Pure Romance
HIS STORY HER STORY THEIR STORY LOVE STORY
A Love Story
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
GREED - HOW MUCH LAND DOES A MAN NEED ?
My favourite Leo Tolstoy story - How Much Land Does a Man Need ?
GREED - HOW MUCH LAND DOES A MAN NEED ?
A Story with a moral
GREED - HOW MUCH LAND DOES A MAN NEED ?
A Story with a moral
Sunday, December 26, 2010
A Mulla Nasrudin Story - Virtual Reality
A Story - Food for Thought for all Bloggers and Social Networkers
A Mulla Nasrudin Story - Virtual Reality
A Mulla Nasrudin Story - Virtual Reality
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Friday, December 03, 2010
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: BARAMATI
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: BARAMATI:
"BARAMATI Back to My Roots By VIKRAM KARVE
I wrote this travelogue exactly three years ago soon after we visited Baramati in December 2007..."
"BARAMATI Back to My Roots By VIKRAM KARVE
I wrote this travelogue exactly three years ago soon after we visited Baramati in December 2007..."
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: From the Diary of Sherry Karve - The Bone Game
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: From the Diary of Sherry Karve - The Bone Game:
SHERRY and the BONE GAME BABY SHERRY and her BONE GAME
SHERRY and the BONE GAME BABY SHERRY and her BONE GAME
Saturday, November 20, 2010
A Great Social Reformer - Life and Work of MAHARSHI KARVE
Information about Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve
A Great Social Reformer - Life and Work of MAHARSHI KARVE
A Great Social Reformer - Life and Work of MAHARSHI KARVE
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: HOW TO RESOLVE ETHICAL DILEMMA - a case study
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: HOW TO RESOLVE ETHICAL DILEMMA - a case study: "Business Ethics HOW TO RESOLVE ETHICAL DILEMMAA CASE STUDY CATWOE ANALYSISByVIKRAM KARVE [An updated excerpt from my Article titled PUTTING ..."
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: ULKA and ALKA
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: ULKA and ALKA: "ALKA and ULKAFiction Short Story - A RomanceBy VIKRAM KARVE “Ulka. It’s Ulka – U. L. K. A. – that’s my name, not Alka,” screamed the f..."
Monday, November 01, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Wednesday, October 06, 2010
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: Making Love to a Beautiful Woman on a Sunday Morni...
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: Making Love to a Beautiful Woman on a Sunday Morni...: "Making Love to a Beautiful Woman on a Sunday MorningPure RomanceByVIKRAM KARVE From my Creative Writing Archives: Short Fiction - A Love Sto..."
Monday, October 04, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: THOSE GLORIOUS DAYS AT ITBHU - MEMORIES OF MY AL...
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: THOSE GLORIOUS DAYS AT ITBHU - MEMORIES OF MY AL...: "THOSE GLORIOUS DAYS AT ITBHU MEMORIES OF MY ALMA MATER By VIKRAM KARVE One of my ITBHU classmates told me that soon ITBHU is going to b..."
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: PUNE Queen of the Deccan - An Attractive and In...
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: PUNE Queen of the Deccan - An Attractive and In...: "An Attractive and Informative Book on Pune Title: PUNE Queen of the Deccan Authors: Jaymala Diddee & Samita Gupta Published 2000, Reprint..."
Thursday, September 09, 2010
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: STIMULUS and RESPONSE
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: STIMULUS and RESPONSE:
"Stimulus Hypothesis Option ResponseSHOR Model of Decision MakingByVIKRAM KARVE A unique ability that sets humans apart from animals is self..."
"Stimulus Hypothesis Option ResponseSHOR Model of Decision MakingByVIKRAM KARVE A unique ability that sets humans apart from animals is self..."
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Monday, September 06, 2010
Sunday, September 05, 2010
Saturday, September 04, 2010
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: CUCKOLD
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: CUCKOLD: "
CUCKOLD Fiction Short Story By VIKRAM KARVE From my Creative Writing Archives: Short Fiction - A Mystery... It’s a lazy Sunday morning ..."
CUCKOLD Fiction Short Story By VIKRAM KARVE From my Creative Writing Archives: Short Fiction - A Mystery... It’s a lazy Sunday morning ..."
Friday, September 03, 2010
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS An Apocryphal Story
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS An Apocryphal Story:
"CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS An Apocryphal StoryByVIKRAM KARVE When I was a small boy living in Pune in the 1960s, if you fell ill you called your fa..."
"CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS An Apocryphal StoryByVIKRAM KARVE When I was a small boy living in Pune in the 1960s, if you fell ill you called your fa..."
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: MAHARSHI KARVE - Biographical Literature on hi...
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: MAHARSHI KARVE - Biographical Literature on hi...:
"Bharat Ratna Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve Biographical Literature on the Story of his Life and Work. [ Reviewed by VIKRAM KARVE ] In ..."
"Bharat Ratna Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve Biographical Literature on the Story of his Life and Work. [ Reviewed by VIKRAM KARVE ] In ..."
SPINE-TINGLING ADVENTURE AND PASSIONATE ROMANCE
Short Fiction - A Love Story
Click the title and read on my creative writing blog
SPINE-TINGLING ADVENTURE AND PASSIONATE ROMANCE
Liked it...read more on my creative writing blog http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com
Click the title and read on my creative writing blog
SPINE-TINGLING ADVENTURE AND PASSIONATE ROMANCE
Liked it...read more on my creative writing blog http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
TEDDY BEAR and SUGAR
Short Fiction - A Romance
TEDDY BEAR and SUGAR
Enjoyed it...?
Read more on my creative writing blog http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com
Regards
Vikram Karve
TEDDY BEAR and SUGAR
Enjoyed it...?
Read more on my creative writing blog http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com
Regards
Vikram Karve
Monday, August 30, 2010
TECHNOLOGY - a philosophical view
Some food for thought - reflections of a Technologist
TECHNOLOGY - a philosophical view
Comments Please...
Vikram
TECHNOLOGY - a philosophical view
Comments Please...
Vikram
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: CUTE PUPPY GOOD DOG How to train your Naughty Pu...
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: CUTE PUPPY GOOD DOG How to train your Naughty Pu...:
"CUTE PUPPY GOOD DOGHow to train your Naughty Puppy and make it a Good DogByVIKRAM KARVE 1. Do not punish your puppy. Punishment teaches a d..."
"CUTE PUPPY GOOD DOGHow to train your Naughty Puppy and make it a Good DogByVIKRAM KARVE 1. Do not punish your puppy. Punishment teaches a d..."
Friday, August 27, 2010
THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
A diaspora story - Short Fiction
THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
Do click the link above and read on my fiction blog
Regards
Vikram Karve
THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
Do click the link above and read on my fiction blog
Regards
Vikram Karve
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: BEST OF BOTH WORLDS - A Diaspora Story
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: BEST OF BOTH WORLDS - A Diaspora Story:
"BEST OF BOTH WORLDSFiction Short Story By VIKRAM KARVE From my creative writing archives: Short Fiction - A simple diaspora story..."
"BEST OF BOTH WORLDSFiction Short Story By VIKRAM KARVE From my creative writing archives: Short Fiction - A simple diaspora story..."
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: MATTER OVER MIND A Mulla Nasrudin Story
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: MATTER OVER MIND A Mulla Nasrudin Story:
"MATTER OVER MINDA Mulla Nasrudin StoryByVIKRAM KARVE Mulla Nasrudin’s wife bought some delicious Halwa from the sweet-shop. After dinner his..."
"MATTER OVER MINDA Mulla Nasrudin StoryByVIKRAM KARVE Mulla Nasrudin’s wife bought some delicious Halwa from the sweet-shop. After dinner his..."
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
MYSTERY WOMAN
A Short Story for the young and not-so-young...
Click the title below and read on my creative writing blog:
MYSTERY WOMAN
Let me know if you liked the story.
Click the title below and read on my creative writing blog:
MYSTERY WOMAN
Let me know if you liked the story.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: RENDEZVOUS AT SUNRISE
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: RENDEZVOUS AT SUNRISE: "'Do you remember the first fiction short story you wrote...?' a young friend, and a fan of my writing, asked me this evening. 'Of course ..."
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
THE SUCKER PUNCH
Short Fiction - An Office Romance - A Love Affair
Click and read on my creative writing blog
THE SUCKER PUNCH
Liked the story...?
Click and read on my creative writing blog
THE SUCKER PUNCH
Liked the story...?
Academic and Creative Journal Vikram Karve: My Pet Dogs
Academic and Creative Journal Vikram Karve: My Pet Dogs: "My Canine Companions By VIKRAM KARVE I remember my first pet dog Goldie, a Cocker Spaniel, who was presented to us by our neighbour i..."
Puppy Days
Please click the link below and read on my creative writing blog about the early life of Sherry Karve
Puppy Days
Bow Wow
Puppy Days
Bow Wow
Monday, August 09, 2010
Academic and Creative Journal Vikram Karve: LIP SYMPATHY and CROCODILE TEARS
Academic and Creative Journal Vikram Karve: LIP SYMPATHY and CROCODILE TEARS:
"LIP SYMPATHY and CROCODILE TEARS Fiction Short Story By VIKRAM KARVE From my Archives: A simple fiction short story of a marriage and ..."
"LIP SYMPATHY and CROCODILE TEARS Fiction Short Story By VIKRAM KARVE From my Archives: A simple fiction short story of a marriage and ..."
Friday, August 06, 2010
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Monday, August 02, 2010
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Art of Debate
COGNITION
A Teaching Story
By
VIKRAM KARVE
Some students asked me the meaning of the term COGNITION.
As I was in no mood to pontificate, I told them this story:
Once upon a time only two monks were permitted to stay in a Zen Temple
If any other wandering monk wanted to stay in the temple he had to engage in a battle of wits and defeat a resident monk in debate.
If the new monk won the argument he took the place of the defeated resident monk who then had to leave the temple and move on.
If the resident monk won he continued to stay in the temple and the wandering monk had to go away.
In a temple in the northern part of Japan
The elder monk was learned and wise, but the younger monk was stupid and had just one eye.
A wandering monk came and asked for lodging, properly challenging them to a debate about spirituality.
The wise elder monk was fatigued and tired that day from too much studying so he told the younger one-eyed stupid monk to take up the challenge.
“I am tired and want to sleep,” the elder learned monk told the stupid one-eyed younger monk, “I don't want to hear any noise so you go and request the dialogue in silence.”
So the young monk and the stranger went to the shrine and sat down to debate in silence.
Shortly afterwards the traveller rose and went in to the elder monk, bowed his head in reverence, and said: “Your young companion is a brilliant scholar. He thoroughly defeated me.”
The wise elder monk was sure that the younger stupid one-eyed monk would be defeated in the battle of wits, so, on hearing that result was the opposite than he had expected, the astonished elder monk said to the visitor, “Please relate the silent dialogue to me.”
“Well,” explained the traveller, “first I held up one finger, representing Buddha, the enlightened one.
So he held up two fingers, signifying Buddha and his Teaching.
I held up three fingers, representing Buddha, his Teaching, and his Followers, living the harmonious life.
In reply he shook his clenched fist in my face, indicating that all three come from one realization.
Thus he won and so I have no right to remain here.”
With this, the traveller bowed in reverence once again and left the Zen temple.
Suddenly the stupid one-eyed younger monk came storming into the room and asked the wise elder monk, “Where is that fellow...?”
“I understand you won the debate,” the older learned monk said.
“Debate...? What debate...? There was no debate and I won nothing. I am going to beat him up and thrash the hell out of him,” the young monk shouted in anger.
“Beat him up...? Trash him...?” the perplexed elder monk exclaimed, “tell me what happened...relate the silent dialogue to me...”
This is how the stupid one-eyed younger brother described his version of the silent debate:
“The minute he saw me he held up one finger, insulting me by insinuating that I have only one eye.
Since he was a stranger I thought I would be polite to him, so I held up two fingers, congratulating him that he has two eyes.
Then the impolite scoundrel held up three fingers, suggesting that between us we only have three eyes.
Dear Reader, I am sure you are now enlightened about the concept of cognition.
Otherwise, I’ll have to tell you another story...!
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2010
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
VIKRAM KARVE educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU and The Lawrence School Lovedale, is an Electronics and Communications Engineer by profession, a Human Resource Manager and Trainer by occupation, a Teacher by vocation, a Creative Writer by inclination and a Foodie by passion. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles in magazines and journals for many years before the advent of blogging. His delicious foodie blogs have been compiled in a book "Appetite for a Stroll". Vikram lives in Pune with his family and pet Doberman girl Sherry, with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog - http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com
Academic Journal Vikram Karve – http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile of Vikram Karve - http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Email: vikramkarve@sify.com
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
DON'T DELVE TOO MUCH - a poignant story
DON'T DELVE TOO MUCH
The moment I see Muthu, the office-boy, standing at the door of the class room I feel a familiar fear.
A Travel Tale - Fiction Short Story
By
VIKRAM KARVE
From my Archives: Here is one of my fiction short stories written sometime in the 1990s...I trust you will like the story, Dear Reader, and give me your feedback and comments...
The moment I see Muthu, the office-boy, standing at the door of the class room I feel a familiar fear.
I close my eyes and try to concentrate on Ms Bhalla who is reading aloud with dramatic effect Ruskin Bond’s story ‘The Woman on Platform 8’. It’s a moving story about a brief encounter between a woman and a motherless boy.
I love short stories, especially Ruskin Bond, and Ms. Bhalla is my favourite teacher. But it’s no use. I can’t hear a word she is saying.
I open my eyes. Ms Bhalla is in a world of her own, reading away, book in her left hand and making gestures with her right. She hasn’t noticed Muthu, or the fact that almost everyone in the class are looking at him and not at her. So thoroughly is she absorbed in herself and so totally is she oblivious of her surroundings that no one dare disturb her.
“………..I watched her until she was lost in the milling crowd,” Ms Bhalla ends the story with a flourish and looks at us triumphantly only to discover that most of her students are looking towards the door. Her expression starts changing.
Before she gets angry someone says, “It is Muthu, ma’am.”
Ms Bhalla glares at poor Muthu who sheepishly walks in and gives her the chit he is holding in his hand.
Ms Bhalla glares at poor Muthu who sheepishly walks in and gives her the chit he is holding in his hand.
I look down into my notebook trying to keep my mind blank, but even without seeing I know that Ms Bhalla is looking at me. “Shanta, go to the principal’s office,” she says, “and take your bag with you.”
Take my bag with me? I feel scared, anxious. I hope it’s not too serious.
“Must be a big binge this time,” I hear Rita’s voice behind me. Tears start to well up in my eyes. Rita is from such a happy family. Why is she so mean and nasty?
I’m about to break down when I feel Lata’s reassuring hand on my wrist, “Let’s go, Shanta. I’ll bring your bag.”
We walk through the silent corridors. Our school is located in one of those ancient castle type buildings - cold, dark and gloomy.
“I shouldn’t have left him alone last night,” I say.
“I feel so sad for uncle,” Lata says.
“Whenever I’m there with him, he’s okay and controls himself. He loves me so much. I’m the only one he’s got in this world - after mummy died.”
“He was improving so much and looked so good last weekend,” Lata says.
Lata is my true friend who I can open my heart to. The others - they watch from a distance. Most look at me with pity. And a few like Rita with an evil delight at my misfortune.
“Something must have happened yesterday,” I say. “I wish I had gone home last night. It’s in the evenings that he needs me the most.”
“Shanta, you want me to come,” Lata asks.
“Yes,” I say. I really need some moral support. Facing the cruel world all alone. I can’t bear it any longer.
Ms. David, our class-teacher, is standing outside the principal’s office. I follow her in.
I nervously enter the principal’s office. The principal, Mrs. Nathan, is talking to a lady sitting opposite her. Noticing me she says, “Ah, Shanta. You daddy’s not well again. He’s admitted in the clinic again. You take the ten o’clock shuttle. And ring me up if you want anything.”
“Can I go with her?” Lata asks.
“You go back to class,” the principal says sternly, “you’ve got a mathematics test at 10 o’clock haven’t you?”
“Please Miss!” Lata pleads with Ms David, our class teacher, but Ms David says, “Lata you are in the ninth standard now. Be serious about your studies. And today afternoon is the basketball final. How can you be absent?”
I feel pain in the interiors of my mind. No one ever tells me to be serious about studies; or even sports.
Lata gives me my school-bag and leaves quickly.
Mrs Nathan takes off her glasses and looks at me. There is compassion in her eyes. “Be brave, Shanta,” she says. “This is Ms. Pushpa - an ex-student of our school.”
“Good morning, ma’am,” I say.
“Hello, Shanta.” Ms. Pushpa says. “I’m also taking the train to Coonoor. We’ll travel together.”
As we leave the principal’s office I can feel the piercing looks of pity burning into me. The teachers, the staff, even the gardener. Everyone knows. And they know that I know that they know. Morose faces creased with lines of compassion. The atmosphere of pity. The deafening silence. It’s grotesque, terrible. I just want to get away from the place. These people - they just don’t understand that I want empathy; not sympathy.
I walk with Ms. Pushpa taking the short-cut to Lovedale railway station. It’s cold, damp and the smell of eucalyptus fills my nostrils. A typical winter morning in the Nilgiris.
I look at Ms. Pushpa. She looks so chic. Blue jeans, bright red pullover, fair creamy flawless complexion, jet-black hair neatly tied in a bun, dark Ray-Ban sunglasses of the latest style. A good-looking woman with smart feminine features. Elegant. Fashionable. Well groomed.
We walk in silence. I wait for her to start the conversation. I don’t know how much she knows.
“You’re in Rose house, aren’t you?” she asks looking at the crest on my blazer.
Polite conversation. Asking a question to which you already know the answer!
“Yes ma’am,” I answer.
“I too was in Rose house,” she says.
“When did you pass out, ma’am?” I ask.
“1990,” she says.
I do a quick mental calculation. In 1990 suppose she was 16. Now she must be in her mid-thirties – 35, 36 maybe. She certainly looks young for her age. And she is very beautiful; so gorgeous, so chic, that I want to be like her when I grow up.
We cross the tracks and reach the solitary platform of the lovely yet lonely Lovedale railway station.
“Let me buy your ticket. You’re going to Coonoor aren’t you?” she asks.
“Thank you ma’am. I’ve got a season ticket,” I say.
“Season ticket?” she asked surprised.
“I’m a day scholar, ma’am. I travel every day from Coonoor,” I say.
“Oh! In our time it was strictly a boarding school,” she says.
“Even now it is, ma’am,” I say. “I’ve got special permission. My father doesn’t keep well. I have to look after him.”
“Oh, yes,” she says, and walks towards the deserted booking window.
Lovedale is the most picturesque railway station on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway but today it looks gloomy, desolate.
One has to be happy inside for things to look beautiful outside.
She returns with her ticket and we sit on the solitary bench on the lonely platform of Lovedale railway station.
“Where do you stay ma’am?” I ask.
“Bangalore
“Yes”
“Often?”
“Only once. Last month. For my father’s treatment,” I say.
She asks the question I am waiting for, “Shanta. Tell me. Your father? What’s wrong with him? What’s he suffering from?”
I have never really understood why people ask me this question to which I suspect they already know the answer. Each probably has their own reason. Curiosity, lip-sympathy, genuine concern, sadistic pleasure! At first I used to feel embarrassed, try to cover up, mask, and give all sorts of explanations. But now I have learnt that it is best to be blunt and straightforward.
“He is an alcoholic,” I say.
Most people shut up after this. Or change the topic of conversation. But Ms. Pushpa pursues, “It must be terrible living with him. He must be getting violent?”
“No,” I say trying to suppress my emotion. “With me papa is very gentle. He loves me a lot.”
Tears well up in my eyes and my nose feels heavy. I take out my handkerchief. I feel her comforting arm around my shoulder and know her concern is genuine.
Suddenly the station bell rings, I hear the whistle and the blue mountain “Toy Train” streams into the platform. They still use steam engines here on the Nilgiri mountain railway.
The train is almost empty. It’s off-season, there are no tourists, and in any case this train is never crowded as it returns to Coonoor after transporting all the office-goers to Ooty.
We sit opposite each other in an empty compartment. She still hasn’t taken off her dark sunglasses even though it is overcast and it begins to drizzle.
She looks at her watch. I look at mine. 10 AM. Half-an-hour’s journey to Coonoor.
“You came today morning, ma’am?” I ask.
“No. Last evening. I stayed with Monica David. Your class teacher. We were classmates.”
What a difference! Miss David is so schoolmarmish. And Ms. Pushpa so mod and chic and gorgeous.
But I better be careful what I say. After all, classmates are classmates.
The train begins its journey and soon Ketti valley comes into view.
“There used to be orchards down there. Now there are buildings,” she says.
“You’ve come after a long time?” I ask.
“Yes. It’s been almost eighteen years. I am returning here the first time since I passed out,” she says.
“For some work? Children’s admission?”
“No, No,” she bursts out laughing, “I’m single. Happily unmarried.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, contrite.
“Come on, Shanta. It’s Okay,” she says. “I’ve come for some work in Coonoor. Just visited the school for old times’ sake.”
“You must come during Founder’s day. You’ll meet everyone,” I say.
“Yes,” she says. “All these years I was abroad. America , Singapore , Manila , Europe . Now that I’m in Bangalore
“You work?” I ask.
“Yes. In an MNC.”
She must be an MBA from a top business school. Like IIM. Or maybe even Harvard. Wish I could be like her. Independent. Smart. Elegant. Successful. I certainly have the talent. But what about papa? Who will look after him?
I try not to think of the future. It all looks so bleak, uncertain. Better not think of it. I don’t even know what awaits me at the clinic. Just a few minutes more. It’s unbearable - the tension. Why do I have to go through all this?
She’s looking out of the window. It’s grey and cold. Dark clouds. But she still wears her dark sunglasses. Hasn’t taken them off even once.
Suddenly we enter the Ketti tunnel. It’s pitch dark. The smell of steam and smoke. It’s warm. Comforting. I close my eyes.
The train whistles. Slows down. I open my eyes. She’s still wearing dark glasses. Maybe she too has something to hide. And me. What I want to hide, everyone knows; but makes a pretence of not knowing. At least in my presence.
The train stops at Ketti. On the platform there is a group of girls, my age. They are in a jovial mood; giggling, eyes dancing, faces beaming, so carefree and happy. Their happiness hurts me deep down in my heart.
The girls don’t get in. Dressed in track-suits, and Ketti valley school blazers, they are probably waiting for the up train to Ooty which crosses here. Must be going for the basketball match.
A girl with a familiar face walks up to me with her friend.
“Not playing?” she asks.
“No,” I say.
“I wish we knew. We wouldn’t have gone so early to practice,” she says.
“Who’s captaining?” her friend asks.
“Lata maybe. I don’t know,” I say.
“Where are you going?”
“Coonoor.”
“Coonoor?”
“My father is in hospital. He’s not well.”
“Oh! Hope he gets well soon. Okay bye.”
The girls walk away whispering to each other. And I hear the hushed voice of the one I’ve met for the first time, “Poor thing.”
“Poor thing.” The words pierce through my heart. “Poor thing.” The words echo in the interiors of my mind. “Poor thing!” “Poor thing!” “Poor thing!” The resonance is deafening. I feel I’m going mad. I feel Ms. Pushpa’s hand on mine. A slight pressure. Comforting.
The up train going up to Ooty comes, the girls get in, and train leaves towards Lovedale.
Our engine’s whistle shrieks, our train starts moving. Outside it starts to rain. We close the windows. The smallness of the compartment forces us into a strange intimacy.
“I’ll come with you to the hospital,” Ms. Pushpa says.
I know she means well, but nowadays I hate to depend on the kindness of strangers; so I reply, “Thank you ma’am, but I’ll manage. I’m used to it.”
“Is your father often like this?” she asks.
Why is she asking me all this? It seems genuine compassion. Or maybe she has her own troubles and talking to even more troubled people like me makes her own troubles go away.
I decide to give her every thing in one go. “When I am there he’s okay. He controls himself. He loves me more than his drink. Last night I stayed at the hostel to study for a test. And he must have felt lonely and hit the bottle. I shouldn’t have left him alone. After mummy’s gone I am the only one he’s got, and he’s the only one I’ve got.” I pause and I say, “He was improving so much. Something must have happened last evening. Something disturbing! He must have got upset - really badly upset.”
“I’m so sorry,” she says. Her tone is apologetic as if she were responsible in some way.
“Why should you feel sorry, ma’am. It’s my fate. I’ve to just find out what’s upset him. And see it doesn’t happen again. Maybe somebody visited him, passed some hurting remark. He’s very sensitive.”
Her expression changes slightly. She winces. “Does he tell you everything?” she asks.
“Of course he tells me everything,” I say, “There are no secrets between us. I’m his best friend.”
“I wish I could help you in some way,” she says.
I don’t say anything. I close my eyes. What a fool I have been, I’ve told her everything. And I know nothing about her. Not even the colour of her eyes - she hasn’t even once taken off her dark sunglasses even once though it is quite misty – I wonder why.
How cleverly she’s manipulated the conversation. Maybe people who are happy and successful feel good listening to other people’s sorrows.
I feel stifled. I open my eyes and the window. A shrill whistle and we pass through a gorge. Noise, steam, smoke, and suddenly it becomes sunny and the train begins to slow down.
“We’ve reached,” I say. We get down on the platform at Coonoor.
“I’ll come with you,” she says.
“Thanks. But it’s okay. I’ll go by myself.”
“Sure?”
“I’m sure, thanks.”
Ms. Pushpa takes off her dark sunglasses and looks at me. I see her eyes for the first time. A shiver passes through me as I look into her eyes. They are greenish-grey. She’s got cat-eyes, dazzling cat eyes. Exactly like mine. Yes her eyes are exactly like mine.
I stare into her eyes mesmerized – as if I am looking into my own eyes.
Suddenly she takes me in her arms and hugs me in a tight embrace.
Stunned, I struggle, feeling acutely uncomfortable.
She releases me and I just stand there feeling numb, confused.
The whistle shrieks. I come to my senses. Look up at her. Her eyes are red and tears flow down her cheeks.
Suddenly she puts on her sunglasses, turns and walks away.
As I walk towards the hospital I think about my brief encounter with Ms Pushpa, her rather strange behaviour. It’s certainly not one of those hail fellow – well met types of time-pass conversations between co-passengers. But suddenly she’s gone and I don’t know anything about her. She hasn’t even given me her card, address, phone, nothing. It all happened so fast.
I reach the clinic. Well laid-out. Neat. Spick and span. Anesthetic smell. An air of discipline. I walk through the corridor. I know where to go.
“Yes?” a voice says from behind.
I turn around. It’s a matron. I’ve never seen her before. Her eyes are hard, pitiless.
I tell her who I am. Her expression changes. Lines of compassion begin to crease her face. But still, her face has something terrible written on it.
I smile. I have learnt to smile even when I feel like weeping.
I enter the room. Papa is lying on the solitary bed. He looks okay. His eyes are closed.
“Papa,” I say softly.
He opens his eyes. “Shanta! Come to me,” he says. I rush to his bed. He hugs me tightly, “Don’t go Shanta. Don’t leave me and go away,” he cries.
“Don’t cry papa. I’ll always be with you. I’ll never leave you alone again,” I say, tears rolling down my checks.
We both cry copiously. Time stands still. I sense the presence of people in the room. Apart from the matron, there is the comforting face of Dr. Ghosh and a young doctor in white coat, stethoscope around his neck.
“Can I take him home?” I ask.
“Of course,” Dr. Ghosh says.” He’s okay now.”
“But sir,” the young doctor protests and says, “He’s hallucinating….”
“It’s okay,” Dr. Ghosh interrupts giving him a sharp look. “Shanta knows how to look after him; like a mother. Isn’t it Shanta?”
“Yes,” I say.
Papa gives sheepish look. That’s what I like about Dr. Ghosh. The way he gets his message across. There is no need for him to reprimand papa. Especially in front of me. My papa’s own remorse is his own worst reprimand.
We talk in silence. I don’t ask him any thing. He’ll tell me when he wants to.
“You’re hungry?” he asks.
“Yes,” I say. It’s almost noon.
Soon we sit at the Garden Restaurant overlooking Sim’s Park. He takes his hands out of the overcoat pockets and picks up the menu card. His hands tremble. DT. Delirium Tremens. Withdrawal symptoms. Must have had a prolonged bout of drinking last night. I know what to do. Just in case. I don’t want him to turn cold turkey.
“Papa, you order,” I say and pick up my school bag and briskly walk across the road to the wine shop. On seeing me the owner puts a small bottle of brandy in a brown paper bag and gives it to me. I put in my school bag. No words are exchanged. No permit is required. It doesn’t matter that I’m a 14 year old schoolgirl. He knows. Everyone knows. Pity. Compassion.
But I know that unseen eyes see, and tongues I cannot hear will wag.
The silence. It’s grotesque. Deafening. Unbearable.
As I give him a hundred-rupee note, the owner asks, “Saab - I hope he’s okay.”
I nod. I don’t seem to have a private life anymore. Unsolicited sympathy is a burden I find difficult to carry nowadays.
Papa has ordered Chinese food. My favourite. He has a nip of brandy. His hands become steady. We start eating.
“She wants to take you away from me,” he says.
“Who wants take me away? I don’t understand,” I say perplexed.
“Yes. She’s going to take you away. She came last evening.”
“Who?”
“Your mother.”
I feel a strange sensation in my stomach. The food becomes tasteless in my mouth. It seems he’s reached the final stage. Hallucinations. Loneliness. Driving him insane. He’s seeing images of mummy now. The point of no return. Fear drills into my vitals.
“Please papa. Mummy is dead. You’re hallucinating again.” I say.
“She came last evening. Wanted your custody.”
“Custody? What are you talking?”
“Yes. She wants to take you away from me.”
“Who?”
“Your birthmother.”
“Birthmother?”
“Yes.”
“But mummy?”
“Don’t delve too much.”
In the evening we sit on the lawns of the club waiting for my birthmother. I feel like a volcano about to erupt. Daddy sits with his head in his hands; nervous, scared. Dr. Ghosh looks away into the distance, as if he’s in our group but not a part of it. I wonder what’s his role in all this.
And opposite me is that hideous woman with suspiciously black hair. Mrs. Murthy. The social worker from the child welfare department.
Social work indeed! Removing adopted children from happy homes and forcibly returning them to their biological parents who had abandoned them in the first place.
And this birthmother of mine. I hate her without even knowing her. First she abandons me. And then after fourteen long years she emerges from nowhere with an overflowing love and concern for me. ‘My papa is a dangerous man,’ she decides. It’s unsafe for me to live with him. So she wants to take me away into the unknown.
“Don’t worry,” Mrs. Murthy the social worker says,” Everything will be okay.”
Yes. Everything will be okay. Papa will land up in an asylum. I’ll be condemned to spend the rest of my life with a woman I hate. Our lives will be ruined. Great social service will be done. Yes. Everything will be okay.
Papa is silent. Scared. He’s been warmed by Dr. Ghosh. No outbursts. It’ll only worsen the case.
And me. I’m only a minor. They’ll decide what is good for me. Of course they’ll take my views into consideration. I can see my world disintegrating in front of me.
We sit in silence. Six-thirty. Seven. The longest half-hour of my life.
“She said she’ll be here at six-thirty sharp,” Mrs. Murthy says, “I’ll check up.” She pulls out her cell phone. Signal’s weak. She walks to the reception.
We wait. And gradually, a depressing and frightening darkness envelopes.
Mrs. Murthy returns. There’s urgency in her step. “Her cell phone is switched off. I rang up the hotel,” she says, “It’s strange. She checked out in the afternoon. Hired a taxi to Bangalore
Looking perturbed, Mrs. Murthy leaves, promising to check up and let us know.
After she leaves, Dr. Ghosh says to my father, “Come on. Let’s have a drink.”
“No,” my papa says,” I don’t need a drink.”
“Sure?”
“Absolutely sure.”
We take leave of Dr. Ghosh and begin walking home.
“Papa?”
“Yes.”
“This woman…my ‘birthmother’…Does she have cat-eyes…greenish-grey…Like my eyes…Tell me…Papa…Does she have cat eyes like me?”
“Don’t delve too much!” Papa says lovingly as he puts his protective arm around me and we walk together into the enveloping darkness.
I think of the gorgeous woman with the dazzling cat eyes and suddenly I see the flashing lights of the evening Toy Train meandering up the silhouettes of the dark hills in the distance.
DON'T DELVE TOO MUCH
Fiction Short Story - A Travel Tale
By
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2010
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
VIKRAM KARVE educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU and The Lawrence School Lovedale, is an Electronics and Communications Engineer by profession, a Human Resource Manager and Trainer by occupation, a Teacher by vocation, a Creative Writer by inclination and a Foodie by passion. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles in magazines and journals for many years before the advent of blogging. His delicious foodie blogs have been compiled in a book "Appetite for a Stroll". Vikram lives in Pune with his family and pet Doberman girl Sherry, with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog - http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com
Academic Journal Vikram Karve – http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile of Vikram Karve - http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Email: vikramkarve@sify.com
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