ESCAPE
Short Fiction Story
From my Creative Writing Archives -?One of my recent fiction stories - I wrote this story in 2012
?Hello Sir,? she said. In the suddenness of the moment, I did not recognize her. But then she gave me her vivacious smile, her eyes danced, and I knew who she was. She had been one of my brightest students ? but then that was quite some time ago. ?Of course I recognize you,? I said, ?How can I ever forget one of my best students? But it was so unexpected that I was confused for a moment; and you?ve grown up so much, and I too am getting old, you know.? ?No, Sir, you still look handsome, and as young as ever. I?m sure all the girls still have a crush on you, like we did!? she said naughtily. I almost blushed, so to change the subject, I asked her, ?What you doing here at the airport?? ?I?m going to?We told the Principal that she was a brilliant scholar, one of our best students, who had the potential to top the 10th?Board Exams, and she would surely bring laurels to our school by adorning the merit list.?
We also argued that, even from her point of view, it was not prudent to change her school and shift her just one year before the matriculation board examination. But the Principal told us that he had discussed all this with her parents, but they were adamant.So, the bright young girl left our school and went away to the elite boarding school at the distant hill station.
I did not see her again, or even hear of her, after she left our school. ?Sir, do you know why I had to suddenly leave school?? she asked, as we sat down for coffee. ?No,? I said, ?we were quite surprised at your unexpected?sudden?departure.? ?My parents were getting divorced and they did not want me around, so they sent me away to the boarding school,? she said,?nonchalantly,?without?batting an eyelid. ?I?m sorry,? I said, ?that?s sad.? ?Yes,? she said, ?it was really sad. They never asked me. They just decided to divorce on their own. I felt terrible. I did not like it at all.?Though I had met her parents once or twice perfunctorily at school functions, I did not know her parents that well.
In fact, I do remember most of my students, but I hardly remember their parents. I sipped my coffee and did not say anything, waiting for her to speak. ?I just don?t know why they split,? she said, ?we seemed to be such a happy family together.? ?They must have had their reasons,? I said. ?Well, I think I know at least one reason now,? she said. I just looked at her, waiting for her to continue speaking. ?The moment the divorce was through, my dad got married to a woman half his age.? ?Half his age?? I asked, quite incredulous. ?Yes. The female was his student.? ?You know that my father is a Professor, don?t you?? she asked. ?She was doing her Ph. D. under him. The wily female snatched him away from us. And it was his fault too ? a married man with a family getting involved with woman so much younger than him.? It was terrible ? a teacher and a student shamelessly getting married to each other. Just imagine how embarrassing it must have been for me and my mother.? ?Yes,? I said, trying to show empathy. ?And do you know what my mother did?? ?Three months later, she too got married to a jerk from her office,? she said, ?I hate him ? he?s such a crafty smooth-talking fake.? She paused for a moment and said, ?And can you imagine his audacity?? ?This so-called step-father of mine - one day he politely told me that ?they? wanted more privacy so could I please go and stay with my own Dad for a while?? ?Don?t tell me?!? ?Yes. And you won?t believe this ? my mother just kept quiet and said nothing.? ?So I packed my bags and went over to my father?s place, but it was even worse over there.? ?Though she did not say so in so many words, my ?step-mother? made it quite clear that I was not very welcome ? she kept giving me repulsive vibes of fake politeness, you know those terrible negative vibes ? I could feel them every moment.??So I spent the next two years of junior college, my 11th?and 12th, shuttling between my two parents like an unwanted badminton shuttle-cock,? she said.
?It must have been terrible,? I commiserated.
?Yes. It was really very painful for me, so I made a deal,? she said. ?I told both my parents that I wanted to go abroad to??Oh!? I exclaimed.
She paused for a moment, had a sip of coffee, and then she said, ?you know, all of them were so delighted to hear this. My Dad used his academic connections and went out of the way to get me admission to the best university. No one wants me here. So everyone, my very?own?mother, and even my so-called ?step parents?, they are all chipping in to finance my education abroad for as long as I want to study. They all are so happy to get me out of the way.? ?Oh, so that?s why you are going abroad to America?? ?Yes. I am running away. To a new life,? she said. Suddenly, her flight was announced, and she got up to leave. ?Thanks for the coffee, Sir,? she said, ?it was so nice meeting you.? ?I am sure we will meet again when you come back,? I said. ?I am not coming back, Sir. There is nothing left here for me to come back to. I am leaving behind the debris of my past over here and I am moving on to begin a new life over there ? and I am not going to look back,? she said. ?All the Best. Take Care,? I said.?You too, Sir, Take Care,? she said.
Then she turned and walked away.I watched her for a long time, till she disappeared from sight.?
I thought she would look back.?
I thought she would wave a last good bye.?
But she did not look back.
Maybe she did not want to look back at the world she had escaped from.
VIKRAM KARVE
COCKTAIL ebook
If you prefer reading ebooks on Kindle or your ebook reader, please order Cocktail E-book by clicking the links below:AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
SMASHWORDS
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87925
Foodie Book:? Appetite for a Stroll
If your are a Foodie I am sure that you will like my book of Food Adventures?APPETITE FOR A STROLL. Do order a copy from FLIPKART:
http://www.flipkart.com/appetite-stroll-vikram-karve/8190690094-gw23f9
About?Vikram Karve
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional ?and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal:?http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve:?http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page:??https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog:?http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email:?vikramkarve@hotmail.com
? vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Source: http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2013/02/escape.html
oaksterdam the fray national anthem dallas tornado ncaa basketball oikos kentucky wildcats oakland school shooting
কোন মন্তব্য নেই:
একটি মন্তব্য পোস্ট করুন