Cocktail Blog
Marriage on the Rocks
Marriage on the Rocks
A Fiction Story
By
Vikram Karve
The moment they saw us, with tears in his eyes – there's nothing more embarrassing for a young bride to see your impotent husband drunk, staggering shamelessly into the arms of another woman.
I felt sorry for her.
It's true – who married a drunk, is the crown of all the misery.
I was on the sofa, took off his shoes, put a pillow under her head – she, his wife, did not move, but remained frozen with a look of anxiety, concern on his face.
The man who was drunk, Arun, lay in a stupor, oblivious to the world.
However, until I started to let his wife, Sadhana, rushed into my arms and broke.
"He'll be OK," I warmly hugged and comforted her.
"I want to die, I want to die!" She started screaming hysterically, "Why is this happening to me?"
I sat with her, gave her a glass of cold water from the fridge and said, "Sadhana, you just go to sleep now. Arun will be absolutely fine in the morning. Do not say anything – just ignore it – let him go to the office. Then I'll come here and talk. "
"You coming?" She said.
"Yes, I will go in the morning and everything will be fine," he reassured.
I came home late at night, I was alone in my lonely bed, sympathy, unable to sleep, wondering what to do.
I knew I had to do something because I loved dearly Arun.
Hey, do not misunderstand me. Not what you're thinking.
Tell me, can a man love a woman without love will never be done with it? Can a woman love a man without falling in love it?
Of course you can – you can take my word for it – as I loved Arun.
Maybe it was the chemistry of our mutual or I do not know why, but certainly great vibes shared, and we love each other – platonic, Ethereal, friend, love – you name it.
Arun was my colleague and develop feelings of affection for someone who is in close proximity to more than ten hours at least every day is very natural – but he was much more than my "work spouse "- he was my soul mate.
Arun was my classmate from our student days in the States and not only was his constant companion at work and socially, but also his closest confidant.
In such cases, it is a thin line between friendship and have an adventure, but never went the line.
There were no secrets between us, but time suddenly went to his home town in the interior of the mofussil and obediently married the girl that her parents had chosen for him.
Then I phoned the office, told me the news without much ado, and peremptorily ordered me to get your flat list and arrive at Mumbai Central Railway Station to welcome him and his newlywed wife.
I liked Arun's wife Sadhana also.
She was a plump, graceful girl with a very pretty face and a smile sincere friendship that radiated a charming innocence.
She quickly accepted me as a friend to honesty and transparency, and generously understood my relationship with Arun without a trace of suspicion, envy or resentment.
I could not bear to see poor innocent girl suffer like this.
Tomorrow I would like to talk to her, counsel her and talk to Arun, and find a solution that are more compatible, so that they could be happy, have a fun marriage.
But first let me tell you how it all started.
Arun she loved her baby.
In fact, he loved his drink a little too much.
I think he had an innate propensity for alcohol.
I realized this and told him once or twice and then let it go as it was early days and maybe was just having fun, and I just do not share an account instead of joy in his affable company.
Perhaps her parents knew, his penchant for the bottle, and perhaps thought that marriage was the panacea, and then Sadhana saw, and said to himself: "She's a good girl from a cultured family, excellent education – I'm sure it will improve your love and Repair the will of his ways after marriage. She'll take care of him. Bring your surroundings. And a happy marriage will automatically reduce your drinking. "
True, many people seem to think that marriage is the easiest solution for many ills such as alcoholism, and suddenly everything will be happy forever.
Sadhana marriage was a social triumph for their parents. It was a normal small-town girl studying in college and was almost a miracle, a stroke of good fortune, the elders of the family best known in the town had reached all the way in his modest home, parents of the girl to ask her hand in marriage to his son – an executive foreign education became a good senior management.
It was a big wedding, but I heard somewhere that sometimes there is a big wedding in a marriage disastrous.
At first, Arun was also very happy with their newfound simple naive "provincial" wife who he thought would be unquestionably obedient and pamper your every whim and fancy.
Sadhana was exactly as expected – a nurturing, caring, loving wife that did exactly what he wanted, pampered him to glory and unquestioningly submitted to all their demands, except one – does not allow even a drop of alcohol in your home. In this, would not budge.
On her first day she cleaned out his well-stocked bar, just throw all the bottles of expensive liquor down the garbage chute.
Arun tried to reason with her, explained the ways of the cosmopolitan culture, but stuck to their guns Sadhana defiantly.
And when all of us at the office suddenly landed impromptu dinner with the big boss Arun presenting a bottle of your favorite Single Malt Whisky Sadhana precious immediately drained into the sink saying, "This daru is something wrong, "and then we acted as a stimulus-de-la-food delicious moment.
This was the last straw!
I noticed Arun boiled in silence feeling totally humiliated in front of their colleagues, subordinates, friends, and me, but he said nothing.
Respond next day – since then, started drinking with a vengeance.
Arun started drinking in the club bar home from work every night.
At first I would give the company, but soon I go with him, as their consumption increased from bad to worse and his behavior often become uncomfortable after taking drinks.
And now this – a midnight call to the club secretary that my colleague and friend Arun had collapsed drunk in the bar of stone and I feel like it was as they had to close.
Next morning, I left the office around 1030, Arun said he was not feeling well and went straight home.
Sadhana was waiting for me.
'It must have tea? "She asked.
"No. Let's go to the club", pushed him out of the house and my car package to ignore their protests, "We can be more discreet there," alluding to the servants, but I had other plans.
It was early, the club was empty.
Choose a quiet and lonely table ordered a Pina Colada cocktail for me and a soda Sadhana.
"You have to help, I told Sadhana, immediately getting to the point, not giving the opportunity to start their sad story.
"Help?" Of course I want to help him. But how? "
"You adapt a bit, and he too will change and improve."
"Fit? What do I do?"
"Dale company."
"What?"
"Be his friend. Spend your evenings with him."
"But going to the club every night."
"Going to the club with him, sit with him, meet his friends, chat, talk to him, and make friends with him. He will feel good. In fact, I suggest you join him in a drink occasionally and fun. "
"What?" Sadhana said stunned "Will you drink liquor? In my house I have not seen even a drop of alcohol … "
"Relax, Sadhana, do not be so dogmatic," I took her hands in mine and calmed down, "You're in a society different. There is nothing wrong with having a small cocktail or a glass of wine – now, everyone is – even I do. "
"No, no … "
"Here, take this cup," I said giving my cup of lip-smacking sweet creamy Piña Colada.
"No. No, you can have these strong bitter things, "he protested.
"Try, just once," I insisted, almost forced, and took a small sip.
"It is sweet and delicious is not it? Now if you have a little love Arun, begin to enjoy your company. Arun company needs. Dime Sadhana, is not it better that you have a drink with his friends drinking hard – not spend your time in your company for all your good friends who are out to ruin? "
Sadhana gave me a look hesitant, but said nothing.
But I could feel deep despair that would make to try anything, any action, any cure.
I looked into his eyes and said: "The trick is to wean avoid eating hard to social drinking. That is what will happen once you start to enjoy their company. I'm telling you again. be your friend. Spend your evenings with him. Clubbing, sit with him, a drink. Arun feel good. He will start to like it. Now his priority is drinking – will soon be their priority. "
"I do not know …" Sadhana hesitated.
"Trust me. Try it. It will make life easier for both. Stop trying to control it. It will never work. I know Arun well. If you nag you take it out of you. The clashes, threats, arguments – these are only going to get worse. Come on, Sadhana, for the love of Arun, for your sake, give it a try, I'm sure will respond positively. "
Sadhana looked anxiously at me, nervous, unsure, however, desperate.
I stood up walked to her and gave her a hug of love, "You two are newly married. I want you to be able to laugh, relax, have fun and enjoy life to the fullest! "
He hugged me back.
"Promise me give you an opportunity," she said.
"I will try my best, "he promised.
It worked.
Arun sober down.
And while they enjoyed their drinks – I never saw him drunk again.
The metamorphosis in Sadhana was truly fascinating.
The way it had transformed itself from a conservative from Small Town Girl mofussil heart of chic in a cream-de-la-crème socialite was remarkable, almost unbelievable. I often see drinking cocktails of exotic colors mingle with the cream of society.
There was a time when Arun was ashamed to show his wife, and now his heart was filled with pride and admiration as everyone noticed and praised. They were the toast of society, and the crowning glory was when they were crowned by the "Made for Each other partner" in the New Year Eve Ball in the club.
Their marriage began to rock.
In fact, their marriage rocked so much that I soon realized the understanding that it not may be three people in a marriage and I gracefully retired from his life, changed my job, moved and, yes, believe it or not, I married a nice young man and opened a happy married life of mine.
Of course, Arun and Sadhana attended my marriage, my wedding reception and Sadhana seemed in a mood lively celebration, swinging wildly bright and dancing, downing glass after glass of champagne.
My husband and I honeymooned in a luxury cruise, sailing to exotic places – a wedding gift from Arun and Sadhana.
At first we kept in touch, but over time, as I settled comfortably in the cocoon of marital happiness, communication and became less so, and when he moved abroad to the States completely lost touch.
After three years before I visited Mumbai again, and the first thing I did after depositing my luggage at the hotel, heading for the floor of Arun at Marine Drive.
It was early and I wanted to take it home before leaving for work.
Arun Sadhana and were not at home. "Saheb Memsaheb and have gone to the Ashram, "said the servants.
Ashram? I said surprised, and asked if they could give me his mobile number.
They did, and I called Arun on your cell phone, "Hey, Arun, what are you doing on a two-Ashram – Renounced the material world and taken the spiritual path? "
"No. No. Not that. This is not really the kind of Ashram you're thinking, is a clinical nature cure, "said Arun.
"The nature cure clinic?"
"Not exactly, we can say that is a center of detoxification, a kind of rehabilitation. "
"Rehab? Arun promised me, you promised me you'd cut your drinking … to the sake of it … poor thing … Arun hate you … "
"Enough!" Arun angrily interrupted: "I am not. I stopped drinking.'s Sadhana – It has become an alcoholic. "
"What?" I said, stunned.
"Yes My wife has become an alcoholic. Thanks to you and your stupid advice. And now please mind your own business and leave us alone? "Said Arun angry and disconnected.
I can not begin to describe the emotion I felt at that moment, but one thing is certain: I never ever felt so terribly guilty in my life before, or since, until today.
Vikram Karve
Copyright © 2010 Vikram Karve
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com
href = "mailto: vikramkarve@sify.com" vikramkarve@sify.com>
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
Captain’s Blog (Cocktail) No. 1