The Binding String

S E V E N T Y - T W O

"Income Tax Staff Quarters!" Ishita squealed looking at the building from afar. She held Raman hand due to excitement as they entered inside the premises where they spent their childhood. The memories of their childhood resurfaced back in their eyes as they looked all around. The lots of changes had been made in these years but many things were same as well. It was afternoon time and hence the compound was mostly empty, Ishita grinned as they stopped infront of Wing-B, her eyes twinkled with joy admiring the flat on first floor, "We use to live here."

"Yes. I remember and we use to live there." Raman pointed at another flat in the Wing-C. "We use to play cricket at the backside." Raman pointed the field area at the backside of the staff quarters which is now developed into badminton court.

"And the garden, it looks beautiful." Ishita reminisced her childhood days looking at the garden where she used to play along the other girls of her age group. She rested her head upon his shoulder continued to take slow steps.

"You know me and Simmi used to play badminton post dinner and Maa Papa goes out for walk." Raman lips were curved with a wide smile, he continued to share different memories of his childhood and Ishita chose to adore her husband face. His childhood was the one which she dreamt to have, a pair of loving parents and an understanding elder sibling by her side but sadly nothing happened same but she stopped bothering about the same. She is happy with her present, Ishita tightened her hold around Raman hand more, their eyes met and they smiled before walking back towards the exit.

"If I am not wrong our old school is nearby of this area. Haina?"

"You remember? I thought I need to remind you." Raman replied, he opened passenger door for her before securing driver seat.

"So where we are heading next?" They chose to remain seated in their car which was parked below a neem tree. They continued to look at the various school vans passing by, one by one a group of children appeared returning back from the school. She smiled looking at one girl who was playing with a stone while walking back from the school. "It used to be my favourite game." Ishita chuckled remembering her childhood days.

"I bet. Afterall I got hit by these small stones many times." Raman snorted leaving Ishita shock. "Stop lying." Ishita snorted, she believed Raman is just pulling her leg.

"Honestly no darling. Not once but many times you hit me with these stones. You was in primary section that time and it used to be your favourite hobby to walk back from school while kicking these stones."

"If it's true than how you got hit with these stones?" She wounded her arms around her chest still not ready to believe on Raman.

"Because we all used to walk back together."

"I never noticed you. Stop lying."

"Well Iyer Aunty requested me to take you back from the school along me but it was an embarrassing for me to take a primary section girl with me so I used to walk before you." Ishita bit her lower lip looking at her husband, before today he never shared these small details with her. The man who is her husband today, whom she considered a cold hearted person is not what he pretend or show. His caring side is rare to see, she remember he always been a tough and rude guy in their childhood days. He was few years elder than her many times she approached him to play but Raman, famous as RKB in the entire building never spared a single glance towards her.

"I used to think you was a rude and stupid." Ishita shrugged off her shoulder as Raman started to drive again.

"I was but you was hard to ignore, I mean not that way but I used to find you cute as a child. Round and fluffy just like Roo teddy bear with cute piggy tails." Raman laughed making Ishita cheeks go reddened. She used to be a fluffy child as a kid and top of that her mother used to tie her long hairs into two pony tails making her look like a huge bear.