The Binding String

F O R T Y - T H R E E

"How's your friend dear."

"She is fine Mummy Ji. Her husband reached to Delhi early morning. I came to know about Roohi. I'm sorry Mummy Ji." Ishita stammered apologetically and downcasted her eyes.

"It's fine dear. She was crying but Raman made her quite. Look like both get well together." Ishita faked her smile this time wondering it's Raman who is going to handle Roohi from now and she would be nowhere in her life. This mere thought formed a lump in her throat and Ishita gulped down a glass of water to hide her emotions. She started to help Santhosh in preparing breakfast when her eyes met with Raman who walked out from room dressed in formals. Aaj toh Raman ne mujhe bulaya bhi nahi wallet aur watch dene ke liye. Haan ab meri zaroorat kyon hogi. (Raman didn't even asked me pas his his watch and wallet but why would he ask me now?) Ishita eyes welled up another time while preparing coffee for herself and Raman.

Roz mere liye Ishita hi kapde nikaalti hai par ab use koi farak nahi hai. Kaise tum itni door ho gayi mujhse Ishita? Hum kitne khush the aur ab kitne door hai. (Ishita happily selects clothes for me but now she is pretending like she doesn't care even. We were so close earlier and now poles apart.) Raman wiped the teardrop trickled down from his left eye keep looking at Ishita with longing eyes. Raman kept looking at Ishita for few seconds until his anger overpowered him again and he started to collect his stuffs to go office. "Puttar where are you going? Have breakfast first."

"Nahi Maa. Aaj kaam hai mujhe." (I have some work at office.) Raman replied without looking at his mother keep typing his shoe laces. Before Santhosh could protest the doorbell rang and Ishita walked towards gate assuming it must be her father in law. Indeed it was Om Prakash at other side along a man and woman. "Papa Ji yeh...."

"Raman Puttar look who came to meet you." Raman smiled warmly looking at tall man who walked towards him with big steps and bore him in a tight hug. "Anuj you here!!" Raman patted the back of young man with delight and continued, "I'm sorry Major Anuj Batra par tu toh Meghalaya mein posted tha na?" (As far as I remembered Major Anuj Batra wasn't you posted in Meghalaya?)

"Haan abhi ek mahine pehle hi Delhi transfer hua hai mera. Aur mujhe baithne dega ya nahi." (Well I got transferred to Delhi a months back. Will you allow me to sit?) Raman smiled sheepishly and welcomed his friend who came along his wife. Anuj was Raman's school friend who studied with him in boarding school. Where Anuj cleared NDA exam and made his career in defense sector, Raman appeared for AIEEE exam and pursued engineering. "Vaise isse toh tu jaanta hoga na Swati. Meri wife." (She is my wife Swati.) Raman nodded his head and greeted Anuj wife, Swati. Ishita kept looking at young couple who were looking wonderful together and forwarded them glass of water.

"We're sorry to bother you in such early hours of morning bhabhi." Ishita smiled lightly and remained stood at side. "So what made you guys land here?" Raman asked curiously.

"Me and my wife are completing a half decade of our marriage today and hence we decided to host a little party and yes you and bhabhi are invited there." The smile wiped off from Raman and Ishita faces as Anuj words registered in their heads. "Yes Ishita bhabhi I hardly met any of Anuj school friends and it would be great if you guys come today." Swati gave a card and a box of dry fruits to Ishita with a smile.