Millennial Tales

By M. Viswanathan

‘Millennial Tales’ is a collection of short stories that portray our society and its happenings.
Every person reacts to circumstances in a unique way and it is this display of emotions that has been the foundation for spinning yarns to weave my stories.
Each of these stories is the result of my desire to reflect and comment in an interesting manner on whatever I have seen, heard, or read.
All characters featured in the stories are a product of my imagination, and therefore, fictional. Any resemblance to people in real life is purely coincidental.
My apologies if some sentiments have been hurt in the process.
Happy reading!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blue Rose Publishers
• Release date: Oct 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9789356110878

Book preview

End Or Beginning?

It was a sultry Saturday afternoon in Chennai. The new James Bond film Skyfall had just been released and was running ‘full house’ at the Devi Theatre Complex. Unable to get an online ticket for the evening show, Vikram wanted to try his luck with unauthorised sources selling tickets in black outside the theatre. It was the second weekend after the release of the movie and yet, the frenzy to see the movie had not waned. The black marketeers were having a field day and were selling tickets at exorbitant rates. The sale of tickets both inside and outside the theatre for the evening show had closed and a dejected Vikram was trying to exit from the milling crowd.

Are you looking for a ticket?, a melodious female voice stopped him in his tracks and he turned instinctively. A beautiful young lady wearing jeans and a stylish T-shirt approached him, I have one balcony ticket for the evening show. Are you interested?, she asked. I never expected ladies to get into this trade, replied Vikram cheekily. Her face turned red with rage. I’m only selling this because my friend couldn’t make it, she retorted. Oh! I’m so sorry. Pardon me, Vikram quickly apologised to cool her down and fished out a couple of currency notes to pay her. Don’t bother giving the change, he responded generously. And are you sitting next to me, he asked hopefully. Do I have a choice?, she smiled mischievously. They both laughed and went inside the theatre together.

Go to your seat, I’ll come back in a moment, Vikram excused himself and rushed to the cinema cafeteria to buy Coke and popcorn, which they shared while watching the movie. During the tense moments in the film when Bond was in trouble, she hissed and clutched Vikram’s hand involuntarily totally absorbed in the action. Vikram secretly admired her silhouette in the darkness. She’s indeed very pretty, he concluded.

After the movie, they chatted over a cup of coffee at a nearby restaurant and exchanged phone numbers with a promise to meet again. Her name was Shobha Nair. Shobha was working as a senior marketing executive in a progressive consumer goods manufacturing company based in Chennai. She was the only daughter of Chandrashekharan Nair, President of Nair Garments, established in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. It was love at first sight for Vikram!

Vikram’s family background matched that of Shobha’s, in terms of social status and to a lesser extent, in terms of wealth. He was the only offspring of Dilip and Bhanumathi Sarkar. Both were highly conscious of their standing in society. They lived in an exclusive gated community in Cassandra Hills, Hyderabad. Dilip ran a luxury bus company with All India Permit owning several Volvo, Scania, and Mercedes buses plying to major cities in India with elegant offices and passenger waiting rooms at all the bus stations in the destinations the company served.

Vikram was a good student with a Degree in Computer Science. He had no difficulty in getting placed at Lark Informatics, a world-renowned cloud technology company located in TIDEL (Tamil Nadu Industrial Development in Electronics) Park in Chennai. The lifestyle of his parents had a great influence on how he chose to live. His flat in Boulevard Apartments in Taramani, though small, was tastefully decorated with designer furniture and commanded a hefty rent. His preference permitted him to wear only branded clothes. He rode a classy Suzuki 500 cc motorcycle that demanded a heavy EMI (Equated Monthly Instalment) payment. Vikram was a foodie and liked to cook exotic recipes and eat well. He was also a fitness freak who went regularly to the gym to burn off excess calories. A handsome salary package from Lark Informatics supported his stylish living. Shobha was impressed with the macho image he was flaunting while Vikram thought it would be nice to match his good looks with a gorgeous lady like Shobha as his girlfriend.

The friendship between Shobha and Vikram was slowly turning into mutual love, largely based on their physical appearance. Both enjoyed each other’s company and revelled in the looks of admiration they received from people when they were together. But their emotional mismatch resulted in frequent conflicts. There was a thin line between love and lust and they both felt this was part of the process of developing an understanding between them that craved for intimacy despite the animosity.

Vikram was prepared to go to any extent to please Shobha, and she was convinced that she had hooked him for good. They were both unwilling to let go of each other and believed in jealously guarding their catch. Therefore, the slightest provocation was enough to start an argument between them, reflecting a possessiveness that stood the test of time for just over a year.

I cannot live without you, Shobha, declared Vikram, on the tete-a-tete they had on their mobile that night, unable to bear his lonesome living. Same here Vikram, wept Shobha. Why don’t we get married?, suggested Vikram. I think it’s time you talked to your parents about us first, advised Shobha. The following weekend, Vikram flew to Hyderabad to meet his parents. They were overjoyed to see him after a long time but became circumspect when he told them about Shobha. I don’t know how Mr Nair will react to this news I’m carrying, said a worried Dilip, expressing his concern. Anyway, I have to do this for my son, he consoled himself.

The meeting between Dilip Sarkar and Chandrashekharan Nair went well without any hiccups. I think we have to take a broader look at the world we are living in today, Nair comforted his wife, Nirmala, who was disappointed as she was expecting a much richer alliance from her community. "He’s a nice person, Amma, I’m sure you’ll like him", Shobha assured her mother.

Six months later, Vikram married Shobha. An opulent wedding ceremony was organised in Thiruvananthapuram by their parents, followed by a grand reception for their relatives, and friends at the Banquet Hall of Jakaranda Palace, a five-star hotel in the city. Vikram was 31 and Shobha was 27 at the time. The following month, the couple flew to Bali for their honeymoon. On their return, they hosted a party for all their colleagues in Chennai. Everyone congratulated the beautiful couple and wished them well. Soon afterwards, Vikram and Shobha started their mundane work-life in Chennai.

The tedious work in their firms had a bearing on their home life. Hurried breakfast of cornflakes and milk in the morning, sandwich lunch at their company cafeteria, and home-delivered dinner from neighbouring restaurants became their routine on weekdays. On weekends, Vikram cooked what he thought Shobha liked, based on what she used to eat on their pre-marital outings. Arguments over her complaints about Vikram’s cooking being too oily along with other petty issues became a common occurrence. Vikram was trying his best to please Shobha but despite his efforts, the romance was slowly beginning to decline.

To stem the deterioration, Vikram started paying more attention to Shobha’s needs. He tossed up novel salads with recipes downloaded from Google to complement the food she liked cooked with less oil, massaged her aching feet, and combed her long tresses. He took her out shopping and never failed to compliment her beauty in the dresses she purchased, although they were making a sizeable hole in his wallet. They went on long rides on his motorcycle. He interspersed his conversation with ‘darling’ and ‘love you’ to kindle the romance and light the spark in their relationship.

As the issues plaguing the relationship between Vikram and Shobha began to settle down, Vikram identified a new project for Lark Informatics that involved working with a US-based IT company, Uniglobal Technologies. This required Vikram to go to California for about a month on training and return with one of their experts to set up the project in Chennai. Take a break from your work and go to Thiruvananthapuram to stay with your parents to avoid feeling isolated, suggested Vikram, and Shobha agreed.

A fortnight later, Vikram was on his way to California, finished his training under Rebecca Stephen, and returned to Chennai with her. Rebecca stayed at the company’s flat for the following six months. Vikram and Rebecca worked late into the night on some days and shared details of their personal life during the break.

Had my ex-husband done all the things similar to what you have done to sustain your marriage with Shobha, I wouldn’t have divorced him, commented Rebecca, reminiscing her past. She began to like Vikram and admired his soft nature and patience. Rebecca, though in her mid-forties, still looked much younger than her age.

Shobha happened to see Rebecca’s pictures taken with Vikram in California during their outings on the weekends, that was saved on Vikram’s mobile. You never told me about Rebecca in your messages and calls to me from California, complained Shobha. Because it was just a professional relationship and hence, inconsequential, replied Vikram casually. There’s more to this than what I can see, shouted Shobha in a fit of jealous rage and added sarcastically, Have you been sleeping with her while I was crying away my loneliness here?. Vikram calmed her down saying, You will be my only love, as he hugged and comforted her. Shobha was still unconvinced and sobbed, I think you are cheating on me. Stop being so suspicious, an incensed Vikram remarked.

A few late nights of work with Rebecca followed though Vikram tried to avoid them. One evening, they finished their work early and sat down for a casual drink. Rebecca poured a stiff shot of brandy and Vikram gulped it down neat to drown the thoughts of Shobha’s barbs. A few drinks later, unable to control her desire, Rebecca boldly hugged Vikram. He was irresistible to her.

Taking advantage of his insobriety, Rebecca attempted to get intimate with him. Vikram momentarily became vulnerable in that heavenly bliss. A few minutes later, when it was all over, better sense prevailed, and realising the mess he was getting into, pushed her away and stammered incoherently, Gotta go home!. Not in the condition you are in, I’ll drop you home, replied Rebecca firmly and guided him to her car.

They drove in silence till they reached his flat. Vikram opened the lock of his front door and was confronted by Shobha. He staggered to the bedroom and passed out on the bed. Shobha smelt brandy on his breath, found lipstick smears on his chin and shirt collar, and detected the whiff of a lady’s perfume on his clothes. There was enough evidence to start a showdown with Vikram the following day. And it happened!

Shobha was adamant about seeking a divorce, however, Vikram pleaded with her. The advice of their parents and subsequently arranged professional marriage counselling did not help. The possessiveness that obsessed Shobha’s mind could not accept Vikram’s perceived infidelity. The love that Vikram had for Shobha made him give his consent for the divorce reluctantly.

The legal separation of one year under Section 13B (1) as a precursor for the divorce came into effect when both signed the petition under oath before a District Judge in the presence of Shobha’s and Vikram’s counsels at the designated family court in Chennai. Shobha moved out of Vikram’s flat.

Rebecca left for the USA after her contract was over, apologising to Vikram for crossing the limit. The project that Vikram had initiated for Lark Informatics was beginning to take shape and was progressing well.

Meanwhile, there was no dearth of handsome men in Shobha’s life during the interim period, and the familiarity with one of them went to the extent of proposing marriage, pending her legal separation. At a business dinner with a customer, Vikram happened to see Shobha with another man and the closeness between them indicated intimacy. As they were leaving, Shobha looked right through Vikram as if he was a