The Binding String

E I G H T Y - F O U R

FEBRUARY, 2017
AKASH GANGA HOUSING SOCIETY, MAYUR VIHAR,
NEW DELHI

"Mummy Ji, ye shor kaisa hai? Kya hua?" Ishita dropped her bag on the sofa looking at her in law's worrisome faces. "Puttar, wo Roohi is missing."

Ishita who was drinking water almost chocked and started to cough. "Missing? Aise kaise missing hai?" A bewildered Ishita replied running her gaze all around, she ran in her in-laws room which was as expected empty. She then checked Romi room where Roohi mostly plays with her uncle, "Mummy Ji, you asked Romi?"

"He is still at college beta." Her father in law replied pacing to and fro in the living room.

"Where was she? I mean in my room or your room?"

"Upstairs." Santhosh mumbled and Ishita took long strides towards her room, her room was the same as she left in the morning, Roohi toys and clothes were still kept at the bedside table. Her pink bedding was kept in the middle of her own bed, she ran her fingers on her soft matteress. A lump formed in her thorat thinking about her six months old daughter, her innocent face started to flash infront of her eyes. Yesterday only she spent hours with her, she pretended to be busy in her work but her eyes were fixed on her innocent face and ears were contended to listen her melodious giggles. The way she giggles whenever someone show her rattle or plays her favourite rhymes on the phone.

"Roo...." She whispered her name in longing filled voice, looking all around. She rushed towards attached washroom and changing room but she was not there as expected. Ishita rushed downstairs and looked at her mother in law who nodded her head in denial.

"Puttar! We have checked CCTV footages of our wing and we didn't found anything suspicious infact only Krishna ji and Pammi went outside in these hours."

Ishita creased her brows as her father in law mentioned their new housemaid and Roohi nanny name. "She isn't at home?"

"No. She went to purchase vegetables and other stuffs." Ishita fetched out her phone and dialled Krishna Ji number which went unanswered.

"Why she is not picking up my call?" Ishita murmured tapping her phone on her palm.

"Puttar she must be walking back. Tu panic na ho!" Her mother in law words made her ear alerted, she realised she was actually panicking and worrying for her little baby whom she never considered her own. Her eyes involuntary welled up thinking about Roohi, she went in her in-laws room and startsd to search her all around. She remembered Roohi flipped last evening when shw was working on her teaching notes. She rushed upstairs another time and crouched down to check if she fell down below the double bed. Her face fell finding her daughter not there, Ishita took her small pillow and caressed it feared what if something wrong happened with her. The sliding door of balcony was also lock from inside hence there was no chance that someone eloped taking Roohi from there.

Raman ko call karoon?

She wondered and dismissed her own idea, he is not even in the city then how would he help her. With heavy steps Ishita came out from her room, at the same time the main door opened and she found Krishna Ji entering carrying two heavy grocery bags along.

"Aunty. Do you know where Roohi is?"

"Beta ji she was sleeping in your room only. I have left her there only."