Raghu was enjoying his early morning tea when the doorbell rang twice breaking the morning silence. He rushed to answer the door before it rings again, it was the society’s watchman.
‘Sir, yesterday night madam left the car lights open. Give me keys I will close and return back.’
Handing over the keys he recalled last night’s events. Avantika came very late in the night, after shower she simply jumped on to sleep without uttering a single word.
Life has been going like this ever since Raghu left a well-paid job and position in a top-notch MNC to follow his dreams. Social Media Consultation, he has lived in digital marketing for over 1.5 decades. Being an expert in the area, he decided to become an entrepreneur by forming a small media agency – Magma Media Works.
The shift from salaried to self-employed left them lighter of their savings and mutual trust. Avantika never liked the idea of quitting a career in the hay days of work-earn-save to start a new venture.
Beginning with small arguments to the arrogant battles of ego, in the last few months they have seen it all. Life is turning bitter at every corner, Avantika spending more time outside home and Raghu immersed himself in social media analytics.
‘Car lights were left on yesterday night Anu!’ he said seeing her entering the living room, still yawning.
‘Okay.’ she was uninterested.
‘Were you drunk? Hope you didn’t drive inebriated at least.’ he snarled.
‘Don’t start early in the morning for God sake, Raghu.’ She was clearly annoyed with the morning banter.
‘I have asked you a simple question, answer me and carry on. Why you getting worked up?’ Raghu insisted.
‘Okay! Granny, Yes I had a few drinks with friends. No I did not drive, Lizzy’s brother dropped me home. Probably he left the lights on. Okay, now happy.’
‘Lizzy’s brother, wow! That looks like an extended club.’ he was clearly surprised.
She simply waved at him in dismay and walked towards the bathroom. ‘I won’t be here for long, tell Lakshmi not to cook for me.’
‘But it’s Saturday where are you going?’ he questioned further.
‘OUT. Raghu, stop your bloody interrogation!’ she dashed inside closing the door behind with a loud thud.
The altercation left Raghu jolted, all he wished for a little transparency between them. Avantika, on the other hand, is turning more and more elusive with her choices, plans, and eventually life.
Their marriage of six years has hit a rock bottom, it is better to leave the arrangement which only brings disharmony and pain. But, at times life is more than feelings, it is about livelihood and transactions too. This makes things complicated, the same is the case between Raghu and Avantika.
Despite the differences and almost no compassion left, they agreed to live under the same roof for reasons best known to them. The arrangement they call – ‘Living with your eX.’
THE END
The post is written as part of #A2ZChallenge & #BlogchatterA2Z. To read the previous post, please click here. My theme this year is Short Love Stories.
Disclaimer – This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Reader discretion is advised.
Image Credit – Photo by Rene Asmussen from Pexels
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2 Comments
Loved tgis one too…. These days this is a true story in many metros 🙂
Saying that they live with ‘eX’ while still being married… That’s sad.
Hope things get better. If it’s not a happy ending, then it’s not the end as yet.