The Binding String

S I X T Y - E I G H T

"Raman I am done taking shower." Ishita went out from their room to call Raman but she barely manage to complete her words, she was shocked finding her sister infront of her.

"See this is the surprise we talked about. Bala, Vandita and your mother going to bring lunch for us."

Ishita smiled with courtesy and welcomed her mother and sister, they looked eager to see Roohi. She gave them space and shared a side hug with her jeeja ji before going towards the temple to lit a diya. Lunch was an affair for the family. They enjoyed a south Indian lunch altogether and also invited Mr and Mrs Mukharjee. Ishita somewhere was pleased, she was happy having her sister and mother showing their availability just for her.

"I want to sit with Roohi for sometime." Madhavi Iyyer announced further, she went in Ishita room to spend sometime with her granddaughter but not even a minute passed and she searched for Ishita.

"What happened Amma?"

"Roohi has woken up and she is looking for you." Ishita was in the laundry area, checking all the clothes before Neelu put them into washing machine.

"Hey Jaan. You woke up?" Ishita took Roohi in her arms, her little girl wrapped her arms around her neck, sobbing uncontrollable.

"Where was you Mumma? Where are we..." Ishita wiped off tears from her cheeks, "Buddhu we are at home. Dekho, it's Mumma Papa room." Roohi wiped off her eyes and looked all around yes it's her parents room. She hugged her mother making Ishita shook her head, "What happened baby?"

"Don't leave me alone."

"Why would I leave you alone Jaan? See who came to meet you." Roohi grinned finding her Paati smiling at her, Madhavi spread her arms, ask Roohi to come to her but the little girl remain clung to her mother. "Chalo, Mumma will give you sponge bath than we will meet with everyone. Paati would you like to join us?" Ishita spoke last line in a babyish tone making Madhavi smile. She agreed to accompany her daughter and granddaughter, it was a sight to behold for Madhavi as well as Vandita to find Ishita diligently fulfilling her duties as a mother. Vandita came looking for her mother but the giggles coming from the dressing room caught her attention and she entered inside the washroom where Ishita was giving sponge bath to Roohi  while narrating stories.

Her mother was standing a few meters away carrying Roohi ointment and clothes. Ishita first dried hwr tiny body carefully before applying medicated cream all over her stitches. She slipped down cotton frock on her body paired with shots. Roohi grinned wearing her favourite frock, twirled around making Ishita gasp.

"Roo.....no masti. Mumma told you na." Ishita faked glare which left Roohi unaffected.

"Mumma let me play! Now we even came back from hospital. You never listen to me." Roohi complained to her mother making a face.

"Amma see her! She never listen to me!" Ishita whined and complained to her mother, leaving Vandita amused. Like Vandita even Madhavi too enjoyed the moment between three generations, she saw reflection of her Ishita in her granddaughter. Her daughter who was sweet and innocent once but her innocence was brutally crumbled by her own family.

"Paati Mumma is not listening to me."

"Amma your granddaughter is not listening to me."

Madhavi came out from her own thoughts realising the banter is still continued. She made a puppy face looking at mother daughter and passed a surrender look, Vandita picked Roohi in her arms making her giggle.

"Shaitan ladki! Pehle khaana Khao phir Mumma se ladna." She took her outside, Ishita and her mother were still present inside the washroom. With a constant smile plastered on her face Ishita started to wipe her hands, she furrowed her brows finding distressed look on her mother face.

"Is everything fine?"

Ishita lately realised she addressed her mother fondly as Amma which she stopped lately, her grudges against her mother are so much that she even stopped herself from seeking her love and support at the moment when she was emotionally vulnerable.

"Yes! It all appears dreamy for me Ishita, the way you're taking care of your daughter and husband is something I always wished to see, you filling duties of a wife and mother. I lost all the hopes to see you happy."

"Yes, afterall this is all about happiness for you."

"Aren't you're happy with this new arrangement? Being a provider?"

"Huh! I wish you can see your daughter beyond these things? Yes I am happy being Raman wife and Roohi mother but trust me Amma I am not doing these things thinking it's as my duty. I am doing it because I genuinely love them.

A woman wants to be loved, not momentarily but for forever.  Not just as a wife, but as a daughter, sister and a friend as well. It took us eight years, eight years to come together and understand how love can impact our lives, it gave us clarity that marriage and family is supposed to be solace not an obligation or duty.

Anyways leave it. I don't think if my words or emotions matters to you even."

Ishita stepped out from the washroom and failed to see mist forming in her eyes and another person who apparently listened to their conversation.