The Binding String

F O R T Y - F O U R

"Aisa nahi hai Ishita. Main bas....main naaraz tha tumse par maine kabhi bhi yeh nahi kaha ki us raat galti tumhari thi." (I was just upset with the events Ishita but trust me I never felt you was at fault that night.) Raman scooted more closer to Ishita, almost plastered his chest next to her folded legs. "Sach maano Ishita maine kabhi bhi tum pe sawaal nahi uthaaye." (Not for a second I said or felt that you was wrong that night.)

"Par mujhse kabhi yeh bhi toh nahi kaha na ki us raat meri koi galti nahi thi." (But you never tried to comfort me as well Raman.) Ishita had nothing to react after listening Raman's words but the hurt was still their. "Kya aap isliye wahan se chale gaye the kyon ki aapki patni wahan sharab ke nashe mein dhutt padi thi ya isliye kyon ki aapko mujh par shaq tha?" (I know why you walked away that day, maybe because a doubt raised in your mind for your wife's character who was lying senseless in that room in the spell of an alcohol.) Ishita didn't wished to keep her monologues in her heart rather than she wanted to pour out uncared of the fact how would her husband take it.

"Ishita suno meri baat..." (try to listen me once Ishita.) Raman tried to console Ishita but Ishita was too emotional to give him any chance to speak.

"Aapne mujhe par isliye shaq kiya aur naaraz hue na kyon ki main aurat hoon? Kya aurat ka character is baat se judge kiya jaata hai ki woh sharab aur cigarette peeti hai ya nahi ya phir late night parties mein jaati hai ya nahi? Aisa hai toh phir jo ladkiya aapke saath corporate parties mein aati hai kya woh bhi characterless hui? (Why it is so easy to raise questions on a women character? Who gives the right to make judgement for women just because they drink alcohol or smoke?)

Aap toh kaafi open minded hai na Raman? Progressive person? Toh phir aapne mujhe kyon un paimaano par aankaa jo society ne aurton ke liye banaye hai?" (No matter how much open minded you can be but even you judged me that night. I'm sure you also judged me and made your assumptions on my character.) No matter how much advance we become but there are certain social stigma that we are not ready to change. The big words of women empowerment and gender equality remains powerless sometimes. The society is unstoppable to label woman if she wears short dresses or drinks alcohol or does late night parties. But aren't all these things are concerned as a preferences of an individual?

"Haan main maanti hoon ki samay kharab hai aurton ke liye par kya ismein galti ek aurat ki hai Raman? Aapne toh kabhi in baaton ka support nahi kiya na phir us din kyon? Us din mujhe aisa laga maano mere character par kisi ne ungli uthaayi ho."
(I know the time is not good for women. Every family shows concern for their family but whatever crimes are happening around us are because of fault of women or men? I remebere you never supported such issues but that day I felt you put questions on my character.)

"Yeh kya keh rahi ho tum Ishita? Tum kaise khud par yeh ilzaam laga sakti ho? Maine kabhi bhi yeh nahi kaha ki us raat tumhari galti thi, us raat tum galat nahi thi Ishita." (Stop repeating rubbish Ishita. How can you put questions on your character? I cannot imagine blaming you for something like that.)