| Username |
Post |
| ashweta |
Posted
on 05-Jan-04 10:05 PM
She watched her daughter intently. Her daughter’s eyes were fixed on to the computer, eyes moving down the screen in the same speed as her thin fingers on the keyboard. She had wanted to learn computers for a long time. However, financial constraints and the fear of asking her husband and getting refused had held her back. She was now relying on her daughter to teach her. Everyday she sat with her daughter in front of the computer as her daughter devotedly chatted on the net. The idea of being able to use the computer fascinated her. Each evening after finishing her household chores, she would observe her daughter get lost in the cyber world. Every night she would wait until everyone went to bed to practice her computer skills.
Prince_Charming: So send me your picture then?
Evita: I don’t have one. Why don’t you send me one?
Prince_Charming: You always say that to me. C’mon why are you hesitating to send a picture. Its just a picture afterall. I want to see how you look like. We’ve been talking for so long now. I come online just to talk to you. You seem so nice to talk with.
Evita: Have patience. I also like talking to you.
Prince_Charming: How about meeting somewhere then? I really want to see you.
Evita: ok.
Prince_Charming: I am free this Saturday. How about a movie at 6 and then afterwards we can go to a coffee place?
Evita: Sounds good to me. But I’ll let you know. I really have to go now.
Prince_Charming: Evita, I really like you and want our relationship to go beyond just meeting in the chat rooms. I really want to meet you.
Evita: Yes. I will let you know about it. Bye
Prince_Charming: When are you coming online next?
Evita: Same time tomorrow.
Prince_Charming: ok
Her cheeks were flushed in red as she turned off the computer. Her husband was already in bed. She quietly closed the door and slid on her husband’s side slowly.
It was six o’ clock in the evening and her heart was racing. She knew he was waiting for her in the theater. She imagined his toned body in gray top and blue jeans. Hi dark complexion and features came before her eyes. They had planned on meeting at five in the evening in front of Loews theater near Walmart. She was already late. She could see him frantically moving back and forth in front of the cinema. She had said that she would be wearing a red sweater.
His eyes were moving from one person to another, observing the details of each passerby. He was so happy when she had finally agreed to meet him after weeks of persuasion. He had been very excited about meeting her. Despite not knowing what she looked like, he was fully confident that she was the one who was meant to be with him forever. He had actually found a soul mate, a confidante. Appearance would not matter to him. He had even thought of proposing her under the starlit August sky. He couldn’t wait to meet her. He was certain that she would not ditch him. Her red sweater couldn’t have escaped his eyes. It was more than an hour past the time they had planned to meet. But he was still hopeful. People entered and exited the theater. Everybody was laughing, some were holding hands. A smile passed his lips. The movie, which they had planned on watching was over but he was still waiting for her. Even though they had missed the movie they could still go for coffee. Maybe she had an emergency. Maybe she was stranded somewhere. Maybe…..Maybe….
*****************************************
She had prepared a full course meal, spending hours for preparation. She had made sure that the proportion of each ingredient was just right and each dish was cooked to perfection. She was looking more radiant and much younger in the red sweater. Afterall she was just in her early thirties, much younger than her husband, who was in her late forties. She watched as her husband and her thirteen years old daughter savored the food. Her husband said “Your cooking skills matches your beauty Shilu. The food is very good. I am such a fortunate man to have you as my wife. I am so glad we are so happy.” Their daughter smiled at them and continued eating. A smile of satisfaction passed her lips.
This is my first shot at fiction. I hope I can get positive feedback from the readers. The piece is purely fictional and any resemblance to real-life incident is purely coincidental.
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| bhunte |
Posted
on 05-Jan-04 11:28 PM
asweta, the virtual reality of online chatting has been taking a toll of real lives at an increasing pace these days. They could be from developing new relationship in the form of friendship and possibly to a marriage. As some of you might have already seen or experienced an online chat turned into a marriage, and later a baby too...and many other episodes ....ehehe. you might be interested to read Guna's chat related story (OO feri ayena!!) where a husband and wife dates online. That might seem fictional, but exactly that had happend to a Nepali couple in a city where I lived once in USA. That time a daughter supplies her dad's nick to her mom. and later the mom chats and dates with her husband. Wife tells the story to other families, later that was a big news in the town. We used to tease the couples during Nepali gatherings for fun....you can imagine the gravity of issue there, why the guy dated with her is purely his personal matter...
Is online chat a shame then? To my view, it is not. I consider it a social dynimism in the sense how technologies has been changing a society and its norms. So your story is a reflection of time. We are not in the same era where our grannies used to live. Internet has become an integral part of life these days at least for some proportion of people in this planet..
Asweta, super! keep up the good job...
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| ashweta |
Posted
on 07-Jan-04 04:18 PM
Bhunteji,
Haven't had a chance to read Guna's story yet.......actually I wrote this piece around the same time Guna posted his story in sajha......that was quite a coincidence......I surely want to read it sometime.
chatting is the latest addiction for many......Its a good way to meet new people but it has its own pros and cons....There is lot of emotion involved and sometimes the dividing line between reality and virtuality seems fuzzy......there still is a lot of skepticism among people when it comes to starting an actual relationship outside the cyber world...........However, I think technology has provided us with a great way of making friends regardless of geographical or any other boundaries....as long as we have our priorities straightened out....after all the whole idea behind the internet boom is to build a global village rite????
Thanks for sharing your viewpoints.....I really appreciate your compliments and the encouraging words....hope to get more feedback from other readers....
-Ashweta
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| Bhunte |
Posted
on 08-Jan-04 02:37 AM
Asweta ji, yes agree with the pros n cons and the whole idea of global village. Guna's story must be somewhere archived in 2003 Sajha archive. I am sure you will enjoy reading that fine piece written in jharra Nepali. There is similar published article about Nepali chat sansar by a sajhite ( SITARA). I don't have access to that article, however, the author would be very happy to share if you communicate with her.
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| Tuppi |
Posted
on 10-Jan-04 03:01 PM
Ashweta,Nice job.
Have you watched a hindi movie called "Mitra" ? You will find it very interesting.Has similar (very similar actually) story.Watch it.
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