A Guide to Romance

Do nothing Fiction Short Story

Do nothing
Fiction Short Story

by

VIKRAM Karve

From my Archives: One of my favorite stories ... Mumbai lazy fiction story I wrote few years ago ...

"What are you doing? she asks.

"Nothing!" I said.

"What do you mean" Nothing? she asks. "You must do something!"

"I do nothing!" I said.

"Come Vinay, stop joke. I know you work somewhere. "

"Work? You asked me what I do, not where I work! I work at the Office Statistics. "

"Bureau of Statistics? Data What? "

"Vital Statistics."

"Vital Statistics" she asks him curious eyebrows arched in surprise.

"No, No, this is not what you think. I wanted ie statistics which are essential, "I said, trying to correct the mistakes. We compile, collate, consolidate, analyze and disseminate different statistics. "

"Wow!" How interesting! Tell me more. "

"You can say I am a man take things obsolescence obsolete. "

"The man Obsolescent? Things obsolete? I do not understand. Where exactly do you work? "

"I am in the section of smallpox. "

"The smallpox?

statistics "Yes. smallpox. I stand on smallpox.

"It's funny! I thought that smallpox has been eradicated long back. "

"Smallpox has been eradicated, but my office is always so, "I said proudly. It is true - sometimes the ends disappear, but grow and prosper means to eternity.

"I can not believe it! If no smallpox around, why keep statistics?

"If you do not statistics how the world came to know that something has gone missing or have become obsolete!

"You work on vital statistics things that are obsolete?

"Yes. Obsolete! Earlier, I worked in the statistics of typewriters Article and it is us who have discovered that the typewriter had become obsolete by the time we had nothing to do! "

But what do you do all day? "

"Nothing!" I answer emphatically. "I told you I am nothing, I have not?

"Do not you feel bored, restless, do nothing all day? Soon you'll go crazy!"

"Bored, restless, crazy? Not at all. Thanks to my work, I developed the ability to enjoy long hours of entertainment - a gift most of you say "busy" people have lost, or probably never acquired. "

Yes, indeed, my dear reader ... I do not do anything. This is what I do the most is what I do best, and that is what I do almost all the time - "Nothing"!

Well, actually, I do nothing because, for the most part I have nothing to do. I enjoy a lot of time doing nothing, which is rare in a place like Mumbai, and I'm always busy nothing ... my life motto is that famous epigram Chang Cha'ao:

Only those quietly take what people in the world are busy about can be busy on the people of the world are quietly.

I I said that I have the ability to appreciate and enjoy many hours of entertainment - a talent that is rare in today's hectic world where everyone is busy with their own rat-race.

I am fortunate to enjoy so much leisure, for I am not running in any rat race.

I can not be a rat, but I am a man of no importance, neither handsome nor rich or successful, or powerful, or famous, or, indeed, particularly well endowed.

How can I describe myself ...?

The word most suitable can be "anonymous".

Oh yes, I am an ordinary man that looks so ordinary and everyday as you take me out in a crowd, or even if there is no crowd, because I just melt into the surroundings. And in my anonymity is my power, my freedom to do nothing.

You can call me a lazy, a slacker, a loser, a failure - but I do not care as I gladly wallow, Revel and my joy in anonymity, do nothing.

Indeed, anonymity is a condition sine qua non for my "do nothing" philosophy of life.

Hey, we have deviated ...! Enough pontiff. Returning to the conversation I have with the lovely lady and let me tell you how it all began.

One evening, I leave my office after a long day of doing nothing, through the Horniman Circle Garden, down Vir Nariman Road, Flora Fountain past, MG road crosses to Hutatma Chowk, grab a vada pav stall Ashok Satam next to the CTO, walk to Churchgate while the sea rushes of humanity by a deluge, as, strengthen me with a cup of tea Irani restaurant in the stadium and sit on the parapet on Marine Drive staring vacantly at the calm sea what I do best - Nothing ...!

"Hi!" said a voice melodious female shake me from my reverie. I turned around. This is Roopa, my classmate from college. It is quite a spectator and I feast my eyes on her in a sort of nostalgia as worth a hundred compliments.

She blushed at the sincere admiration in his eyes and said: "It's so nice to see you, Vinay. After so many years. And then, of all places!

"I like this place. One of my favorites. I come here almost every night, "I said.

"And what did you sit and stare the sea as a lost cause? "

"Nothing."

"Nothing?" You spend all night here and do nothing? "

"Yes," I said. "Sure, occasionally I go to the front door or Land's End to Nariman Point, Chowpatty or later, or even HangingGardens. But this is my favorite place to hang out and do nothing and most nights I am here. "

"What are you doing?" she asks.

"Nothing!" I said.

(And then we have the conversation about my work that I described above at the beginning, at the beginning of my story ...)

"Is not you glad to see me?" She asks.

"Of course, I am happy to see you, "I stare into her big brown eyes.

"You've told me all about yourself, but you did not ask me talking about myself, "she said.

"I am not a weasel. I hate being too curious," I said.

"Curious? But you can be a little curious can not you? Do you want to know about me? Let everything I have done since college, what I am doing my work - are not you interest in me she asks.

"I've always been interested in you. Can not remember? It is you who I bhav never given. You be my messenger to carry love letters to your boy friends, that's all I said.

"If Please do not say that. You know you were so sweet that you were the only boy we all girls could confide, to speak freely, knowing that you do keep our secrets safe, "she said.

"Okay Roopa, confiding in me. Tell me, what do here? "

"I just for my visa. They said he had taken one hour. So I came here to kill time. "

"Visa? Here Churchgate? I thought the visa office has been Breach Candy or somewhere over there! "

"It's the American consulate. I already have it. The visa office of the United Kingdom is here. In the building Brabourne Stadium, near Rustom Ice Cream ".

"Ah Rustom! Roopa Come, we'll mirror. Or sweet curd. Or what you want. "

"Eat something first. This place looks good, "she said, pointing to the pizzeria across from Marine Drive, where Talk of the Town was once there. "We will stay here and talk. And have a pizza."

I order a special pizza enormous, it involves a small, and she starts talking about her.

I'm easy to talk to, because I listen well. You understand what I mean when you talk to me. I know that when the egg ... a subtle gesture, a look of encouragement, or a word appreciate the interest true. It's all about establishing good relationships ... ... sensory acuity Matching and mirroring ... If you did you know NLP what I mean. Believe me ... I have the gift ... and when you speak your words come tumbling to.

Roopa said to me, his master's degree in Computer Science, after we obtained degrees in mathematics, natural talent in the software, its stunning success, its projects globe-trotting career ascension of a job, Mumbai, Bangalore, Gurgaon, his present job in a top IT company in Pune. And his recent marriage of Deepak, another champion of computer type work in the same company as his own.

"You know Vinay," she said enthusiastically, "I'm about to break the glass ceiling. This project, one year Next, is crucial, it is a fact or situation for me to die. If I succeed, my life is forever. This will be a career breakthrough for me and there will not look back. I'll be able to set up my own business. Maybe go to the States, Seattle. "

I nod and concentrate on my pizza.

"It is going to be very eventful. United States, United Kingdom, Europe, Far East, Middle East, everywhere - I be globetrotting everywhere, living in a suitcase. "

"Great," Tell me. "When do you take off? Tonight?

"I wish I could, but there is a small hitch. "

"Hitch?

"I'm pregnant."

"Fantastic!" I said ... but the expression on his face I immediately realize that I said the wrong thing, when I look in my pizza and pretend to dig deep.

"It's all fake. The timing, I mean, "she said. "I am very meticulous work ... I do not know how I could be so careless in my personal life and ruin everything. "

I say nothing. She wants to hear the silence, the silent approval, and so she hear. That's the trick ... always say something that the person who wants to hear you speak ... otherwise just keep quiet.

"I have to do some something quick! "

"You asked your husband?"

"Are you crazy? The time Deepak comes to know he will start jumping with joy at having proven his virility. Everyone to know. And it will be curtains for me as far as this project is concerned. "

"You can always go, can not you?"

"It is a one-year project. The MCP when my bosses understand that I am pregnant I'm out. And my husband - he will be the happiest. As he is inwardly jealous that I have this project, I will succeed and leave behind. I must do something fast, is not it? "

My mouth full of pizza, I shake my head.

"Vinay Please tell me, "she said of soul," my priorities are right, is not it? "

"Yes, well course, your priorities are right, I said forcefully.

"What say you? However, at this crucial moment, I concentrate on my career, do not you think? I can still have all the children, I want more later ... is not it? "

"All right. Very good! I said. "Roopa, you're absolutely right! "

"Thanks, Vinay. I am so lucky that I met you. You're the only one I told you all this. Thank you for talking to me. You helped me make my decision, "she said, extending his hand on the table.

I put my hand on hers, gently press and look in the eyes brown.

"You are such a darling, Vinay," she said, "It is so comforting to talk to you."

And then the tears in her eyes and suddenly it breaks down, regardless of the environment. I move through, gently strokes the head and calm.

We talk a little, and I get to Rustom an "Ice Cream Sandwich", she collects her visa, and I would like to see an assured, composed and Roopa determined as she got into a taxi on his way to take a bus to Pune Volvo.

And I can not wait to ride my favorite place Marine Drive to continue "doing nothing".

I rinse my lungs with the breeze, and suddenly a strong smell of perfume breath, or maybe one of those overwhelming deos!

I turned around. This is the "lovely Nina, another of my" comrades Achiever class climber who, after his MBA is now a champion in a top MNC.

I've seen sometimes on Marine Drive car driver in his conduct, Driving home late at night from his office in Nariman Point to Malabar Hill on his home. Once she even stopped and asked me if I wanted a elevator, an offer I politely declined, and then she asked me what I did, and when I told her I did nothing, she gave me a strange smile, and I noticed that whenever she sees me "do nothing on my favorite place on Marine Drive in her car, she looks me in a sort curious way.

"Do nothing?" She asked angrily, his eyes dancing.

"Yes. How did you know?"

"Well, Vinay! You told me once, remember? I see you here almost every night while driving home. "

And you never stop to say hello? "

"I do not want to disturb your penance.

"Penance? That malapropism!

"Sorry. I mean your doing" nothing "meditation."

"It's better! And what does that disturb you my meditation now? "

"I want to talk."

"Okay. Talk. "

"Not here. Too the people here. Come in a quiet place where we can be alone. "

"Hanging Gardens? Remember our favorite bench in the secluded?

"Okay. But do not do anything bad! "

"Let's go. Where is your car?"

"I nothing and I got out of my office. Did not want the driver gets too curious. "

"Ok, I'll take a taxi. Hey, why not get Navy Drive? Walking and talking - he would not suspect. "

"Okay," she said, "we will walk and talk."

And we walk and talk.

Being a "facts and figures finance person" it does not beat around the bush and come straight to the point.

"I 'm pregnant, "she said.

I suppress my emotions. It is too much for one night. Nina Roopa first, and now.

Coincidence Serendipity, I do not know what ... or maybe the season of pregnancy.

This time I'm careful to say nothing.

"You're not going to congratulate me? she asks.

"Of course. Congratulations! "Tell me.

"You're the first I have told you. I just received the report this evening. "

"Your husband did you not tell your husband?"

"No"

"Oh my God! Is there anyone else? "

"Shut up!"

"I'm sorry. But you should tell your husband immediately. "

"And he will immediately rush me to the nearest abortionist!"

"What?"

"We taken all precautions, but it happened. I want the baby. "

"Of course, you must have the baby," I said.

"I do. Is not it? What do you think ... I'm having the baby ... is not it ...?"

"Of course, you have the baby. But why does not your husband want? "

"I told him that when I have a baby, I'll quit my job ... at least take a long break to raise my children. It's the right thing to do, is not it ...?"

"Oh yes, of course it the right thing to do. "

"I feel to be a full-time mother is more important. At least when the child is small, is not? "

"Of course, being a full-time mother is the most important ... especially when the baby is small. You must take care of you now. Go I'll call a taxi. You should not yourself so difficult. "

"How sweet of you! Just going to sit there by the sea.

"Tell me, why do not you want your husband to have a baby now?"

"Because knows that I'm leaving my job. "

"So?"

"Who will pay the EMI for the luxury penthouse apartment, he wants book?

Penthouse Apartment? It can wait. The baby is more important. "

"That's what I've been saying we married. "

"So?"

He believes that we should have all the material things of first before we have a baby. "

"It's got its priorities wrong. "

"It is wrong, is not it?"

"Yes, he is wrong. And you're right."

"So I go ahead with the baby, is not it?"

"Sure."

"And leave my job."

"Of course you should, I said," and you will tell your husband right away and put your foot down. Tell him: "The baby is a priority, the penthouse can come later."

"I go, I go, "she said looking happy and encouraged.

"You must do what your conscience tells you. Listen to your inner voice. Be the strong girl like you're in college, I said.

Nina gives me a genuine smile of affection and said: "I'm so glad I told you, Vinay. Thank you for helping me make my decision. "

After Nina leaves me in a taxi sitting by the sea at Chowpatty at the end of Marine Drive, marvel at the spectacle of the sun is swallowed by the sea, and reflect.

Roopa and Nina. What a contrast!

I enjoyed talking with them.

Love to talk to anyone who wants to talk to me.

Speaking to someone who needs comfort seems to make my own worries disappear!

VIKRAM Karve

Copyright © 2010 Vikram Karve

Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 must be identified as the author of this work

About the Author

VIKRAM KARVE educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU and The Lawrence School Lovedale, is an Electronics and Communications Engineer by profession, a Human Resource and Training Manager 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 Email: vikramkarve@sify.com

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