This was my contribution from miles away for one of the Saturday meets of the Blank Space Writing Community back home.

The Prompt:
Write about an argument you had with your spouse/ parents/ friends/ or anyone.
You have to write about the fight/argument from your perspective
From the perspective of your opponent/
From a third person’s perspective who is not involved in the fight.

Raghav

Raghav rubbed his eyes, then sat with his bent head supported in his palms. He felt miserable. He was sure Rupi would be too. She would probably be crying into her pillow now, sobbing her heart out actually, like the earlier times they fought. He strained his ears. No, he couldn’t hear her. But then wasn’t that why he had come away downstairs and to the furthest end of the garden, to not hear her? It always upset him, listening to her heartbroken sobs.

God. The things he had said! And all because she was going on that office trip. Jealousy had got the better of him. That guitar weilding crooner son of a bitch Sanil would be there. The Casanova. Rupi-ji, you sing so well, Rupi-ji. You should have been a model Rupi-ji. Rupi-ji this, Rupi-ji that… No amount of his respectful use of ‘ji’ was going to….

Raghav paused. Was that really it? What was the real reason he had flown into a rage? He felt uncomfortable when truth dared open the door and enter to reveal its naked self unmercifully to him. He remembered his own office romance with the beautiful Jessica. Those days he never even had the courtesy to inform Rupi of family get-togethers in his office or take her with him, because he wanted to spend time only with Jessica. And now he suspected Rupi of being a Jessica to someone else.

What a horrible human being he was! Taking out his own inadequacies on his wife. He deserved what had happened to him and more. Jessica had dropped him unceremoniously one fine day for someone else higher placed in the hierarchy. Oh, the shame he felt and the impotence. But that was all behind him. He should focus on the present now. He didn’t want to lose Rupi. Abruptly he stood up and started walking back towards the house. He had to talk to her.

Rupi

Rupi had had enough of this. Raghav was getting beyond being just possessive. This was sheer madness. Sanil was her colleague, a sweet chap really. So he fancied himself a guitarist and a singer. Was that a crime? She could name n number of things that men did that were more criminal than brandishing a guitar or singing a couple of soulful songs at office functions. Besides, unlike the other guys in her office, at least Sanil didn’t talk to her boobs, but to her face. Why was Raghav being so petty and such a pain?

It wasn’t as if he had been a model husband who hadn’t strayed. Oh she knew all about Jessica alright. The shock had left her numb at first. Then she found she just didn’t have the energy to fight, what with a difficult pregnancy and even more difficult labour that followed. She was just too tired with a demanding baby and no help. And when that was all behind her, Jessica was gone and her husband a wreck. She had actually felt too sorry for him to bring the matter up.

That didn’t mean she didn’t remember the hurt and resentment from those days. She had witnessed the suppressed excitement of his while getting ready for office, the quick absent-minded pecks and rushing out on yet another business meeting, the long working hours that seemed to go on till the wee hours of the morning, the coming home smelling of strange perfumes. Now that was one thing no man could ever hope to hide and succeed. She laughed sardonically to herself. Women could always smell the other woman out and men none the wiser.

Today Raghav had the gall to shout at her. Her! Rupi flushed with anger just thinking of it. She laughed again, mirthlessly. She had had enough of this nonsense. Humouring him, treating him with kid gloves. What was he, a child? Even kids were treated to face reality better than husbands in marriage. Accusing her of infidelity! You want infidelity, I’ll give you infidelity, she ground her teeth. Taking her phone she went through her list of friends. Who should she call up? A night out wouldn’t be a bad idea for a start. She would take it up from there.

Ritvik

Mom said I had to finish coloring three pictures and then she’d be back and we could go out. I have done them all. Also finished the milkshake. The television is on. Mr. Duck and Miss Chick are out on the beach today. But I can’t hear what they are saying. I can hear mom and dad talking. No, they are shouting. They only shout when they are fighting. So they are fighting again. Maybe they will go to a court tomorrow.

In movies when mom and dad fight, they go to a court and then live in different houses. My friend said I may have to choose to stay with one. I think I will choose mom because she reads me stories at night, also makes all my favourite food and.. and.. But dad takes me to movies and to the park and he’s told me he’d get me a dog too. Maybe I will go with dad. But.. I don’t know.

Ohh I think they have stopped fighting. Yay. Fight is over. Maybe we can all go to the movies together. Pizza later and then we can have pista ice cream too. Pista is my favourite. But, but… why is mom getting into her car? Momma, I wanna come with you. Dad, stop her. Why is dad standing there staring at her? Dadda? Dadda, can we go too?

© Shail Mohan 2023