The Binding String

F O R T Y - N I N E

Zindagi saath bitana hi pati patni ban jana nahi hai, humsafar banne ke saath saath humraaz bhi banna zaroori hai." (Tying in a bond of matrimony is not all about marriage. You have to become companion and confident of each other as well.) When Om Prakash Bhalla poured this advice in his son ears, his face was calm and tone was sweet. He talked him as a friend but not as a father hoping if his experience in marriage would help his son. He later pressed his son hand gently waiting for his reply.

"Papa aisa kuch nahi hai jaisa aap soch rahe hai." (Papa you're worrying unnecessarily. There is nothing like that.)

"Chalo accha hai ki vaisa kuch bhi na ho aur kabhi ho toh use theek kar lena beta. Ishita aur Simmi mein maine kabhi koi farak nahi kiya hai aur main aasha karta hoon ki tu uska khayal acche se rakhega." (Thats good. But remember if things go wrong in your marriage, make them fine before it turns too late.) Om Prakash left the the place soon leaving his son in a fix, his father words somwhere made Raman feel that he is accused by his father for Ishita deteriorated health and the realisation angered him since he always wanted to mend his ways with his wife but his wife who didn't want to take any pain. He climbed upstairs and turned the knob of his door, he found the room empty and the door of the dressing room open half ajar. He rested his hands above his hips scanning the room, his side of the bed was covered with her medicines and some medical files. The number of tablet stripes and the long prescriptions force him to peep more inside of her life but his head didn't let him do so. He somehow took slow steps just to read her prescription paper, his face became soft as he started to see the numerous prescriptions attached in her file and the medicines kept along the same, a strong urge to bear Ishita in a strong hug crossed his mind when he spotted Ishita coming out from dressing room after changing into silk pyjamas and shirt. His face became stone hard as before when their eyes met, "What the hell is this? Yeh mera bed hai ya medical store? Yeh jagah hai kya yeh sab kachra rakhne ke liye?" (What all the mess you have created here Ishita? Is this my bed or some godown of medical store? This place is not to dump this scarp.)

Raman knowingly taunted his wife in an order to pick a fight with her. He wanted to taunt her and receive some sarcastic taunts from other end as well. He keep looking at Ishita hoping to get some reply from her but he saw her silently cleaning the bed. Raman tried to help her but his participation didn't welcomed and with dejection he walked inside washroom. when he came back after changing his night clothes he found the double bed organised and his wife missing.

Ishita??

Raman whispered to himself and than found Ishita sleeping over couch. Her back was facing him, she was neatly tucked inside the duvet, her medicines were also arranged at the side table kept next to couch. His legs gave up and knees buckled, Raman body softly fell on the carpeted floor next to the couch. Raman suppressed the sob of defeat from his mouth, that night for the first time he felt that Ishita is going away from him. Raman forwarded his hand to rest it on her shoulder, to wale her up and take her back to bed but something didn't allowed him to same. Raman curled his fingers back inside the fist and continues to look at her with longing eyes. Yes, his plan backfired badly and with slow steps he walked back towards the bed after switching off the lamp next to the couch.

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FEW DAYS LATER

The days were monotonic for Ishita and Raman after that night, the distances were only increasing between them with each passing day. After joining PSR Globals as a CEO, Raman responsibilities were increasing day by day. It was making impossible for him to return home at time and by the time he returns back, he found Ishita asleep. There was no communication between them and this reason was enough to make him restless. Tomorrow, PSR is going to celebrate it's foundation day, like every year the the Foundation Day Celebration would be big scale event where company will make major announcements, the incentives would be given and promotions would be announced. The MD already made his statement about Raman CEO promotion two months back but tomorrow he is officially going to introduced as a new CEO of PSR Globals. It was a big day for Raman, the day he dreamt ever since he started studying at IIM Ahmedabad, the dream which he dreamt always started to get it's wings after his marriage. His wife remained his constant supporter in the entire journey, he doesn't remember if he ever felt worrying about his parents or other stuffs because deep down he knew Ishita is enough capable to handle the things. The three years passed with same and now as the day arrived, he was longing for her acknowledgement and presence.