vikram+Karve+with+Bharat+Ratna+Maharshi+Karve+(my+Great+Grandfather)+Picture+taken+in+1958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XWQ20ZdDSDg/UW7DG3Lse2I/AAAAAAAAARg/6LBQSNN4fVY/s640/Vikram+Karve+with+Bharat+Ratna+Maharshi+Karve+(my+Great+Grandfather)+Picture+taken+in+1958.jpg" style="background: white; border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="441" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><br /><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Vikram Waman Karve with Maharshi Karve (1958)</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.5938px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; padding: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-size: 10.4px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">__________ </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is from some old timers, a few relatives, and mainly from books </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> that I learn of his pioneering work in transforming the destiny of the Indian Woman </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> and </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> I thought I should share this.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have written this book review in the hope that some of us </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> especially young people and particularly the students and alumni of Maharshi Karve Stree Skikshan Samstha (MKSSS), </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">SNDT Women’s University</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">, Cummins College of Engineering for Women, SOFT, Karve Institute of Social Sciences and other Educational Institutions who owe their very genesis and existence to Maharshi Karve </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> are motivated to read about his stellar pioneering work </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">–</span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">and draw inspiration from his autobiography.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-size: small;">_________</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;">VIKRAM KARVE</span></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;">Copyright © Vikram Karve<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve<br />2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post<br /><b>© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</b></span></span></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></b></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.2px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8400720714775465451" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 586px;"><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</span></span></span></b></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"><b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img src="http://banners.copyscape.com/images/cs-gy-3d-234x16.gif" style="background: white; border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px;" /></span></span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is a revised repost of my book review written 25 years ago in 1997 and posted online in my various blogs earlier a number of times including at urls: <a href="https://karve.wordpress.com/2006/05/11/book-review-the-autobiography-of-maharshi-karve/" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">https://karve.wordpress.com/2006/05/11/book-review-the-autobiography-of-maharshi-karve/</a> and <a href="http://creative.sulekha.com/story-of-the-life-and-work-of-maharshi-karve_405802_blog" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://creative.sulekha.com/story-of-the-life-and-work-of-maharshi-karve_405802_blog</a> and <a href="https://karvediat.blogspot.in/2011/08/maharshi-karve-his-life-story.html" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">https://karvediat.blogspot.in/2011/08/maharshi-karve-his-life-story.html</a> and <a href="http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/04/maharshi-karve-his-life-story.html" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/04/maharshi-karve-his-life-story.html</a> and <a href="http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/04/looking-back-autobiography-of-maharshi.html" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/04/looking-back-autobiography-of-maharshi.html</a> and <a href="http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2017/04/maharshi-karve-his-life-story-in-his.html" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2017/04/maharshi-karve-his-life-story-in-his.html</a> and <a href="http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2020/11/maharshi-dhondo-keshav-karve-his-life.html" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2020/11/maharshi-dhondo-keshav-karve-his-life.html</a> and <a href="http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2021/04/maharshi-karve-his-life-story-in-his.html" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2021/04/maharshi-karve-his-life-story-in-his.html</a> and <a href="http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2022/04/maharshi-karve-his-life-story-in-his.html" target="_blank">http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2022/04/maharshi-karve-his-life-story-in-his.html</a> etc </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">My book review of LOOKING BACK is also posted on my various blogs and websites over the years. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">© vikram karve., all rights reserved.</span></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">____________</span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Vikram Waman Karvehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00290102473130246523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4710313771389348282.post-64195051177162098892022-09-14T21:42:00.001+05:302022-09-14T21:42:23.029+05:30The “BLIND SIDE”<p><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;">_______ </span></p><p><b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px;">ARE YOU AWARE OF YOUR “BLIND SIDE”</b></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Learning from Fables </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vikram Karve</span></b></p><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">_______ </div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You must have heard of an Aesop’s Fable called: “The One-Eyed Doe”.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once upon a time – there was a doe (female deer).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The doe had lost one of her eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Therefore – she could not see anything on the side with her blind eye (her “blind side”).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whenever the doe used to feed near the seashore – she used to stand in such a way that her “good eye” looked towards the land – so that she could see if any hunters were approaching – and could make a quick escape in case she saw any hunters on the land.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The doe kept her “blind eye” towards the sea – since she did not expect any threat from that side.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One day – some sailors came rowing in a boat from the sea.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They saw the doe blissfully grazing near the seashore.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since her “blind side” was towards the sea – the doe did not see the sailors coming from the sea.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the sailors took aim with his gun and shot the doe.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14.95px;">As she was dying – heaving her last breath – the doe cried to herself:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14.95px;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14.95px;"><b>“What a mistake I made…!!! </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I was safe on the land side where I expected to be attacked – but I was attacked from the direction of the sea which I thought was safe…”</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">__________________</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14.95px;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14.95px;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14.95px;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>MORAL OF THE STORY </b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14.95px;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14.95px;"><b>“Danger often comes from the least expected source or direction...”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14.95px;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14.95px;">Military History shows us many examples of this “moral of the story” – where armies have been attacked from their “blind side”.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14.95px;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14.95px;">Armies and Nations are attacked by surprise from directions where they least expected to be attacked – or </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– in ways they least expected </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– or </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– by </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“enemies” who they did not expect to be adversaries.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">W</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">e see many such examples in military and war history and in the intelligence domain – where one discovers dangers from directions, places and people that one thought were “safe”. This aspect of being aware of and guarding the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“blind side” is all the more important in information warfare and informationised warfare.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14.95px;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14.95px;">While this fable has a lesson for the military and security forces – isn’t this fable metaphorically relevant in many other aspects of our life as well – at work, in society, in relationships </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– and especially in our</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> personal life …?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14.95px;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14.95px;">Aren’t we most vulnerable from our “blind side”</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14.95px;"> – emotionally – materially – in happenings – in business – in relationships </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">– from people towards whom we have a </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“blind side” because we love and trust them</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">…?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">______</span></div><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14.95px;">So – you must remember: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14.95px;"><br /></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14.95px;">1.<b> Introspect </b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18.4px;">– and </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">– </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14.95px;">discover if you have a “blind side”</b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14.95px;">.<b> </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14.95px;"><br /></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14.95px;">2.</span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14.95px;"> Be aware of your </b><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;">“blind side”</b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;">.</span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"> </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;">3.</span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"> N</b><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14.95px;">ever neglect your “blind side” (or </b><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;">“blind sides”)</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">______</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">VIKRAM KARVE</span></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">Copyright © Vikram Karve<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve<br />2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post<br /><b>© vikram karve., all rights reserved. </b></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Revised repost of my blog post titled THE BLIND SIDE posted by me earlier at url: <a href="http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/01/the-blind-side.html" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/01/the-blind-side.html</a> and <a href="http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2016/10/beware-of-your-blind-side.html" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2016/10/beware-of-your-blind-side.html</a> and <a href="https://karvediat.blogspot.com/2021/06/are-you-aware-of-your-blind-side.html" target="_blank">https://karvediat.blogspot.com/2021/06/are-you-aware-of-your-blind-side.html</a> etc</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><b style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13.35pt; margin: 4.15pt 0in;"><b style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">© vikram karve., all rights reserved. </b></div>Vikram Waman Karvehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00290102473130246523noreply@blogger.com1