In the short story what causes the initial conflict between ahineev and vankin

A confusion between a fish and a kiss.

Explanation:

'A Slander' by Anton Chekhov is a short story  that explores the themes of class and conflicts. The initial conflict between Ahineev and Vankin was the confusion between a fish and a kiss. This raises a question that drives the plot further which is whether he kissed Marfa or not? This leads to the dispute between both of them. After the incident, Ahineev develops an internal conflict that people are spreading the rumors around to defame him. He is paranoid about his so-called reputation being damaged by Vankin which resulted in a clash between both. Chekhov suggests here the class divide in the Russian society and the hollowness of upper-class society to maintain the artificial image of their individual self.

it u understand what he thought at the time and let u know more about him then what third person would of known probably. hope this : )

the switch in narration increases the proximity of the narrator to the main character and the reader can perceive information only through the filter of a single character.