The Binding String

S E V E N T Y - S I X

"You can tell me Mumma.Are you missing Papa? You can tell me Mumma." Ishita bit her lower lip to suppress the overwhelming emotion. The way her dear daughter cares for her was enough to make her teary eyed. "Nothing, I am

"Hmm ye Ravan Kumar.....humesha Mumma ko ruka dete hai. Mumma...hum na Ravan Kumar ko punish karenge." (This Ravan Kumar always makes you cry. We will punish him once he will be back.) Roohi danced her eyes making animated face, her actions were making her laugh continuously making her forgot all her worries and anxiety. "Roo Papa ko aisa nahi kehte, aur wo aapse kitna pyar karte hai." (Roo don't say anything wrong for Papa, he loves you alot.) Ishita lightly scolded Roohi, she cannot let her innocent daughter create a bad image of her father in her head.

"Hmm even I love him but I love you as well and he made you cry. I will ask him not to go for office work for longgg days." Ishita nodded her head keep adoring her daughter. "Mumma agar aap Papa se gussa ho na toh unko punish kar dena but unse baat karna band mat karna. Pehle jab aap dono baat nahi karte the na, toh koi bhi ghar mein happy nahi rehta tha par ab hum sab happy happy rehte hai." (Mumma if you're upset with papa then please punish him but don't stop talking with him. When you were not talking with each other, everything used to be bad but now as you talk with each other I feel happy all the time.) The next line from Roohi was enough to out her into guilt of ignoring her innocent daughter and punishing her for no reason. She hugged her tightly than before and planted kisses across her face.

"I promise Roo, no one will stop talking and this home will always remain happy place for us. Our small heaven." She arranged her toys around her pillow neatly realising it's nearing midnight. "Chalo ab no more masti, let's sleep now."

"I am not sleepy Mama." Roohi protested not ready to sleep, "And you're still upset. Wait I am coming."

"I ain't darling." Roohi observed her mother face for few seconds and jumped down from the bed leaving her mother confused. Before Ishita could go and check her she found her entering back inside the room holding an ice-cream tub along two spoons. She passed the tub to her mother and climbed back after taking her iPad. "Let's watch movie Mumma. Maza aayega." The mother daughter duo dimmed the lights and snuggled against each other, they were enough for each other and the each other presence was enough for forget all the worries. The movie of animated Pinocchio was playing on the screen and Ishita and Roohi enjoyed the movie along the icecream tub.

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NEXT EVENING
DR. SUPRIYA IYENGER

PLATINUM ENCLAVE, ROHINI, NEW DELHI

Ishita took a look around as she kept her handbag over the bench. They were sitting in the common garden of the Platinum Enclave apartments, Ishita called Neelu and handed her the bag in which she keep all the necessities related to Roohi, "Neelu don't let her run around and feed her if she feels hungry. My meeting might stretch longer, incase Roo get cranky, inform me." Neelu nodded her head in affirmation and left at other side Ishita looked at Dr. Surpriya and passed her a grateful smile.

"Thanks for giving me time apart from your duty hours but it was tough for me to meet you along my daughter. I cannot leave her alone and children are not allowed at your office."

"I understand Dr. Ishita and it's fine. Actually my kids are at their grandparents place and husband is not at town so I was kinda free today hence I agreed for home visit." Ishita nodded her head, her one eye was still stuck at her daughter who was playing along her ball. "So Ishita. Tell me how can I help you." Ishita replied nothing but handed her the legal papers along a brown cover. Dr. Supruya skimmed the papers and handed them back to Ishita, she wanted to know what exactly her old client want now.