Compare and contrast the author's treatment of the husband-wife relationship in the two stories "The Lovely Leave" by Dorothy Parker and "Doors" by Chitra Divakaruni, taking into account the spouses' needs and couples' communication styles.

The short stories are similar in that the respective authors highlight how opposing viewpoints can create conflict within a marriage. However, "The Lovely Leave" differs from "Doors" in that the conflict in the latter leads to a dangerous marital schism.
Even though the parting between the couple in "The Lovely Leave" is somewhat tense in nature, the wife still remains committed to her husband's vision for their lives. In "Doors," however, the husband and wife decide to sleep in separate rooms due to their inability to reconcile their differing views about privacy.
In both "Doors" and "The Lovely Leave," the wives accuse their husbands of not sympathizing with their positions. Mimi in "The Lovely Leave" can't bring herself to enjoy Steve's 24 hour leave, as she knows that their time together is short-lived. She remembers the nights of worry and loneliness she has endured. When Steve arrives, she pours out her frustrations to him despite her earlier resolution not to burden him with her struggles. For her part, Mimi is too frustrated to restrain her overpowering emotions.

"...No, you're the one that's awful, Steve. You really are. I'm trying to show you a glimpse of my heart, to tell you how it feels when you're gone, how I don't want to be with anyone if I can't be with you. And all you say is I'm not doing any good to anybody. That'll be nice to think of when you go. You don't know what it's like here for me alone. You just don't know."
"Yes, I do," he said. "I know, Mimi."

For his part, Steve responds sympathetically to Mimi. Since his 24 hour leave has been cut short, he refrains from engaging in heated words with her. Steve decides to take a bath before he leaves. Despite their strained words, Mimi and Steve share an emotional parting hug; it is obvious that their bond is still strong.
In "Doors," Preeti and Deepak also argue, but their disagreement results in a terrible schism in their marriage. The bond between them threatens to rupture, precipitated by their differing cultural values. Although both are Indian, Preeti is American-raised. Deepak, the more traditional of the two, is bewildered by the American emphasis on privacy and individualism. Like Raj (his brother-in-law), Deepak cannot understand why closed doors are so important to Preeti.
After Raj leaves, Deepak and Preeti engage in a war of words. When Preeti suggests moving into Cathy's apartment, Deepak is flabbergasted. His response (unlike Steve's response to Mimi) is explosive:

You can't leave. What would people say? Besides, you're my wife. You belong in my home.

To Deepak, a wife's understanding and submission is expected. His cultural sensitivities demand it. Meanwhile, Steve (although distressed by Mimi's words) shares his wife's frustrations about prolonged absences from home. Therein lies the difference between how marriage is portrayed in both stories. While Preeti and Deepak argue from the vantage point of differing cultural prisms, Steve and Mimi share similar views about war and the western idea of freedom. Although frustrated by his absences, Mimi still supports Steve's mission. On the other hand, Preeti is unable to reconcile her very western ideas about privacy with Deepak's conventional views about family life.