Sunday Fiction – Sting in the Tail

STING IN THE TAIL – A Hot Love Story

Fiction Short Story

By

VIKRAM KARVE

From my Creative Writing Archives:

For old-times’ sake, here is a rather amateurish story I wrote long ago, more than 27 years ago, in the 1990s, suitably abridged and revised.

Do tell me if you like the story...

STING IN THE TAIL – A Hot Love Story by Vikram Karve

       

“I am an uncomplicated and transparent man. 

I have no taste for sham, tact or pretension. 

Never do I feel it necessary to be guarded, or to conceal, or to try to impress, to feel tense, to watch my words or actions, to suppress or repress my emotions. 

I express my emotions spontaneously and overtly. 

I can’t fake my emotions for the sake of so-called social graces. 

If this – according to your stupid mother-in-law – is crude, uncultured and unrefined behaviour – so be it. 

I don’t give a tinker’s damn...” I shouted angrily at Shalini. 

         

I saw tears start in Shalini’s eyes – and I was instantly sorry. 

She suddenly looked small, weak and vulnerable – her defences shattered. 

I looked at her and felt a strange attraction towards her. 

Her very powerlessness and vulnerability were the essence of her sex appeal.

         

“No wonder he is such a loser and failure...” taunted Shalini’s mother-in-law. 

Shalini’s mother-in-law looked at my wife – and she said to my wife: 

“You must teach your husband some manners if you want him to go up in life. Look at my son. He knows the ways of the world. He is so soft-spoken and refined.”

         

The comparison was a doubly bitter pill for me to swallow.

While I was going through a bad patch in my career – Shalini’s husband was doing really well in the corporate sector – as an upwardly mobile executive in a top MNC.

         

I walked out of my house and sat down on a bench in the nearby park. 

I lit a cigarette and closed my eyes trying to calm down.

The train of my thoughts ran on. 

It was mainly my wife’s fault. 

She was too “good natured”. 

It was one of those invitations which she makes so readily and spontaneously – and then regrets later.

Shalini’s flat was being renovated – and my wife had invited them over to our house to stay for a month.

And today was just the first day.

         

Though we stayed in the same town – I did not visit Shalini often. 

She stayed with her mother-in-law. 

Her husband was away on tour most of the time. 

I did not get along with them. 

There was a mismatch in our sense of values. 

I hated their patronizing attitude, ingratiating manner, sweet-talk and double standards. 

Shalini’s mother-in-law was the worst of them all. 

She was always giving me unsolicited advice and trying to make me conform to her perception of “ideal behaviour”.

But I refused to be stereotyped. 

I was happy to be myself – with all my so-called faults and frailties.

I valued my originality – my own uniqueness.

I was not an “imitator” or a “clone”.

And now – this wily old woman – Shalini’s mother-in-law – she had the temerity to instigate my wife against me.

And that too – she was doing this in my own house.

         

I saw Shalini walking towards me. 

She had no personality of her own. 

The only thing she did was hang around her mother-in-law and nod her head in agreement.

All the time – Shalini flattered her mother-in-law – and they indulged in “mutual admiration” sessions – the “ideal” daughter-in-law – and the “ideal” mother-in-law.

It was disgusting. 

The old woman had probably sent Shalini to me to give me a “moral lecture”.

They had succeeded in brainwashing my wife. 

I was the only one remaining. 

I was not going to give them the satisfaction of toeing their line and conforming to their views. 

         

Before Shalini could speak – I said to her: 

“Sit down. Have you got a piece of paper...?”

         

She opened her purse – and she gave me a small pocket-diary.

I took out my pen and wrote: 

“A servile status and a vicarious life – so typical of a domesticated lonely wife...”

         

She read the words and she gave me a glance that could have meant anything.

I was surprised that she was not offended.

She put the pocket-book in her purse and she got up to leave.

I delivered my parting shot: 

“She who trims herself to suit everybody will soon whittle herself away...”

         

As Shalini walked away – I watched the subtle, sensual rhythm of her hips. 

I felt aroused. 

I laughed to myself. 

There was no point in chasing rainbows. 

What I needed now was a good stiff drink.

So – I went across to my club – and had a few stiff drinks.

         

I returned home around midnight.

I was not drunk – but I was feeling good.

I opened the door with the spare key that I always carried in my pocket.

It was dark inside the house.

I did not switch on the lights. 

There was no point in disturbing everybody.

I felt like having a smoke – so I tiptoed towards the balcony.

As I negotiated my way in the darkness – I could sense that someone was following me.

I guessed who she was.

I stopped in tracks.

I turned around.

Shalini put her arms around me – and she held me in a passionate embrace.

I tried to restrain myself – but I had not bargained for the sheer sensual power of the encounter. 

Shalini was radiating an extraordinary sensuousness of a degree I had never experienced before.

I caught her hair – pulled her face towards me – and we were engulfed in a wave of burning passion...

Suddenly – someone switched on the lights.

        

I disengaged from Shalini – and I looked at my wife. 

“Don’t be late next time...” I said to my wife, tongue-in-check. 

Shalini’s mother-in-law looked at us – dumbstruck and stunned.

         

My wife walked up to Shalini and gave her a tight slap. 

She was angry. 

After all – Shalini was her best friend.

         

I never saw Shalini again. 

But I did come across her mother-in-law once in the market. 

I cheerfully waved out to Shalini’s mother-in-law – but she scrupulously avoided my glance – and she walked away.

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 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)

This story STING IN THE TAIL written by me Vikram Karve 27 years ago in 1990 and posted online earlier in my various creative writing blogs including at urls: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2011/01/sting-in-tail-short-fiction-love-story.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/06/sting-in-tail-hot-love-story.html  etc 

Humor in Uniform – PDA – “Public Display of Affection”

PDA – “Public Display of Affection”

A few days ago – while crossing a busy road – I caught my wife’s hand – with the intention of helping her cross the road safely. 

“Why are you holding my hand in public...?” my wife scolded me – and – she pulled away her hand. 

My “Better Half” seemed furious at my “indecent” act of holding her hand in full view of the public. 

So – I said: “I’m sorry – I just wanted to help you cross the road...” 

“Am I a small child or something...? I can cross the road myself. You behave yourself – especially in public...” my wife admonished me. 

Dear Reader – for your information – we have been married for over 34 years. 

Yes – my “Better Half” and I – we have completed more than 34 years of married life.

But – there is no question of “Public Display of Affection” aka PDA.

(Ha Ha – there’s hardly any “Private Display of Affection” either – but – that’s another story).

Hey – Dear Reader – I am digressing – so – let me come back to the incident where my “Better Half” scolded me for holding her hand in public. 

Well – this incident reminded me of a “Public Display of Affection” story that happened many years ago – during my delightful early Navy days... 

STORY OF THE “LOVEY DOVEY” COUPLE 

A Case of “Public Display of Affection” aka “PDA”

Fictional Spoof

By

VIKRAM KARVE 

My first unforgettable memory of Public Display of Affection (PDA) was almost 40 years ago – in the late 1970’s – during my early days in the Navy.

There was a young newly married couple who just could not take their hands off each other.

A Naval Officer is not permitted to get married before the age of 25.

But in this case – the Navy had made an exception.

In a rare gesture – the Navy had shown “compassion” for “passion”.

It was a whirlwind romance – and parental opposition had necessitated a quick “hush-hush” wedding – and the Navy was presented with a fait accompli

The young Sub Lieutenant bluntly stated that he was prepared to quit the Navy for the sake of his “ladylove”.

So – permission was granted as an exceptional case – and the young couple was allowed to stay in the Wardroom (Officers Mess).

They were allotted a cabin in the old barrack where married officers awaiting allocation of proper married quarters lived temporarily.

The newly married husband and wife were passionately in love.

Their fervent love was visible to one and all – because the handsome husband – and his beautiful wife – demonstrated their obsessive affection for each other quite explicitly in public in a most uninhibited manner.

Dear Reader – remember this was the India of the 1970’s – and this brazen Public Display of Affection (PDA) was happening in a remote cantonment – in full view of sailors and their families – who were mostly from rural areas – and had rather conservative values.

Now – in the orthodox and conformist environment of a cantonment – an officer and his wife indulging in such titillating physical Public Display Of Affection (PDA) was viewed as scandalous conduct.

The officer was warned to mend his ways.

The wife was “counselled” by ladies.

But there was no effect.

In fact – the “advice” seemed to have the opposite effect.

The young “lovey-dovey” couple continued their amorous PDA with much greater ardour and passion – which seemed to be attaining new heights.

One evening they were observed kissing and “making out” in the dark corners of the base cinema hall – with their hands all over each other – when the lights suddenly came on.

Next morning – the officer was read the riot act – and threatened with disciplinary action if he did not mend his ways.

“We will throw the book at you...” he was warned.

“We will charge you with Section 53 (indecent behaviour) and Section 54 (conduct unbecoming the character of an officer) of the Navy Act...” they threatened him.

But despite all this – there was no salutary effect of the officer and his wife – who continued their brazen PDA with increasing passion.

Soon everyone turned a blind eye to the PDA – because all realized that the officer and his wife were madly in love with each other.

The officer completed his training a few months later – and was transferred to a ship based at Mumbai.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief – in a cosmopolitan place like Mumbai – PDA was no big deal – even the Navy in Mumbai had a progressive culture as compared to other places.

3 YEARS LATER

I saw the officer three years later at an official function.

He looked like a ghost of his earlier self – as if he had gone through a serious bout of illness.

When I commented on his emaciated appearance – someone said to me: “Don’t you know what a terrible tragedy the poor chap has gone through? He has been through a most acrimonious and nasty divorce – and the distressing marital discord and bitter divorce has taken a big toll on his health.”

“Divorce…?” I was stunned.

I could never imagine that such a “lovey-dovey couple” who publicly demonstrated their intense love for each other would ever get divorced.

I still remembered their extremely sensual, passionate, amorous and highly romantic Public Display of Affection (PDA).

How could a husband and wife who were so passionately in love with each other suddenly get divorced...?

It did not make sense.

The couple had been so much in love – that they did not hesitate to publicly display their affection for each other despite societal disapproval – how could they get divorced...?

I just could not understand this inexplicable paradox.

20 YEARS LATER

Twenty years later – I once again met the officer – this time at an airport.

He told me that he had quit the Navy – and that had taken up a job in the industry.

There was a lady standing next to him along with two children.

He introduced his wife and children.

So – he had got remarried.

Looking at his kids – I estimated that he must have got remarried around 10 years ago.

I remembered the officer and his first wife – the “lovey-dovey couple” – and their passionate, unrestrained and uninhibited Public Display of Affection (PDA).

But – now – there appeared to be a sea change in his demeanor with his new wife.

There was absolutely no Public Display of Affection (PDA) between him and his new wife.

In fact – from the way they were conducting themselves in public – it did not even appear that they were husband and wife.

What an irony?

The “lovey-dovey” marriage with PDA had broken up within one year.

The “loveless” marriage without PDA had lasted for more than 10 years

And – it looked like this marriage would last forever.

I still cannot fathom the paradox.

A relationship with “100% PDA” is fragile.

But – a relationship with “Zero PDA” is durable.

Such are the mysteries of marriage, romance, love, dating and relationships.

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 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. 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)

     

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

 

This is a Revised Version of My Story PDA - PUBLIC DISPLAY OF AFFECTION posted online by me Vikram Karve earlier in this blog on 21 Jan 2015 and 04 Aug 2015 and 06 Oct 2015 at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/01/pda-public-display-of-affection.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/08/humor-in-uniform-public-display-of.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/10/lovey-dovey-couple.html  etc