The Binding String

E L E V E N

"Are tum toh woh marriage repellant ho na, Mihir Mihika ki shaadi wale?" His trance broke the girl voice who took seat next to him.
(If I'm I'm not wrong you're that marriage repellant girl I met in Mihir Mihika wedding?)

"Marriage repellant toh tum bhi ho." He shurgged his shoulder continued to scan her. He passed her a glass of water and wore his specs again.
(Even you're marriage Repellent.)

"Haan hoon toh." He chuckled after getting the reply and made himself comfortable more.
(That I'm.)

"Toh yahan kya kar rahi ho Ms. Marriage Repellent."
(So what make you come here Ms marriage repellant.)

"Jo tum yahan karne aaye ho. Mr. Marriage Repellent." (The same thing you came to do here.)
The first thing which Raman Bhalla instantly liked in her was her quick witted nature, she never look back while speaking nor waste her time while thinking for reply. The girl had an aura within her which caught his eye and he forgot his pledge to reject her.

"So ab naam bataogi ya ab bhi interest nahi hai? By the way I'm Raman Kumar Bhalla." He forwarded his hand towards her with a hope to know her name.
(So will you tell me your name or not?)

"Ishita Iyyer." She shaked her hand with a small smile.

"Ishita Iyyer as in Madhvi Iyyer's daughter?" Raman narrowed his brows as the name strike his mind.

"Yes." And his smile disappeared next second as the girl confirmed his doubt. "Oh my God! Are you same Ishita Iyyer who used to be round as pumpkin in childhood, whin on every small issue, who used to cry for batting and even got out on first ball itself?" A scowl appeared on Ishita beautiful face listening the childhood memories they had spent together in the compound of government quarters. "You changed a lot Ms. Ishita." Raman exclaimed smiling over the sweet memories of there teenage days.

"But I bet you aren't Mr Bhalla. You're same cocky and bully as childhood, Bully Kumar." Ishita taunted back with smirk making the man grunt.

"So Ms. Whiny Iyyer? Where are you nowadays? I know about Vandita she is working in State banks and she got married as well. How about you?" Raman asked enthusiastically about his friend Vandita who used to his classmate in school days.

"Akka is good. Yes she is married now, she and her husband both are working together in State banks and they had a boy as well." Ishita replied with smile about her elder sister and her nephew. The marriage issue remained forgotten and they started to reminisce there past memories. Raman didn't remembered much about Ishita although but he befriended with her elder sister Vandita who used to be his classmate in his initial years until his parents admitted him in boarding school and later they shifted in there own flat which almost made him away from the friends he made in colony. From Ishita he came to know that she is going to pursue her masters degree in political science and also cleared her pre PhD exam, she loved teaching alot and aspiring to become a professor in near future.

"So Ishita why not marriage?" Raman finally asked the question making him curious most.

"Even I can ask same question from you." He sighted listening her remark continued to sip his coffee.

"Because I don't want a clingy female partner around myself. As I wife I just need a person who can talk to me whenever I wish not someone who have more interest in my money or materialistic pleasures. I want an independent woman as wife not some weak petite woman who need a man everytime. Certainly I do not see myself sharing romantic relationship with any lady."