The Binding String

S E V E N T Y - F O U R

"Do you know about my Mom?"

"Ermm....no." Ishita caught off-guard with sudden question came from Amaaya side, she kept down her phone and shifted her seat closer to little girl.

"I thought you know about her, you know no one in our family likes to talk about her."

"No. I mean I just asked, casually." Ishita shrugged off her shoulder don't know what to say anymore. It was becoming little awkward for her to keep the conversation continue with this little girl. She started tapping her feet on the floor, keep looking for her husband. "It look like you're bored in my company." Ishita felt herself caught as she looked at Amaaya sideways, the girl was passing her judgemental looks which were enough to make her sit consciously.

"No...no....I was just waiting for my husband."

"Hmm and I am waiting for my father." The girl replied with a bored face which eventually made Ishita chuckle on her. She started to feel comfortable around Amaaya and when she was about to order something for Amaaya, her husband entered inside the venue along another man. Ishita stood at her place as Raman walked near her and encircled his arm around her shoulder, "Ishita! Meet Vikram Khanna and Vikram she is Ishita."

"Namaste." Ishita greeted the man standing infront of her, Vikram Khanna is a tall well build man who was standing infront of her wearing beige trouser and pista green shirt, he kept patchy beard which went well along his round face. Ishita wrapped the shawl tighter around her arms then before and scooted closer to Raman, she realised this meeting is already making her feel nervous around him.

"How are you doing Bhabhi?" His voice was deep yet soft, Ishita nodded her head in affirmation as she asked him to take a seat. Vikram went and took a seat next to his daughter who was already grinning looking at her father. "Hey! Your pigtails looks beautiful."

"Yes! Aunty done that. You need to learn from her." Raman chuckled looking at father daughter duo and then adored his wife who was passing nervous smile to him. "Dad! I am hungry, can we eat what you promised?"

"Oh yes! Raman please order Paneer Butter Masala for her, well she wants to eat the same from days." Raman nodded his head and placed the order, the dinner was silent affair for three it was mostly filled with the sweet chatters of Amaaya who was thrilled tasting Indian cuisine and want her father to learn the same. The girl appeared bored with the French dishes her father cooks for her everyday. Ishita wanted to enjoy the cuteness of this little guest for longer time but there was an uneasy feeling lurking around her heart which was enough to make her feel restless, she was not able to get the reason behind the ease her husband Raman was showing along Vikram.

"Hey Amaaya, you know we have organises some fun activities for you on the same floor. Would you like to explore those?" They were having their ice cream when Vikram voice caught her attention. She looked at Amaaya who walked along a female attendant leaving the three alone. Ishita finished her share of ice cream, she wiped off her fingers and decided to take a look of the rooftop lounge area when a tug on her wrist stopped her. Ishita looked back and found her husband staring at her with an expressionless face. She shifted her focus back to Vikram Khanna who was staring at her nervously, he gestured her to take her place back.

"Bhabhi I know you're uncomfortable with our presence. It was not an easy decision for me as well but....."

"But I want it. You deserve to know where everything fell wrong. How our marriage started to fall apart." Ishita bit her lower lip looking at Raman, she decided not to show her fears to him. He is braver than her who has guts to expose his weaker side. "I feel our destiny tests us everytime with difficult situations just to see if we can survive or lost and unfortunately I lost that test and that's how Samaira Khanna entered in our life." Raman was looking at opposite direction when he started speaking, his grip tightened around her hand.