The Binding String

S E V E N T Y

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

Ishita rubbed forehead another time, the loudspeakers were blasting on it's loud volume. She put a paperweight on her papers and closed the windows and than drew thick curtains, one of society member organised jagrata today and since evening the loudspeakers were blasting on their highest volume. Ishita forefinger roamed on the touch pad of her laptop and she adjusted her glasses properly before she start skimming the pdf she was reading earlier. It was already half past ten and the winters are already started she hoped her in-laws don't stay downstairs till late. An empty house used makes her feel uneasy but since the last few months she looks for an opportunity to stay alone and aloof. Her job works as a great escape from the current scenario of her lif, she don't know what she has done if she was a homemaker. Ishita stretched her arms upwards and continued to write down the pointers, it was nearly eleven. She thought to make a call to her in-laws but she stopped herself.

Ishita shut down her laptop once her work finished and placed her papers back in the folder, she turned on the lamps and sighed looking at the bed where her four months daughter was fast asleep. She was avoiding this moment but how long she can do the same, her mother went at her sister place and inlaws went to attend function leaving her daughter in her room.

They named her Roohi.

It was Mihir who suggested this name one fine evening when Mihir and Mihika came to meet them, their was not a single person who disliked this name and why would they do so. There was no point in rejecting this name after they came to know that at the time of Mira naming ceremony Raman randomly blurted his wish to name his daughter Roohi which remained etched in Mihir memory. Ishita chuckled with a sarcasm wondering the girl got the name of her father wish, the same father who is not bothering about her as well. She turned on the heater as she removed her sweater and tucked herself inside the comforter, Roohi was sleeping soundless in the middle. Her small hands and legs were sprawled on her bedding while her head was covered with a cap. Ishita chose to betray her own self looking at her sleeping figure, she looked like an absolute angel in white onesie. She placed extra pillows around her hoping the pillows would provide her warmth and adjusted her head in a comfortable position.

Raman absence is what which made her compelled to come back in her own room, she don't know if she takes it positively or not. She was the one who wanted him to go away from her and he even obliged her demand but she shunned her heart whispers who repetitively asked her to call him. She sometimes wishes to see him taking care of her and Roohi but she knew her wishes were absolutely rubbish. He is a man of no empathy and even her emotions started to die for him. Roohi remsebles a lot like her father whenever she tries to overlook from her past and move forward with Roohi, her resembling face with Raman recalls her everything. She is nowhere at the fault but Roohi presence reminds her of the betrayal she got from her husband. She shouldn't punish her daughter for her husband's mistakes but philosophy and real life are all different, children suffers the mistakes of their parents. She was the one such victim and maybe Roohi is going to be an another victim of the same.

A teardrop trickled down from the corner of her eye, she wiped it with the back of her hand and adjusted her back, all set to sleep but the continuous whimpers caught her attention. Ishita jolted up seeing her daughter wide awake and whimpering, she removed the duvet and realised she spoiled her diapers. Ishita had no such experience to deal with Roohi, her hands trembled when she touched her tiny legs to remove her dress.

"God!! Why no one is at home." Ishita tried to call her mother in law but her phone went unanswered. The soft whimpers started to turn into loud cries making Ishita panic, she tried to hush the little girl but it seemed no use, she patted her chest softly and undid the buttons of her onesie, their maid kept all the necessary things near her bedside, she sanatised her hands before undoing Roohi diapers, Ishita scrunched her nose as the foul smell hit her nostrils. She gently held her tiny legs in upward direction before start cleaning her, she tried to be soft as possible. The cries lessened until now and turned into whimpers. She cleaned her legs properly and wiped them off before making her wear another diaper. Ishita realised she need to change her clothes as well, it was another task for Ishita to lift her fragile body and change her clothes. She is always been frightened when it comes on tsckling little babies, when her nephew was born she avoided lifting him and doing any of his work.