My First Love Story – Rendezvous at Sunrise – A Tale of Unrequited Love

I was delighted to see that I hade been featured as the BLOGGER OF THE WEEK  (url link below at the end of this blog post) 

I harked back in time – nostalgically thought about my writing and blogging journey – and – I remembered this story – my first piece of creative writing – and – my first blog post. 

Long back – in the 1980’s – when I was in Vizag – we went on long walks – to Dolphin Nose and the Beach below – especially on Sunday Mornings.

It was after one of these walks – 29 years ago – that a story germinated in my mind.

I wrote the story.

It was my first piece of creative writing (I had done a lot of non-creative writing before).

Dear Reader: Here is the story – my first Love Story – a Tale of Unrequited Love...

RENDEZVOUS AT SUNRISE

Short Fiction – A Simple Love Story

By

VIKRAM KARVE

PROLOGUE

If you ask me what motivated me into writing my first short story – I will say: “The Sunday Morning Market in Vizag.” 

Yes – it was a visit to this Sunday Morning Market – 29 years ago – in 1988 – that inspired me to write my first story – “Rendezvous at Sunrise”.

In Vizag (Visakhapatnam) – every Sunday Morning – I would go up to Dolphin’s Nose – and then come down to the beach (which we called Continental Beach) to relax in the waters and walk on the sands. 

After that – on our way back – we would head for the “Sunday Market” at Scindia to pick up our weekly stock of vegetables and other goodies.

Maybe – this Sunday Morning Activity stimulated the dormant and latent creativity in me and gave birth to my first piece of creative writing – a love story.

Your first love always has an enduring place in your heart. 

It is the same with your first creative work.

Your first creative baby always has a special significance. 

This is the first short story I wrote. 

It is a simple love story.

It is a story of inchoate and unrequited love that happens to all of us.

I wrote this story 29 years ago during my Vizag days after a visit to the Sunday Morning Market.

I kept this story with me in my diary for some time.

Then – one day – I sent this story to the literary supplement of a newspaper in response to a fiction story competition.

To my delightful surprise – this story won the first prize. 

I cannot describe my emotion when I saw my story in print – given the pride of place in the magazine.

Yes, this was my first published work of Fiction – my first Creative Baby. 

I love this story – Rendezvous at Sunrise. 

Do read the story and tell me if you like it.

RENDEZVOUS AT SUNRISE – a Simple Love Story By Vikram Karve

Sunrise – on the eastern coast – is a special event.

I stood at Dolphin’s Nose – a spur jutting out into the Bay of Bengal – to behold the breaking of the sun’s upper limb over the horizon of the sea.

As the eastern sky started unfolding like crimson petals of a gigantic flower – I was overcome by a wave of romance and nostalgia – vivid memories – not diminished by the fact that almost 10 years had passed.

  

I was a young bachelor then – and Vizag (Visakhapatnam) did not have much to offer.

Every Sunday morning – I used to rise before dawn and head for Dolphin’s Nose to enjoy the resplendent spectacle of sun majestically rising out of the sea.

The fresh salty sea breeze was a panacea for all the effects of the hangover caused by Saturday night excesses.

  

After the viewing the metamorphosis at sunrise – I used to walk downhill along the steep mountain-path towards the rocky beach for a brief swim.

I used to notice a flurry of activity at a distance – in the compound of a decrepit building – which I used to ignore – but curious – one day I decided to have a closer look.

  

It was a fish market.

Most of the customers were housewives from the nearby residential complexes who were in their “Sunday-worst” – sans make-up, slovenly dressed, face unwashed and unkempt hair – what a contrast from their carefully decked-up appearances at the club the previous evening...

  

I began to walk away – quite dejected.

And suddenly – I saw her.

I stopped in my tracks.

She was a real beauty – tall, fair and freshly bathed – her long lustrous hair dancing on her shoulders.

She had large expressive brown eyes – and her sharp features were accentuated by the rays of the morning Sun.

I cannot begin to describe the sensation she evoked in me – but it was the first time in my life that I felt my heart ache with intense yearning.

I knew this was love.

  

But – I knew in my heart that I stood no chance.

She had a mangalsutra around her neck.

She was married – maybe happily too.

Nevertheless – I went close to her – and – I made her pretense of buying some fish.

Smiling cannily at me.

She selected a couple of pomfrets and she held them out to me.

I managed to briefly touch her soft hands – the feeling was electric – and a shiver of thrill passed through me.

She communicated an unspoken goodbye with her teasing dancing eyes – and then – she briskly walked away.

I was too delightfully dazed to follow her.

I returned to my room – and – I had fried pomfret for breakfast. 

Needless to say – the pomfret fish were delicious.

   

I religiously followed this routine every Sunday morning.

She never missed her rendezvous with me – same place – same time – at precisely 7 o’clock in the morning.

But – not a word was exchanged between us.

I was too shy – and she probably wanted to keep it this way – a beautiful ethereal relationship – a love so delicate that one wrong move might destroy everything.

   

Meanwhile – I developed a taste for fried pomfret – which was quite creditable – considering that I had never eaten fish before.

   

I left Vizag – and I traveled around the world – I met so many beautiful girls in the numerous exotic places I visited – but I never forgot her.

A man’s first love always has an enduring place in his heart.

   

And now – I was back in Vizag almost ten years later.

As I walked down the slope towards the beach – in my mind’s eye – I could still vividly visualize the playfully sublime look on her face – her gentle smile and communicative eyes – although 10 years had passed.

I could not contain the mounting excitement and anticipation in me. 

I was desperately yearning to see her again. 

It was a forlorn hope – but I was flushed with optimism.

   

As I reached the beach – I noticed that the Sun was well clear of the horizon.

I glanced at my watch. 

It was almost 7 o’clock.

I hastened my step – I almost broke into a run – and in a few minutes – I reached the fish market.

I stood exactly at the same spot where we used to have our rendezvous at sunrise.

  

With tremors of anticipation – and trepidation – I looked around with searching eyes.

Nothing had changed. 

The scene was exactly the same as I had left it ten years ago.

Only one thing was missing – SHE wasn’t there.

Yes – she wasn’t there.

I had drawn a blank.

I was crestfallen.

My mind went blank.

I stood vacuously – oblivious to the world around me.

And suddenly I felt that familiar electrifying touch – the same shiver of thrill.

It shook me to reality – as quick as lighting.

She softly put two pomfret fish in my hands.

I was in seventh heaven.

   

I looked at her.

I was not disappointed.

Her beauty had enhanced with age.

But something had changed.

Yes, it was in her eyes.

Her large brown eyes did not teasingly dance anymore.

There was a trace of sadness – a tender poignancy in her liquid brown eyes as she bid me an unspoken goodbye.

I was so dumbstruck by the suddenness of the event – and the enormity of the moment – that I stood frozen – like a statue – unable to react or to say anything.   

It was only as she was leaving – that I noticed – that there was no mangalsutra around her slender neck.

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

This story is a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the story are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)

I wrote this story 29 years ago in 1988 and I have posted it online earlier in my creative writing blogs when I started blogging around 18 years ago, then again in then year 2004, and many times later at urls: http://creative.sulekha.com/a-story-of-unrequited-love-by-vikram-karve_27566_blog  and many times on my various blogs like http://creative.sulekha.com/rendezvous-at-sunrise-my-first-romance_48501_blog  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/03/rendezvous-at-sunrise-tale-of.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/04/my-first-romance.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/06/sunday-morning-romance.html etc  

BLOGGER OF THE WEEK VIKRAM KARVE 

https://bhaatdaal.wordpress.com/2017/01/21/blogger-of-the-week-7/ 

One Last Time – A Love Story

ONE LAST TIME

A Love Story

Short Fiction

By

VIKRAM KARVE

Circa 1977

Mumbai (then called Bombay)

“I want to see her one last time…”

“No…”

“Please…”

“No…”

“I really loved her – I still love her…”

“It is called “lust” – not “love”…”

“Even she loves me…”

“Are you crazy…? Can a woman like her love anyone…?”

“I love her. She loves me. We both love each other – our love is a “two-way” love – mutual love…”

“Ha Ha – it was more like “Mutual Lust”…”

“Please don’t say that. Our relationship was above that level – it was love – our friendship was based on a deep love for each other…”

“Ha Ha – “Friendship based on Deep Love” – are you kidding…? You two were just “friends with benefits” – that’s all…”

                                                                                

“That’s not true – “friends with benefits” – how can you say that…? You have not understood the depth of our relationship – our love for each other…”

“Depth of your Relationship…? Love…? Bloody bullshit…!!! It was a simple “quid pro quo” – she gave you what you wanted – you gave her what she wanted – you both got what you wanted – a simple “tradeoff” – and now – the “transaction” is over – and – both of you can move on and go your own ways…”

“Still – I am feeling so guilty that I am dumped her – just like that – “use and throw”…”

“Don’t feel guilty. You haven’t “dumped her” – because – she was wasn’t yours in the first place – and – you said it right – “use and throw” – she’s just a “fleet auxiliary” – and that’s what “fleet auxiliaries” are meant for – you “use and throw” them – and – that’s what they do to us also, isn’t it – they too “use and throw” us – you “use and throw” her – and – she does the same to you – that’s how it works. However – let me tell you one thing – you are still yearning for her – but – for all you know – she may have already found someone else – and – maybe – she is having a “good time” with her new lover right now…”

“Never – she will never do that – she will always love me…”

“Are you crazy…? I told you – she is just a frivolous “fleet auxiliary”…”

AN EXPLANATORY DIGRESSION (for Readers not familiar with Navy Jargon)

Let me digress a bit and tell you the difference between Fleet Auxiliary and “Fleet Auxiliary”

Fleet Auxiliary 

The former Fleet Auxiliary is a support ship – like an oil tanker, a supply vessel, a tug, a depot ship or a hospital ship – a vessel which supports the main fleet.

“Fleet Auxiliary” (in quotation marks)

The latter “Fleet Auxiliary” is a moniker – a sobriquet – a nickname – given to a girl – who – like auxiliaries – “supports” the men who man the Fleet – by giving them a “good time” – and – helping them quench their carnal passions.

This story is about this second type of “Fleet Auxiliary”.

With a “Fleet Auxiliary” – it is a “no-strings-attached” relationship.

Of course – there may be a bit of “give-and-take” – a sort of “barter” or “tradeoff” – for example – where the “Fleet Auxiliary” enjoys the best imported food and drink on board ships – courtesy her “host” – she gets to drink the best booze – and – she gets some precious gifts like an expensive perfume or some exquisite Swiss chocolates – as a “quid pro quo” – in return for her “favours”...

Let me tell you – that in those “Golden Socialist Days” of the “License Quota Permit Raj” – when prized and coveted foreign goodies were not available in the domestic market – and we in the Navy got them duty-free on board ships – a Naval Officer was quite high up on the social ladder.

Regrettably – the advent of liberalization and globalization changed everything – and nowadays – a Naval Officer is no longer the “crème de la crème” of society anymore – because today – money determines your status – and – businessmen, entrepreneurs and celebrities are the new role models.

And – as far as “fleet auxiliaries” are concerned – it looks like they have disappeared from the fleet – and found greener pastures – because – when I asked a young “Subbie” about it a few days ago – he seemed totally clueless – in fact – he did not even know what the term “fleet auxiliary” meant in Navy slang.

DIGRESSION OVER – STORY CONTINUES...

“Please – before I go on leave – I want to see her one last time…”

“No – it’s 7 o’clock now – let’s have a couple of drinks and dinner – then – I’ll tell the OOD to send a sailor to call a taxi – and – you will go straight to Bombay VT (now called Mumbai CST) – and – you will catch the night passenger to Pune…”

“I have to see her one last time – to explain…”

“Explain what…? You met her for the final time last week – didn’t you – before we sailed out…? Haven’t you called off the relationship – didn’t you tell her that it’s all over…? Haven’t you said your final “good-bye”…? By the way – I hope you haven’t you told her that you are going home on leave to see a girl for marriage…”

“Yes – I told her – I told her everything about the girl – I even showed her the photo of the girl I am going to see in Pune…”

“Are you crazy…? What was the need to tell her about your prospective bride…? And tell me – what was her reaction – what did she say…?”

“She was very upset – she started crying – she told me that she probably thought that we would have a long-term relationship…”

“Bloody hell – she is trying to emotionally blackmail you and trap you into marriage – do you realize that repercussions of getting married to a “fleet auxiliary”…?”

“But – I love her…”

“You idiot – try to understand her “game” – your bloody “fleet auxiliary” – she’s been in the business for 10 years now – since our XO’s time…”

“What…?”

“Yes – a few days ago – when our XO saw her with you – he told me that – when they were “Subbies” – one of his course-mates was going around with her…”

“That’s not possible…”

“Of course it is very much possible – you may be only 24 years old – but she is at least 30 – and – she must be going around since she was 20 – and – 10 years back – our XO was a “Subbie” – isn’t it…? You fool – she must have had at least 10 lovers – and – she will have a few more – before – she is “over the hill”…”

“I never asked her about her earlier affairs – but – she categorically told me – that – with me – it was different. She said – she told me – that – she really loved me – and – even if I dumped her – she would not have any more relationships – and – she would always love me forever…”

“Can’t you see…? She knows that she is “over the hill”. She has realized that her days as a “fleet auxiliary” are numbered – so – she is trying to emotionally blackmail you into marrying her…”

“I don’t know – I am feeling terribly confused – I want to go and meet her right now – just for “one last time”…”

“NO – absolutely NO – you are not going to meet her “one last time” – you are going straight to the station to catch the train to Pune. Then – in Pune – you are going to see the girl – I am sure you will like each other – if not – I am sure your parents have lined up some more girls – so – you see the girls – and – you will get engaged to a nice “back-home-type” girl in your one month’s leave – and – when you come back to the ship after your leave – I want to see an engagement ring on your finger – do you understand…?”

“But…?”

“No “ifs and buts” – and – let me tell you what I am going to do – I will talk to the Captain – we will pull some strings – and we will get you transferred to some ship in Vizag – so – the moment you come back from leave after a month – we will have your farewell PLD – and – you will be off to Vizag – “out of sight – out of mind” – that’s the best way for you to forget your “fleet auxiliary” – and – hopefully – you will be engaged by then – so – you can move on and begin a new life with your fiancée…”  

“Please… I have to go… Right now…”

“Go…? Right now…? It’s only 7:30 – and – your train is at 11:30…”

“I have to see her “one last time”…”

“But – you saw her “one last time” before we sailed out a week ago – isn’t it…?”

“I am going to meet her tonight. She will be expecting me – I told her that I would have one last dinner with her tonight – before I leave for Pune…”

“You told her…? When…? We just returned from sailing this morning…”

“In the morning – the moment we secured alongside – I called her up in her office from the shore telephone…”

“You fool…”

“I couldn’t help it – I told her I wanted to meet her “one last time” – she said “okay” – she suggested that we have a farewell dinner at our favourite restaurant in Churchgate – and ice cream at the parlour nearby – and then – after our “final goodbye” – and – we could part on a “sweet note”…”

“No… You don’t go…”

“I have to go. She will be waiting for me at 8 o’clock. Please drop me on your bike at Churchgate – I just have one bag. After dinner – I’ll take a cab to VT…”

EPILOGUE 

I tried by best to dissuade my friend from meeting his “fleet auxiliary” for “one last time”.

But – he was adamant.

So – I dropped him outside the famous restaurant at Churchgate where he was having his “last rendezvous” with his “fleet auxiliary”.

My friend said “thanks” to me – and – he started walking towards the restaurant carrying his bag in his right hand.

I should have gone back to the ship – but – I was overcome by an urge to have a look inside – to see whether the “fleet auxiliary” was waiting for him.

I parked my bike – and – I followed him to the entrance of the restaurant.

When my friend saw me following him – he said: “You can go back…”

“I just want to see whether she has come – if she is there – I will say “Hi” to her and vamoose – but – if she is not there – you can treat me to dinner – and – I will drop you at VT…”

We entered the restaurant.

She was there.

Yes – my friend’s “fleet auxiliary” was waiting for him.

But – she wasn’t alone.

Sitting next to the “fleet auxiliary” there was a girl.

They were sitting side by side on the same table – the “fleet auxiliary” and the girl – looking at the entrance – as if waiting for my friend to arrive.

I recognized the girl sitting with the “fleet auxiliary”.

It was the same girl in the photo – yes – it was the girl in the photo that my friend had showed me – the very same girl he was going to see in Pune – his “prospective bride”… 

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

1. This story is a fictional spoof, 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.

2. All Stories in this Blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.