The Binding String

F I F T Y - T W O

"I am a photographer, but only for my wife." They parted, thankfully without kissing. He tucked the loose tendril behind her earlobe. After few seconds they started walking again but Ishita wanted to maintain a safe distance from him but it didn't happened. His grip on her hands tightened more, their was minimalist gap between them, enough minimal to allow air to pass.

"These honeymoon couples are synonyms of crazy." Raman commented looking at so many enthusiastic couples wandering around.

"And stupid too. Look at the excitement on their faces." Ishita commented laughing over every second couple.

"Atleast they came to Maldives instead of some pilgrim." Raman words clicked something to Ishita and she ended up laughing. Well Ishita Bhalla is never like normal girls, enthusiastic for marriage and love. One such incident from their early days of marriage flooded back in their memories leaving them split into laughter.

YEAR 2012
APRIL ,DELHI

The evening was little unusual at Raman and Ishita apartment. Ishita wasn't alone today, because her husband is back in the town and going to stay for two weeks. Post dinner, the couple was lazing around, doing nothing particular. Ishita huffed with annoyance finding Raman busy on laptop, she picked one fictional novel for herself and sprawled herself on the bed such that her head was at the direction where his legs was and her legs were lying on his lap. Ishita busied herself in reading the novel she was planning to read from so many days, the couple seem occupied when the doorbell rang to disturb them. Ishita kept the book aside and went to attend the person at door, leaving her curious husband behind. Raman one eye was at the direction of living room, waiting for his wife.

Ishita soon walked back in their room and offered offerings to Raman. "Our neighbour is distributing offerings, her newlywed Son and Daughter In Law came back from Vaishnodevi temple yesterday." Raman hummed in positive and eat the little sweet. Ishita too had little part of offerings and hopped back on the bed, picked the book and started to read it.

"What made you take so long?" Raman nudged Ishita legs which were resting on his lap.

"I don't understand about human's, especially these new sasuma." Raman raised his left eyebrow, his curiosity increased. Raman kept his laptop aside now he is eager to listen how wife.

"Like!"

"You know what Chadda Aunty said right now? Ishita Puttar! Maine beta bahu ko ek hafte ke liye matarani ke ghar bheja tha, ab bas is saal mujhe pote ka mooh dikha de." Ishita mimicked their neighbour lady making Raman laugh.

"So what!! She might be in hurry to become grand mother." Raman reasoned looking at Ishita.

"Like really! She sent her son back to his workplace and now she is expecting her daughter in law to make her grandmother? How can you expect someone to give you babies by visiting pilgrim's?

Who the hell goes at pilgrim's for honeymoon!!!" Ishita dramatically threw her hands in air making Raman roll on the bed. He tried to stiff his laughter but he failed miserably. "How can a couple get romantic with the background of holy bells and mantra chants!! First these aunties send their kids at such place for honeymoon and later expect them to give babies!!

If i was her daughter in law than i would said these things on her face." Ishita made her face making Raman laugh more loudly. He joined his hands infront of her, and continued to laugh making her snort.

"I didn't cracked some joke. I am just stating the fact. How can you expect such romantic things from someone at pilgrim's? Isn't it's ridiculous?"

"It is. But the way you said it made it appear funny!" Raman managed reply somehow controlling his laughter. "Thank god. My mother in law is not insane like her." Ishita murmured stretching her body. Raman rolled above his wife and caged her in his arms, "you mean you enjoyed our lone time?"

"Who won't! Yes i agree you was at work but it was good. We had good time at Mumbai, we sightseeing Mumbai and yes met your friends, tasted local food and did everything." Ishita genuinely appreciated their month long Mumbai trip which they spent without much interruption.

"Just sight seeing and food?? Not something else?" He seductively brushed his lips at the corner of her mouth, sending tingles at the lower part of her body. Ishita nervously clutched the front of his tee shirt when his lips started to caress her soft skin. Their legs brushed as he adjusted himself in the middle of her parted legs, "You're the live version of atom bomb, Ms Iyyer."

"It's Mrs. Bhalla for you." Ishita replied slowly, she wounded her arms around his neck as they kept looking in each other eyes. They enjoy their intimacy with each other but still the advances makes both of them shy. His hands travelled inside her t-shirt, their lips were few millimetre away when Raman phone rang aloud leaving the two flushed.

"Damn Simmi!!!" Raman cursed his sister who is the queen of bad timing.

"Go and pick her call." Ishita ran inside the washroom and Raman straightened his t-shirt as he picked the call with a fake smile.

*********************

"Oh my God!!!! It still make me laugh. You are a badass woman." Raman started to laugh ignoring the surroundings, even Ishita chuckled on her words, she was indeed on fire that night.

"What a good old memories we made. Nothing is same now." The words came staright from Ishita heart, she miss their good old days. The time when they used to try their best to make their stay best and memorable. Raman didn't missed the vulnerability on Ishita face, he too miss their beautiful time they spend together and crave to make more such memories with her. Yes, Raman is guilty for his acts and he had no guts to accept the same.

Right now all he can do to convince her. He held her through shoulders, making her look into his eyes. "Nothing has changed Ishita. Things can be normal again." Raman spoke earnestly, caressing her cheekbones with his thumb pad.

"We have lost everything we build once together." Ishita sounded distant and defeated.

"We can rebuild everything again Ishita. I want our marriage to work. I want to be with you again." Raman joined his head against Ishita, he didn't let her avert her eyes away from him.

His ears carved to listen her approval and heart begged to be with him.

To be continued..........

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