Anisha and Rihan had been married for five years. Though they loved each other, their differences of opinion frequently led to arguments. Initially, these disagreements were small, revolving around everyday things—whether to take a trip or stay home, how to manage finances, or which family obligations to prioritize. But over time, the arguments grew harsher, leaving both of them feeling hurt and misunderstood.
As time passed, these small arguments snowballed into frequent battles. Both Anisha and Rihan became defensive, and instead of discussing things calmly, they snapped at each other. They barely spoke except to argue. The air felt heavy, and the silence between them was as loud as the fights. Misunderstandings stacked up, and with them came mistrust and frustration.
One afternoon, after a particularly intense argument with Rihan, Anisha left the house in a huff. Her head was buzzing with a mix of anger and exhaustion. While crossing the main road near her home, she witnessed a scene that made her stop in her tracks. A well-dressed man in a sleek car was screaming at a rickshaw puller who had accidentally brushed against his car’s side mirror. The man’s face was red with rage, and his voice was loud enough to turn heads. He stood outside his car, gesticulating wildly, demanding the rickshaw puller pay for the damage.
The rickshaw puller, an older man with wrinkles etched into his sunburnt skin, stood there silently at first, nodding apologetically. He tried to explain that it was an accident, that he couldn’t afford to pay for any damage, but his soft voice was drowned by the man’s angry tirade. Onlookers gathered, some shaking their heads in disapproval, but no one stepped in. The air was thick with tension.
Anisha’s gaze shifted between the two. The more the man shouted, the quieter the rickshaw puller became. His posture softened, his face calm, as if he had made peace with the fact that no matter how much he explained, it wouldn’t change the situation. After a few more minutes of yelling, the man huffed, got back in his car, and sped off, leaving the rickshaw puller standing in the middle of the street, calm, composed, and untouched by the fury he had just faced.
As Anisha watched the man drive away, a realization hit her like a wave. She had been behaving like the man in the car—constantly agitated, demanding things go her way, yelling when she didn’t feel heard. Meanwhile, Rihan, much like the rickshaw puller, had either reacted defensively or simply retreated into silence, unable to change the situation. Anisha mulled over the scene, the contrast between the man’s anger and the rickshaw puller’s quiet acceptance lingering in her mind.
That evening, she met her old friend, Prarthana, at a café. Prarthana, noticing Anisha’s troubled expression, asked what was wrong. Anisha, still shaken by the day’s events, opened up about how her marriage was slowly unravelling. She talked about how every conversation with Rihan had turned into a battle and how exhausted she felt. As Anisha spoke, Prarthana listened intently, her face calm but her eyes showing deep empathy.
When Anisha was done, Prarthana leaned forward and said, “Anisha, do you know, I used to be just like you? Always trying to control everything, always reacting when something didn’t go my way. It drained me and hurt the people I loved. But one day, I realized something important—it’s not about winning every argument or being right. It’s about learning to relax, let go, and trust the flow of life.”
Anisha blinked, surprised. Prarthana had always seemed so composed, so at peace. Seeing Anisha’s confusion, Prarthana continued, “I wasn’t always like this. It took time. My turning point came when I started meditating. It helped me see that I was carrying all this unnecessary tension. I learned to relax first, then let go of my need to control. After that, it became easier to forgive people—and myself—for the things that went wrong. And when I let forgiveness in, love came back into my life.”
Anisha listened closely, something stirring deep inside her. She thought back to the rickshaw puller and how he had chosen peace over conflict, and now Prarthana was echoing the same wisdom. That night, as she lay in bed, Anisha made a decision. She would try to let go, just as Prarthana had done.
Over the next few days, Anisha began making subtle changes. When Rihan came home late, instead of lashing out, she took a deep breath and asked him how his day had been. When they disagreed over something trivial, she didn’t insist on being right but listened to his perspective. It wasn’t easy. Her old habits of reacting were hard to shake off, but every time she felt the urge to snap, she reminded herself of Prarthana’s words and the rickshaw puller’s quiet strength.
As time passed, the tension in their home began to lift. Anisha forgave Rihan for the past arguments, and more importantly, she forgave herself for holding on to so much resentment. She let go of the need to be in control all the time and embraced the flow of life, just as Prarthana had taught her.
Rihan noticed the change immediately. The woman who used to argue with him over every little thing was now calm, understanding, and patient. He was taken aback by her newfound peace and, in turn, began to reflect on his own actions. Gradually, he too became more relaxed, letting go of the need to argue and focusing instead on the bond they shared.
Their home, once filled with tension, became peaceful again. Conversations returned, laughter filled the rooms, and they rediscovered the love they thought they had lost.
Anisha’s shift in perspective had made all the difference.
She realized that being relaxed and accepting didn’t mean she was weak.
Instead, it gave her the strength to respond to life’s challenges with maturity
and grace. And in doing so, she saved her marriage.