I don’t want to fight

I heard the scraping sound of a chair being pushed back. So I watched as Miraj got up and without looking at anyone, he left the dining room.

The moment Miraj cleared the threshold, Luke let out a heavy sigh of relief. I was still staring in the direction of the exit, expecting Miraj to come back with loaded guns or hand grenades.

"What just happened?" asked the clueless bimbo. Nobody bothered answering her.

Luke said to me, "He is gone, Ana! Why are you still here?"

I turned around wide-eyed towards Luke and asked, "You don't think he is going to comeback with weapons to kill us?"

He chuckled in response. I didn't understand what was so funny.

"He won't do anything to you, Ana."

I felt someone poking my side, I looked at Ari as he asked, "What happened to dada? Why isn't he eating dinner with us?"

I breathed deeply once, then twice, as I thought about what to say. Once I had decided, I said, "Ari, I am sorry but could you please stay with uncle Luke till Mama speaks to Dada. I'll be back till you finish your crab cakes."

Ari blinked his innocent eyes, nodded and said, "Okay, Mama. I'll stay with uncle Luke."

He looked at Luke, seeking confirmation that his uncle will look after him so his mother doesn't have to worry. I gave birth to an angel, I swear. Luke agreed with a head nod and smiled as he said to my son, "But I don't think your Mama will be back by the time you finish your crab cakes."

What? I glared at Luke once, force smiled at Ari and told him, "You can start dinner without us if we are late."

I got out of my chair and speed walked out of the dining room without sparing a word or a glance for my guests. I couldn't believe I was chasing my angry husband in high heels all around the house. 'What have I become?' I kept asking the staff wandering about for Miraj's whereabouts. Eventually, I climbed the stairs for the first floor and made my way to his study.

I knocked once and there was no response. It was the same the second time. I didn't have the patience for a third time so I just twisted the knob to check if it was open and it was.

I entered the room but I couldn't see anything because the lights were off I could just tell that the balcony was open because I felt a cool breeze hit me as I entered. I switched on the lights to see better and I saw the balcony curtains that were still shut, just floating in the air from the breeze. I could see his silhouette in the balcony through the curtains so I walked out there. It was a cold night.

"Miraj."

I started with persuading him in a small voice because I had no idea how to go about this. He was leaning on the railing while both his palms were holding on to it tightly. I could see the tensed shoulders as I faced his back.

"Eli, if you wanna stay alive, it would be better if you leave me alone right now."

Well, I definitely want to stay alive, but why was he talking like he could definitely take me on AND win against me. That was just wrong.

"What makes you think you could definitely win if we do fight?"

He turned around just his face and even through his side profile I saw his smug smirk as he replied, "Anger. I have enough anger right now to burn the world."

Yeah. I believed that. I turned around to leave and walked back into the study but I couldn't take another step. My hand immediately reached for the necklace around my neck as I thought about what to do.

I turned back and walked closer to him. As the distance lessened, so did my speed. Once I was right behind him, I saw the alertness in his shoulders. He was ready to defend any attack from me. I walked my last step as I said to him, "I don't want to fight you."

I hugged him from the back by putting my arms around his waist and continued, "You are my one true ally no matter what I am fighting for. We are bound by too many things to escape this. I don't like fighting with you because that hurts this relationship."

I felt the cool touch of his palm on my hand near his stomach and soon he broke my hold on him as he said, "Then maybe you shouldn't let other men touch what's mine, so easily."