The Binding String

S I X T Y - T W O

Tackling inlaws is not easy the way it appears.

"Behen Ji please, Ishita is a nice girl and by mata rani grace we have everything, nahi?"

"So what? We have spent so much on our son, won't we take it back?"

"Her mother is not entitled to pay back the amount my parents spent on me Buaji." A cold dark voice stopped everyone, Raman's aunt's words died in her throat as she gazed at her nephew standing at the doorway. Raman removed his gliders and walked inside like a predator, he glanced at his wife and then at his aunt who made an unpleasant face.

"Puttar!!!! You don't know anything! Does it sound good that Toshi and Om got married to their only son without taking anything? What would society say?"

"Dowry is not something one needs to be proud of Bua Ji, I chose Ishita on her qualities above anything. We bought her in our family as a family member, not as a cook, cleaner and servant. She is my wife and my pride and I want everyone to respect my choice."

Santhosh smiled proudly on her son, Raman went inside the kitchen and fetched a glass of water for himself ignoring his aunt's glares. He looked at Ishita who silently wiped out the stains of tears from her cheeks and avoided him. Raman shook his head and held her wrist, she was soon dragged by him upstairs leaving his grinning mother and pissed aunt behind. Once reaching back in their room, he started to remove his blazer where Ishita silently took out his tracks and shirt he wore at home. Raman has noticed the sadness in her eyes, he knows his aunt has a sword like tongue.

"Ishita! Can you sew the button on my shirt?" Raman showed the button of his causal shirt which he broke deliberately.

"Hmm. Remove it." Ishita asked for a shirt in a slow voice.

"Sew it like this only, i am too lazy to button and unbutton my shirt again." Ishita sighted and took out the sewing kit, she matched the thread color with his shirt and started to sew his button, that's the only sewing hack she learnt in her entire life, thanks to her nagging mother.

"Does my cat lose her tongue?" Ishita eyes met with her husband, she said nothing and resumed her job.

"You can only intimidate me, why do I have to be a victim of your bullies every time?" This time his arms were wrapped around her petite waist and he pulled her towards him, their bodies were plastered against each other.

"You're supposed to reply back wifey."

"That was only for you, Mummy Ji and Papa Ji and she was not wrong either. I don't have any qualities she listed downstairs, I can't cook good food, don't know any house work and didn't bring dowry as well. Why would anyone except me?"

"Anyone! You're freaking my wife. Just mine!" A throaty growl came out from his throat leaving her shivered. Their faces were inches apart and breaths mingled together, "You have everything which I wished in my life partner. You're not cook to prepare food for us, you're not cleaner to clean for us and yes you're not a bank to come up with dowry for us. You're a woman who left your mother only for us and that's enough for me and my parents Ishita.

Be proud of what you have done for us. Women are always taken for granted but I would not allow anyone to treat my wife in the same way. You can cook but only when you feel like to, clean and dust this house when you feel like to and yes earn but for your pride. I don't want you to force anything Ishita and I mean it." Ishita eyes well up with pride, she pressed her lips together forming a thin line. She hugged him without wasting a single second making him smile as well. That afternoon Ishita felt herself lucky to have a life partner like Raman. He peaked her forehead and she resumed her work, other side his arms were still encircled around her waist, playing with her bare skin.