The Binding String

F I F T Y - N I N E

"Yes I do." She lied, she forgot to have her food today, already she is having meal once in a day but after coming across Roohi surgery date and eavesdropping her mother conversation, she was so much occupied with her own thoughts that food remained forgotten affairs for her. She closed her eyes hoping sleep would consume her, his soft pats acted like a lullaby on her. She knew sleep might not come to her way today but still she remained laid in his arms. An hour later, Ishita opened her eyes and found Raman sleeping peacefully at the spare bed. She caressed Roohi head and than moved out without making any noise. Her feet took her towards the NICU Unit of the hospital, just like another night no one was present there except a guard. She remained stood outside, her eyes were fixed at the little toddler surrounded with tubes, fighting for his life. Ishita fingers glided through the glass panel, like she tried to caress the face of little baby who was barely visible due to heavy tubes and wires. Last time she came here to dread on her past but Raman stopped her but today she wanted to mourn on her past. The days where no one tried to understand her, the blessing she named curse.

She felt tears depict weakness but sometimes there is no substitute of tears. That's her pain and she want to let it off from her chest without anyone's back as support.

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YEAR 2016
SUMMERS,AKASH GANGA HOUSING SOCIETY, MAYUR VIHAR PHASE - 2
NEW DELHI

"Aunty ji Prasad lijiye."

"Thank you Puttar. Aaj ki arrangment bohot hi changi si." Ishita smiled at her neighbour Parmindar Chaddha and moved towards other guests to serve offerings to them. "Are Ishita, sharbat khatam ho gaya kya?"

"Nahi Simmi Di, fridge mei aur hai. Mai aakar nikalti hoon." Ishita moved back towards kitchen and helped her sister in law serving the glasses of sharbat. It's her father in law retirement party today and she arranged entire function by her own, they had a mata ki chowki today morning followed by a dinner arranged for family and friends at rooftop. Ishita is not religious lady but her in-laws believe on almighty and she made sure to arrange everything according to their liking. She served sharbat and offerings to the guests and than went towards her mother in law who was busy in gossiping with her kitty friends.

"Mummy Ji, your medicines." Ishita handed the blood pressure medicines to her mother in law making her laugh. "Toshi bahu ho toh teri jaisi."

"Bilkul." Santhosh smiled at her friends and looked back at Ishita who was attending other guests, gracefully handling everything by her own. There is no dull moment in their life when Ishita is with them. "Toshi, sab accha hai ab bas tere ghar good news aa jaaye." Santhosh Bhalla friends poked to her, she smiled in the response and remained mum.

"Oye aana hoga jab aa jayega. Mata Rani bohot pyara baccha degi mere baccho ko isliye samay lag raha hai." Santhosh defended Ishita, she was mad at Ishita earlier but one came day Ishita came to her and explained her health issues with patience. An educated lady Santhosh understood the complications Ishita was facing post nervous breakdown. Ishita is a lovely girl and she would be able to bear if something happened to her.
"Can't beleive if Ishita arranged everything by her own." Santhosh acknowledged Madhavi Iyyer who just arrived along her elder daughter and son in law.

"She is my daughter in law, best in everything. Puttar!! See who came to meet you." Ishita adjusted her saree and walked towards her mother, she shared a hug with her mother and sister and offered cold drinks to them. "Raman kaha hai?"

"There. With his boss and Mihir." Ishita pointed at the other side of the roof where Raman back can be seen. "When he returned back?" Bala asked further, holding the glass of cold drink in his hand.