The Fight!

A Rather long Short Story

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“So why don’t you go alone? I don’t want to come” She blurted out angrily.
“See, you are making a mountain of a mole hill. What I said was we would be late if you change into another saree. The one you are wearing is good enough” He tried to explain.
“And wear the same saree I wore last party? No way! You go alone if you want” She did not want to reason out.
“See, you know very well we cannot skip Nikhil and Ashwini’s wedding anniversary for anything. Even after this unnecessary fight of ours now. They mean a lot to us.” He explained calmly.

She clenched her fist in anger. She knew she couldn’t debate with that. Whatever be the situation, they had to be there for Nikhil and Ashwini’s wedding anniversary, their fifth one. Five years ago they had eloped and got married. She herself had helped them get married in a simple ceremony. Both families had fought blaming each other for their running away but Nikhil and Ashwini did not care. After five years, a lot had changed. They had a son now and both families were good friends. She herself was married three years.

She took the bag lying on the table, dumped the things she needed and walked out of the house. He tried to be as calm as possible, locking the house behind her. It was no use fighting now and completely spoiling the mood. He hailed a taxi as she stood silently at the edge of the road. He looked at her and knew he was going to have a hard time cajoling her after the party. The next 30 minutes in the taxi were spent in complete silence. She was looking outside the window, he stealing a glance occasionally just to break ice.

“How could he?” Her anger was building inside “He does not understand how a woman needs to look good at a social gathering. He is so unreasonable. It would have taken me just 15-20 minutes more”

The traffic on the road made their progress more difficult. His cell phone was buzzing continuously. Finally when they reached the venue, it was already bustling with friends and relatives. A harried and troubled Nikhil was at the entrance welcoming guest as they came.

“Looks like he is getting married again” He smiled. She did not find it amusing.

“Would you please smile? Your face tells the story of a war” He joked again.

“See, you wanted me here and I am and now….” She felt her anger rise again.

“Where were you?” Ashwini came out wearing the best saree and bedecked with jewels.

Looking at Ashwini, she felt so insignificant but then she realized, it was her day. She remembered her five years ago married in a Rs. 200 saree they had bought while coming to the court. She deserved a better anniversary celebration.

“Where were you?” The question was repeated but this time it was Nikhil. “I told you both to come early. I need a lot of help here.”

“Actually my fault” He spoke before she could make any excuses. “Call from office. I am sorry! You relax buddy. I will take care. You take care of the guest”

She stood there smiling sheepishly. “So now he was trying to be goody-goody and take the blame. Trying to be a hero in front of his friends. After ruining my evening” she thought. Her smile camouflaging the anger inside.

“And you, you come with me” Ashwini nearly dragged her inside.

She looked back at him. He smiled at her. She did not. Was she still angry? Sometimes she is like a child, pampered, stupid and stubborn.

“Did you fight?” Nikhil asked. Then without expecting any answer “Kya re? Kitna jhagadte ho? Anyway, we will sort that afterward. First the decorators need some information and I don’t know what the caterers are doing and….”

“Do not fear when I am there” He interrupted him. “You attend the guest and I will take care of the rest.”

Nikhil ran back to the entry welcoming the guest while he walked inside trying to find the decorators. At the far end of the hall, he saw her laughing with some woman he did not know. She glanced at him and her expression changed. She gave him a hard look and then walked away with the lady.

“Gussa! (anger)” He muttered under his breath. He continued his search and tried to bring some order to this celebration which looked nothing but chaotic.

As the evening progressed, the venue had a festive look. It was really like Nikhil was getting married, again. Dinner was served and people ate to their fill. The DJ playing in the small garden had everyone dance to the latest movie hits. Nikhil and Ashwini were obviously the center of attraction. He looked at them from afar. Five years ago they fought for what they believed in, ready to make compromises just to stay together. They deserved to celebrate today.

He looked across searching for her, hopeful that she would be calm now. Couples were dancing to the latest racy music. Nikhil and Ashwini with their three year old son were in the middle of all that. He looked at Nikhil’s son who had no idea why mom and dad were dancing today but he was surely enjoying himself.

Then he noticed her standing in the far corner. She had a sad smile on her face. “God! She looked beautiful.

He should have let her changed the saree. She would have definitely looked more beautiful. Sometimes he can be so insensitive. What difference would 20 minutes have made when they were late already? He felt guilty for spoiling her mood. Had to make up to her somehow!”

Her eyes wandered searching for him. He was busy the whole evening. She had caught a glimpse of him instructing the DJ sometimes back but then she lost him again. She knew he was not in his best mood and she only had herself to blame.

“I could be so childish sometimes” she thought. “No one was going to notice which saree she was wearing in all this chaos. Everyone would be focused on Nikhil and Ashwini. What was she thinking?” She had been looking forward for this day when she would have liked to dance and enjoy with him. He didn’t dance and the occasion he danced it was quite funny to watch him. She had been so stupid to fight like that and ruin the evening for both of them. “But he could be so difficult sometimes.” She smiled at the thought of him dancing.

She noticed him exiting to the back of the venue. Must be another errand, she thought. It was getting late and many people were going home. Not many people were dancing now. Nikhila and Ashwini were busy seeing off the guest. Some of the closest friends still lingered on. The DJ switched to a softer music. Soft love ballads started playing on the speakers. Couples were dancing slowly at the songs.

She looked around. Still no sign of him. They hadn’t talked since they had come to the party. She hated Nikhil for making him work like that, even though she was well aware that Nikhil needed him now. She glanced at the couples on the dance floor. She missed him. Standing in a far corner, she regretted the fight and wish she was close enough to him to be in his arms.

He was settling the dues of the caterers and helpers. Awfully tired, he had been running and keeping a watchful eye of the proceedings. Occasionally joining old friends in the party, he was back in the wings for some work. He wished he had another person to help him. He was getting worried about her. He had not talked to her since coming to the party and hoped and just hoped that she would not be angrier. He was going to need a lot of efforts to calm her down.

Then the DJ voice boomed on the speaker

“Ladies and Gentleman, thanks for joining me in celebrating Nikhil and Ashwini’s 5th Marriage anniversary. You have been a good crowd and this has been a wonderful evening. But all wonderful things come to an end and this evening also has to wrap up. So this is my last song, a more romantic one to suit the occasion. I would request Nikhil and Ashwini to be on the floor please. This is for both of you!”

He smiled. Nice speech and the next moment he froze. He stopped what he was doing adding to the amazement of the people around him. The speakers played the familiar tune of an old Hindi classic

“Jab Koi baat Bigad jaye, jab koi mushkil pad jaye, tum dena saath mera, oh Humnawaz”

“Shit!” He exclaimed. He had to be with her. It was their favorite song, one they had listened a thousand times lying next to each other, sipping tea in the evening and just listening without talking to each other. He would move his hands through her hairs and they would both lay in bed settling in the soft bliss of the song.

He hated the DJ for playing the song now, when he was not with her. He started to walk toward the dance floor.

“Sahab, Hisab karke jao (Sir, please settle our accounts)” The caterers and the helpers called from behind. He looked back. He had completely forgotten about them. He hurriedly settled their account even giving them handsome tips and rushed to the dance floor.

She also heard the DJ’s announcement and was glad that the evening was over. It has been a horrible evening for her. She couldn’t wait to meet him and be in his arms. She missed him a lot in the last 4 hours. And then the DJ played their song. Every couple has something associated with themselves which reminds them of each other. This song was just one of them. She looked around, her eyes searching for him. Where was he? He needs to be with me this time but he was not to be seen. A sense of aloneness overtook her mind. She felt lonely and alone. She could feel the tears waiting to come out but looking around she controlled them. The song was ending but he still wasn’t there. She rushed to the woman’s rest room to wash her tears.

By the time he came out, the song was over and those who were left were cheering the anniversary couple. He searched for her and found her coming out of the rest room. He knew she had cried even though she had smartly hidden all traces of tears. He smiled at her, she smiled back but the smile was a sad smile.

The ride back was a painful one. She was glad that no one noticed her tears, not even Ashwini who was thanking them both for their help. She looked outside with a thousand thoughts of loneliness rushing through her mind. She just wanted to reach home and cry her heart out. She wanted to end the quarrel then and there. He looked at her and felt guilty of keeping her in that situation.

Finally they reached home. He opened the door and she went into the kitchen. He could hear the sound of running water and thought he heard her sobs in between. She was crying. He had to do something about it.

She ran the tap water so he could not hear her crying. She let the tears flow and they flowed like a river flows into the sea. She wanted to go out and take him in his arms and cry like she never cried before.

“What’s stopping you?” She asked herself. She made up her mind and walked out of the kitchen to find him standing with a remote in his hand. He smiled at her and clicked on the Play button. The soft soothing words came out of the stereo

“Jab koi baat bigad jaye, jab koi mushkil pad jaye, tum dena saath mera ho humnawaaz…”

“Would I have the pleasure of a dance, please” He asked her

She laughed and stretched her hand. He took her in his arms. She rested her head on his shoulders as they both danced slowly to the tune in the background. Tears still flowed from her eyes but these certainly were not due to sadness.

“I am sorry” He said “I shouldn’t have fought with you and…”
She cut him short by putting her lips on his lips. He held her tightly.
“I am sorry too. Just plain foolish of me” She said. He smiled.
“One more thing”
“What?”
“You looked really beautiful today”

She laughed while planting another kiss on his lips while Kumar Sanu sang slowly on the stereo