Sissy in Love
-Tell me about your first love, said Marvin starting the game with the usual e4 on his crystal chessboard.
He was a middle aged man with a pot belly and stood 6′5″ when he cared to stand straight. Phil his neighbour and nightly opponent of the ritual game of chess was skinny but almost as tall as Marvin and of the same age. It had been their habit to play one game of chess every night for almost a year now, since Marvin moved in the new neighbourhood. They both liked chess and old Jazz music which was playing softly on the old radio in the room.
-First love. Ah! It was like when I was in school, Phil said playing e5.
-Aint it always in school, eh? said Marvin moving f4 almost automatically. He always got a kick out of playing king’s gambit. It had won him the most games.
-Yeah. I was in 10th class. We were in the same class. Phil was getting in the mood now. He moved his knight to c6.
-The wrong knight? mused Marvin.
-Nah, lets see. Phil was feeling relaxed after a hard day at work, the music was really soothing now. He took a sip of coke.
-Hmm. So what happened? How did it start? asked Marvin, moving his knight to c3, keeping in rhythm.
-She was the most beautiful girl in the school, said Phil, I dunno why she even fell for me. He played d6 and took another sip of coke.
Marvin was getting interested in the story now. He played Nf3 without a care. Phil took his Pawn on f4, which brought a smile on both of them’s tired old faces. The first piece always had that effect. Marvin moved his pawn to d4. Phil responded with f5 and Marvin knew that tonight Phil would lose.
-Maybe she fell for your brains, suggested Marvin threatening Phil’s knight with d5.
-Yeah she used to keep staring at me. She used to ask me why I kept so quiet and stuff, said Phil taking the knight in his hand.
Phil’s habit of taking his pieces in hand always irritated Marvin, but he never said anything. He opened the chilled can of beer lying there and took a sip to relax himself.
-Ofcourse I used to remain so quiet because I was so nervous in her company. But I guess that’s what hooked her. She thought I was a poet, cut off from the world, her hero out of some mnb.
They both laughed. It didnt take much for them to laugh. They were always easily amused.
Phil placed his knight on e5 and Marvin quickly responded with Bxf4 taking his pawn and attacking the knight. Phil moved NxF3 and declared check. Marvin responded with Qxf3 and Phil replied with a lukewarm g6, a move he should have played long back, but not now. Marvin castled his king queen side, no longer worried about the game.
-But it was me who proposed her. I was almost sure that she was in love already so there was no risk. Phil said moving his queen to e7.
Marvin replied with Bb5 and declared a check to which Phil played Bd7. Marvin played Rhe1. He was always a quick player. Phil castled his king queen side taking the opportunity.
-I love you do you love me? Phil asked playing e5 with a smile on his face.
-Haha, actually I gave her a greeting card. Phil played dxe5.
-You are such a sissy, said Marvin taking Phil’s pawn on e5 with his bishop. They both were laughing. They both took a sip of their drinks. They always drank slowly so the drinks would last a long game. Sometimes a game went on for over two hours.
Phil moved Bg7 and Marvin replied with a d6 to which Phil responded with cxd6. Marvin took the pawn with his Bishop and Phil moved his queen to g5 declaring his second check. Marvin responded with an obvious Bf4 and Phil had to move his queen to h5.
-So how did it end? She dumped you? asked Marvin taking Phil’s bishop on d7 with his own and declaring check.
-No no. It went on for a long long time. When we were in 12th class she got pregnant. Phil moved Rxd7 and took a sip of his coke.
-Check! Declared Marvin moving Re8. So you dumped her. Cool! said marvin gulping down the beer from his can.
-Actually no, said Phil taking his rook to d8, we are married.
-Checkmate! declared Marvin taking Phil’s rook on d8.
Now they both were laughing, a sax was playing softly in the background.
-Kunal Goel
coolbuddy_79 says:
so a happy or sad ending???
August 15th, 2005 at 01:46 pm
Koonal says:
It’s not happy it’s not sad, it’s a life-like ending.
August 16th, 2005 at 01:00 pm
Neha says:
i guess it is happy after all…
March 17th, 2006 at 01:06 pm
jjul says:
April 6th, 2006 at 10:26 pm
jjul says:
i don t understand
April 6th, 2006 at 10:26 pm
jjul says:
whatever i am italyan and i can speak englisch
April 6th, 2006 at 10:27 pm
Kruz says:
the most refreshin story that ive ever read…refreshing yet so routine…it has put a big smile on my face….maybe im a sissy in love too!!!
May 12th, 2006 at 09:33 pm