Quick Fiction
WOMAN AT THE BOOK FAIR
Story by Vikram Karve
_______
MUMBAI
Circa – January 2003
_______
I reached my residence reverse the Oval – after work – as
regular – at 5 PM within the night.
I used to be opening the door to my home – when my neighbour
opened his door – and – he mentioned he wished to talk to me.
“Certain…” I mentioned – and – I invited him to return in.
I closed the door – I requested him to sit down on the couch – and –
I sat reverse him.
“Something pressing…?” I requested him.
“Who was that girl with you final night…?” my neighbour
requested me.
“Girl…?” I mentioned – confused.
“I noticed each of you coming into the constructing at 7 PM and I
noticed her leaving alone at round 9 PM…” he mentioned.
“Oh – her…? I met her on the guide truthful…?” I mentioned to him.
“E book Truthful…?” he requested me – with a clueless look.
“Don’t …? The “Strand E book Truthful” – it’s held
yearly in January close to Churchgate…” I mentioned to him.
“I used to be asking you in regards to the girl who with you in your
home final night…” he mentioned – with a questioning look.
“I advised you – I met her on the E book Truthful…” I mentioned to him.
“And – you introduced her residence – you spent two hours with
her on their own – simply the 2 of you…” he mentioned – in a suspicious tone of voice.
“What are you attempting to suggest…?” I requested him – a bit
miffed.
“You spouse is away – and you might be having a “good time” with
different girls…” he mentioned – his voice stuffed with sarcasm.
“Properly – if shopping books collectively is your interpretation
of a “good time” – we actually had been having a “good time” collectively…” I mentioned to
him.
“Looking Books…? Who’re you attempting to idiot…? You and
that “doubtful” feminine – you spend two hours shacked up collectively in your home –
and you’re making up all types of tales to cowl up your hanky-panky…? Do
you assume I’m a dimwit…?” he mentioned – in a jeering tone of voice.
“What nonsense are you speaking…? Doubtful Feminine…? She is
a decent individual – a good girl…” I mentioned to him.
My neighbour smiled – a derisive smile – and spoke in a
sarcastic tone.
“Respectable…? First rate…? Are you certain…?” he requested me.
“After all – she is a guide lover – she has been coming to
the guide truthful for the final 3 days – we had been shopping comparable books – literature,
fiction, quick tales – so – we bought speaking – I advised her about my guide
assortment – she wished to see it – so – I invited her residence to see my books…” I
mentioned – in truth.
“Are you telling me that she was taking a look at your books
for over 2 hours final night…?” he requested me.
“Sure – we browsed books collectively – she confirmed curiosity in
quick fiction – so – I advised her about my favorite quick tales – we mentioned
literature – that’s all…” I mentioned – attempting to persuade him.
“You decide up a lady on the guide truthful – you deliver her
residence – you spend two hours along with her in non-public – do you even know who the girl
is…?” my neighbour requested me.
“She is a counsellor…” I mentioned to him.
“Counsellor…!!!” my neighbour exclaimed – with amusing.
“Sure – she advised me she is a private counsellor and
therapist – the truth is – she advised me she had an appointment at 9 PM close by…” I
mentioned to him.
“Appointment…? At 9 PM at evening…?” he mentioned – wanting
incredulous.
“Sure – she advised me she does non-public remedy at residence for
some particular sufferers…” I mentioned – telling him what the girl had advised me.
“Non-public Remedy…? At House…? Particular Sufferers…?” he mentioned
breaking into amusing, “as an alternative of constructing up tall tales – why don’t you admit
the reality – that you just picked up this girl – introduced her residence – and also you fucked
her…”
________
Until now – I had been tolerating his nonsense as a result of he
was my neighbour – and – my spouse and his spouse had been shut mates – however now – he
was getting on my nerves – so – I made a decision to finish the dialog.
“I feel it is best to go now…” I mentioned to him, “I’ve to go
for my night stroll on Marine Drive…”
“And – I’m certain you will go to the E book Truthful –
in your manner again…” he mentioned sarcastically.
“Sure – I’ll browse books…” I mentioned to him.
“And you’ll decide up that feminine and produce her over right here
for a particular remedy session in your bed room…” he mentioned with a sneer – after which
– he mentioned to me with a depraved smile, “however – hats off to you – I by no means imagined
you may decide up females at a E book Truthful…!!!”
“Please go…” I mentioned angrily.
“I’ll go – however – earlier than I am going – let me inform you – this book-lover
girl good friend of yours – she not a counsellor or therapist – and he or she is
actually not a “respectable” girl – she is a “soiled” girl…” he mentioned – with disdain.
“Soiled Girl…?” I mentioned – with a questioning look.
“She is a lady of
“in poor health reputation” – do you perceive…?” he mentioned – in a agency voice.
“She is a lady of “in poor health reputation” …? What do you imply by
that…?” I requested him
“Don’t act dumb – she is a lady of “simple advantage” – however –
since you’ll feign ignorance – I’ll put it extra bluntly – that girl is a
“name woman” – an “escort” – a bloody “whore” – do you perceive…?” he mentioned – contemptuously.
“That’s not potential…” I mentioned, “I discovered her to be a
first rate girl – fairly well-read, erudite and refined…”
“That I’ll concede…” he mentioned, “she is a refined and
polished “hooker” – a excessive class “prostitute” – I’m wondering how you may afford
her…”
_________
I couldn’t imagine what my neighbour was saying – additionally –
I used to be feeling uncomfortable with the dialog – so – I made a decision to get rid
of my neighbour.
“Please go now – I don’t need to talk about all this…” I
mentioned to my neighbour.
“I hope you aren’t bringing her residence for a “remedy”
session this night…” he mentioned – sarcastically.
“After all, I’m going to deliver her residence…” I mentioned to my
neighbour, “we’re going to meet on the guide truthful at 6 PM – after which – I’ll
deliver her residence – I’ve already determined the quick fiction anthology I need to
inform her about – and he or she has to return the guide she borrowed yesterday and take
this one…” I mentioned to him.
“She received’t be coming…” my neighbour mentioned.
“What do you imply “she received’t be coming” …?” I
requested him.
“I meant “she received’t be coming to fulfill you at the moment” …”
my neighbour mentioned – unequivocally.
“Properly – let me inform you that I’m certain she goes to
come to fulfill me – she promised me that she would return my guide at the moment – after I
advised her that I usually don’t lend my books as a result of folks neglect to return
them – she mentioned she would 100% meet me on the guide truthful at 6PM – after which she
would come residence to browse my books – return my guide – and possibly – borrow a brand new
one …” I mentioned to my neighbour.
“You appear to be so certain of her…? Do you even know her
identify…?” he requested me.
“Nisha…” I mentioned, “she advised me her identify is Nisha…”
My neighbour gave me a sardonic smile.
“Nisha…? That is the primary time I’m listening to this. As far
as I do know – her identify is Rita – however even which may be a faux identify – I’m wondering how
many names she has – one for every consumer – maybe…” he mentioned to me.
I checked out him – a bit befuddled – questioning what to say.
However – earlier than I might communicate – he began speaking.
“I warned her to not come right here once more – or to fulfill you
once more…” he mentioned.
“What…? You advised her to not meet me…? Why…?” I requested him
– feeling miffed.
“To your sake…” he mentioned.
“For my sake – what do you imply…?” I requested him – curious.
“You’re a married man – with a pleasant spouse and grown-up
youngsters. Is it correct of you to bask in hanky-panky with such wanton
girls…? Why do you need to break every part attributable to your peccadillos with such
sleazy girls…?” he mentioned.
“Hanky-Panky…? Peccadillos…?” I mentioned – peeved.
“Don’t fear – I received’t inform anybody about your fucking her
in your home yesterday night – in any case – you might be my neighbour – our wives
are shut mates – I’m your well-wisher – so – I’ll overlook your one
indiscretion yesterday – however – I don’t need you getting entangled with that filthy
whore…” he mentioned, “that’s why I known as her final evening and advised her to not meet
you…”
I checked out him – questioning how my neighbour had that
girl’s quantity – so – I questioned him about it.
“You known as her…? You could have her quantity…? How are you aware
her…? You known as her a dirty whore – you say she is a lady of ill-repute – a
sleazy girl – how do you a lot about her…?” I requested him.
“Don’t delve an excessive amount of…” he mentioned.
“Ah – so you might be jealous – and possessive – inform me – are
you having an affair along with her…?” I requested him.
“Don’t speak nonsense…” he mentioned angrily, “I’ve nothing
to do along with her – our firm hires her occasionally – to service a few of our
prime purchasers and enterprise associates – and officers who we’ve to please…”
“And – how are you concerned in all this…?” I requested him.
“Properly – in our enterprise – we’ve to do all types of
issues…” he mentioned – nonchalantly.
“So – that’s the job you do – pimping…!!! It’s
disgusting…!!!” I mentioned to him, “below your high-sounding title – all you might be is
a bloody pimp…”
“Watch out what you say…” he mentioned – in a threatening
tone.
“I assumed you had been a decent man – however you might be worse
than a prostitute – you’re a slimy pimp – that’s what you might be…” I mentioned to him
in a most disparaging tone of voice.
“How dare you evaluate me with than soiled girl…?” he mentioned
– giving me an accusing look.
I checked out him – and – I gave him a bit of my thoughts.
I mentioned in a stern voice to my neighbour:
“You retain calling her a “soiled” girl…?
Properly – even when – as you say – she is a “soiled girl” –
her ideas are actually a lot “cleaner” than yours.
You placed on an act of being a “clear man” – however you might have a
“soiled thoughts” – you masquerade as an ethical puritan – however your thoughts is stuffed with
lecherous ideas.
We had been shopping books collectively – however you had been
fantasizing that we had been fucking one another – weren’t you…?
You’re a disgusting man with a perverted thoughts – don’t
you speak to me ever once more…”
__________
After admonishing him – I gripped his hand – I actually compelled
him out of my home – and – I closed the door.
__________
That night – I waited for Nisha on the E book Truthful.
However – she didn’t come.
I couldn’t name her as I didn’t have her quantity.
__________
After all – after my tiff with my nasty neighbour within the
night – there was no query of asking him for her quantity.
__________
I want I had requested Nisha for her quantity the earlier
night – however – she had left in a rush – and – she hadn’t given me her quantity
– nor – had she requested for mine.
________
I waited for Nisha until the closing time of the E book Truthful
– hoping towards hope that Nisha would come.
However – she didn’t come
So – at evening – I got here residence – disenchanted.
___________
It was the tip of a brief and candy friendship – all
due to my nasty neighbour.
___________
Subsequent night – a courier arrived – a packet.
I opened the packet.
It was the guide she had borrowed – and inserted inside –
there was a observe written in cursive female handwriting.
I learn the observe:
“You should have come to learn about me out of your neighbour.
It’s true – however – with you – I wished a pleasant clear
relationship – a friendship based mostly on books – however – sadly – that was to not be.
And sure – I advised you my identify is “Nisha”.
Sure – Nisha is my actual identify – you might be one of many few
individuals who is aware of my actual identify.
Thanks for lending me your guide.
I felt good if you lent me the guide – although you mentioned
that you just usually don’t lend your books.
I actually want we might develop into “bookish mates” – however it
just isn’t destined.
It was so good speaking to you.
Want you All of the Finest in your life.
Good Bye Eternally.
Your Bookish Buddy, Nisha…”
__________
EPILOGUE
__________
A couple of months later – I noticed Nisha within the foyer of a complicated
lodge – the place my spouse and I had gone for dinner.
I appeared yearningly at Nisha – questioning if I ought to say
“Howdy” to her.
Nisha glanced at me – no hint of recognition – and – she
appeared away.
My spouse appeared to have observed every part.
She pressed my hand and smiled at me.
“Is that the identical girl you had advised me about – the girl
you met on the E book Truthful…?” my spouse requested me – as we walked in the direction of the
restaurant.
__________
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve
1. In case you share this publish, please give due credit score to the creator Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Minimize/Copy/Paste this publish
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Disclaimer:
This story is a piece of fiction. Occasions, Locations, Settings and Incidents narrated within the story are a figment of my creativeness. The characters don’t exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to individuals, dwelling or useless, is only coincidental.
Copyright Discover:
No a part of this Weblog could also be reproduced or utilized in any type or by any means, digital or mechanical together with photocopying or by any info storage and retrieval system, with out permission in writing from the Weblog Creator Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.
Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
