The Binding String

S I X T Y - F O U R

"I never knew my wife can be emotional." Raman replied, adjusting the cap on her ears.

"I am not." Ishita felt heat crawling on her cheeks.

"I will try my best not to break the promises we made." He held her gloved hands with his own gloved hands and they rested their heads against each other. Thr gush of cold wind made them shudder and they decided to take huge steps back to their hotel which was a street away.

"But I am going to make you learn Urdu."

"No way!!! I can't withstand with so much deep and complex things." Raman made dramatic face making Ishita laugh.

"Why? Even I am trying to learn Punjabi words for you."

"Correction! You're trying to learn Punjabi because you want to match your steps with the Punjabi song lyrics." Raman made fun of Ishita making her pout.

"So!!!!! You all start to jump as soon as music plays. I didn't even get meaning of a single word."

"You don't have to learn even. No one has asked you to perform action song. Mad Madrasan!!"

"Then you're Pagal Punjabi." They laughed together and continued to walk hand in hand.

"Once you used to understand my unsaid emotions Raman and today when I need you most. You left me alone."

The dimmed lights allowed the teardrop to slip from her eyes which went unnoticed by everyone sitting next to her. Who said you can run away from love? They never confessed but the love never left them, neither did the burden of expectations. She wiped off the stains of teardrop from her cheeks trying to shut off the every moment her mind was reviving.

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

Raman condition was no less, he was feeling a constant emotion of anxiety hitting him again and again enough to make him feel uncomfortable. The nostalgia of their memories resurfaced again and for another time he was forced to think how much they have lost blinded in their egos and anger. He remembered that night of Munich when Ishita asked him to arrange two tickets of the gazal night organised at Indian Embassy Cultural Centre and he somehow fetched the tickets of the concert despite being uninterested in the same. Yes Indian Music is soulful and they enjoyed the musical night together but he didn't get the single word of all thr gazals performed that night until his wife took the lead and explained the couplets later. It's one of those rare and soulful moment they got together which they spent each other enjoying each other likings. He sent text to Romi to inquire if Ishita has arrived here but his text left unseen by his brother. He tapped his feet growing anxious thinking about Ishita and being uncomfortable reminiscing about their past moments.

Woh Naye Gile, Woh Shikaayatei, Woh Maze Maze Ki Hiqaayatei
Woh Har Ek Baat Par Roothnaa, Tumhe Yaad Ho Ke Naa Yaad Ho

(Those displeasure, those complaints, those light playful amusing stories,
That sulking of yours on every matter, whether you remember or not)

"Raman!!!!! I have never seen such an untidy man like you." Ishita screamed on the top of her voice making Raman jump at his place. He disconnected off the call and looked at his wife who was glaring at him standing at the doorway of common washroom of their Mumbai Apartment.