The Binding String

N I N T Y - S I X

"That's not true darling, gender doesn't matters. A baby is a baby, you know how much your parents loves you. Haina?" Mira nodded her head but she still looked unsure. Her gaze fell at doorway and she smiled finding her father standing there along Roohi. He spread his arms and his little girl hugged him tightly.

"I'm sorry papa."

"You don't have to be." Mihir cupped his daughter face and kissed her forehead. The father daughter reconciliation filled Ishita heart with warmth and her smile grew wider finding Roohi sitting along her father, relishing halwa and chocolates.

"Thank you Ishu." Ishita pressed Mihika's shoulder and the friends sat together, resumed their discussion.

**************

FEW HOURS LATER
MAYUR VIHAR, EAST DELHI

Ishita touched her in-laws feet and sat next to her mother in law after keeping groceries in the kitchen counter. She smiled at Sarika who was cooking food in the kitchen, her head was covered with the end of dupatta for her surprise but she said nothing.

"Chachiji. You want to drink tea."

"Hmm make it. It's cold here." She hummed and started making tea and fritters for evening snacks. "Do you always wear such clothes even infront of Toshi Bhabhi?" Ishita took aback and looked at her mother in law with dumbfounded eyes. She was still dressed in jeans and overcoat she wore in the morning and hasn't changed. As they had to drop their parents back at Mayur vihar, Ishita and Roohi decided to accompany them whereas Raman went to his office to complete some urgent work.

"Yes! Mostly." Ishita replied feebly knowing well her reply won't go well with Raman aunt.

"It's okay Manjot! It's quiet cold here and Ishita has some back issues that's why she wear thick and covered clothes to protect herself from the pain." Santhosh shielded her daughter in law and signalled sarika to prepare dishes for everyone. "And even you shouldn't ask Sarika to wear these sarees. Let her wear something warm."

"Bhabhi! It doesn't looks good and even our mother in law never allowed us to wear such modern clothes."

"There were many things which were not allowed at our days does it mean we will impose them on our daughter in law too?" Santhosh smiled at her sister in law leaving her mum. Sarika quietly arranged the table juggling with her saree and pallu which she never wore before. "Come! Let's take snacks and tea." Santhosh invited her for tea and fritters.

"Ishita! Have you checked grocery?"

"Yes Mummy Ji. I have kept lentils to cook, tell me what sabzi you want to eat. I will prepare it."

"No no. I am thinking to cook chicken today. You prepare dal for Roohi, rest I will manage." Ishita nodded her head and started to segregate vegetables needed to prepare curry for chicken.

"Ishita still doesn't cook chicken?"

"No Manjot. Ishita had her own beliefs and I will not force her to go against those."

"Then let Sarika cook chicken."

"I don't know how to cook chicken Maa. I have never done before." Sarika replied in low voice looking at her mother in law. "What fate I had. First the daughter in law is not my choice and now she doesn't know how to cook food." Manjot taunted at her daughter in law enough to fell her face. Ishita felt bad for Sarika but she knew speaking in middle wouldn't be a great idea.

"Chachi! Chachu is calling you. Aapke office se phone aaya hai." Roohi came at Sarika rescue and dragged her along leaving the three alone.

"Manjot! Is this a way to talk with your daughter in law?"

"I'm not wrong bhabhi. When ever I see Romi and Sarika together I feel like to kill myself. They shamed us, I would never forgive that girl."

"You're saying like our Romi was innocent here." Santhosh argued.

"Boys are like this only bhabhi, but if she would be an ethical girl than she would never crossed her boundries. Raman had such big dreams and ambitions for Romi but see what he is doing today.

He had a life threating attack and saved somehow, Raman was planning to send him abroad and look what he is doing now. Working in India and bearing a responsibility of a child. They're unable to take their own responsibility."

"And you think only Sarika is responsible for this mess?"

Manjot remained mum and continued to sip her tea, the doorbell rang and Ishita opened the door only to find her father in law standing there along his younger brother, Shiv Prakash. Ishita touched their feet as they handed her the packets of peanut jaggery bar and some other stuffs.

"Dadu!!" Roohi jumped on her grandfather, elated to meet him after so many days. Ishita turned on the heater continued to do her work, she spotted Sarika standing at the threshold of her room listening everything with moist eyes. Life looks easy but ain't, yes Romi Sarika are working in a reputed law firm, had a kid and are happy together but still a lot is missed.

"Aap log commissioner sahab se milne gaye the na. Kuch pata chala kya?" Ishita sensed the seriousness of situation and sent Roohi back in Romi room.

"Mera shaq sahi nikla, in sab ke peeche Deepak aur Baljeet ka hath hai."

The ladies present there sighed, their doubt came true and the horror they faced last time resurfaced in their old eyes. Another time door bell rang, Ishita looked from key hole and sighed finding Raman standing at other side.

"Papa! Aap log police station gaye the?"

"Haan! Deepak aur Baljeet hi hai is attack ke peeche."

"Hmm jaanta hoon aur wo log abhi bhi Delhi mein hai. Teen din pehle humari society ke aas pas the."

"What!" Om and Shiv exclaimed with horror. "But how they came out from the jail?"

"Due to lack of evidence but don't worry chacha ji, I have deployed a few bodyguards from my team near our apartment in civil dress."

"But they're dangerous Raman." Manjot eyes filled with tears, her anger would never subside but Romi is her son and his safety and happiness is her primary concern. They were discussing the matter when Roohi came running towards Ishita.

"Mumma Papa!! Chachi is crying." Raman Ishita ran towards Romi room and found Sarika crying inconsolable with Romi sat by her side.

"What happened!!" Ishita kneeled infront of Sarika, looking towards Romi with questioning eyes.

"The call!!" Sarika continued to sob showing the last call log. The number was unknown and they were unable to get the meaning behind it.

"There was no office call, Baljeet called her. He is planning to throw another attack on me and bhai.

This time he vouched not to spare me and bhai."

The room filled with gasp, Ishita clutched Raman's hand with fear. "And if he dared to do something than I will kill him in the middle of the road." Raman groaned and left the room dialling few numbers. The home filled with cheers and giggles was now filled with dead silence.

"You won't let anything happen to anyone, right?"

"Trust me! Nothing will happen to us." Raman cupped Ishita face.

He consoled her but he knew the people's behind him shouldn't be taken for granted.

"Puttar! Shall we send Romi and Sarika to abroad?" Manjot voiced her opinion few minutes later when they seated for dinner.

"That wouldn't help Chachiji. How long we will continue to run away?"

"But you was thinking to send them abroad."

"Him!! Yes I had plans but now circumstances are different and they're powerful peoples, they will search then somehow. Running away is definitely not a solution moreover they're not some normal people's, today or tomorrow they will find about them."

Raman continued to eat, lost in some deep thoughts.