The Binding String

F O R T Y - N I N E

"Haan Maa Ishita sahi keh rahi hai. Aajkal schedule kaafi hectic hai." (She is right Maa, thats the work committments which are keeping us occupied.) Raman too sang same line along his wife before resuming his dinner.

"Hmm you guys are saying like you're some sixty years old. Make time for yourself as well." Santhosh spoke with a soft smile relieved knowing everything is fine between the couple. "Anyway you have any plans to move back to your mama ji flat?" Ishita and Raman frownedas the next question came to their way, they looked at each other for first few seconds and than Ishita whispered on their behalf, "I want to spend more time with both of you. I am done staying there." Ishita declared her plans in a firm tone without giving any chance to Raman. Otherside her self declaration left her husband dejected who was actually hoping to spend some alone time with his wife in their old place, reminiscing and recreating the moments they lost. The privacy would give them chance to fight and makeup as well but look like she wasn't in any mood to mend her ways with Raman.

Raman saw her moving away from dining area after finishing off her dinner leaving him dejected. If she want to avoid me than it's absolutely fine by me. That night Raman declared to himself while working on his laptop in the living area. He was pretending to be occupied with his laptop but his mind was filled with his wife thoughts who was giving him cold shoulder since days.

Pehle ladne ke bahane se hi sahi, baatein toh hoti thi par ab toh yeh khaamoshiyan khatam hi nahi ho rahi hai. (Atleast some conversations used to happen in past even if we fought but now it's feeling like a long path of unending silence came between us.)

He was missing her badly but yet finding hard to vocalise same. He hated himself for being so poor in expressing his emotions. He continued to think about the future of his and Ishita clearly failed to notice his father presence who was sitting beside him.

"Sorry Papa. Maine aapko dekha nahi." (Sorry Papa, I didn't acknowledged your presence.) Raman apologised his father while keeping his laptop aside.

"It's okay. Lagta hai tera kaam kaafi badh gaya hai." (It's okay. It appears like your workload increased alot.)

"Haan Papa zimmedariya bhi toh badh gayi hai. Par theek hai aadat ho jaayegi." (Yes, powers comes along responsibilities but I guess I will get habitual of same.)

"Hmm.....main jaanta hoon ki tu manage kar lega par is office ki bhaag doud mein yeh mat bhool jana ki teri apni ek zindagi bhi hai." (I know you're capable enough to manage the workload but don't forget that you have a personal life as well.) Om Prakash came with an intension, he was observing the increasing tension between the couple. They were managing to befool their mother but their lies weren't convincing Om Prakash and hence being a father he decided to speak in his son married life.

"Papa aap kya kehna chahte hai?" (What do you want to say Papa?) Raman pretended to be unaware and confused infront of his father, his secretive nature didn't allowed him to open up infront of his father even.

"Raman dekh jab shaadi mein tanaav aane lage toh use badhana nahi chahiye par use khatam karne ke baare mein sochna chahiye. Ishita ki tabiyat ki fiqr hoti hai mujhe, nervous breakdown koi choti baat nahi hai. Maine doctor se kab poocha tha toh unhone mujhe yahi kaha tha ki aisi kuch baatein hoti hai jo miya biwi aapas mein hi kar sakte hai. (Raman all i want you to advise that when things started to go out of hands in a marriage, it become necessary to mend the things before situation goes out of control. Ishita falling health started to worry us, nervous breakdown is not a small thing . I have asked doctor about her health and he told us not everything is meant to be shared with eveyrone. There are few things which can be shared with husband only.