The Binding String

N I N T Y - E I G H T

"I know everything, we are living here because of Ishu. If she hates Appa than leave her here, why are you keeping me away from my father?"

"What happened akka?"

"Don't call me akka, this all is happening because of you. Because of you, I have to stay away from my father."

"That's not true akka, we are staying away from him because of his wrongdoings."

"Liar! Liar! Liar! You're just a liar that's why everyone hates you. From the day you arrived, nothing remained same in our lives. I hate you Ishu."

"I am not a lier Akka. Ask Amma, how he used to beat her, ask her he tried to burn her. Ask!"

"Amma! Answer me. Jo Ishu keh rahi hai wo sach hai? Bolo Amma." 

"Amma! She thinks I am a lier. Tell her I am not a lier."

"Amma tell me please."

"Vandu! Nothing happened that night as Ishu told. Yes your parents fought that night and our of rage, your father tried to slap your mother which Ishu saw and misinterpreted. Nothing else."

"Why are you lying paati?"

"She is not lying but you're lying. I hate you Ishu. You're not my sister anymore."

I was stupid that day when I said you're not my sister, I used to think you don't deserve to be my sister but in reality, we never deserved you. How stupid I was. I punished you for the mistakes you never committed. I would never be able to forgive myself, never.

"What is the point of crying now Vandu. You never cared about the one who stood by your side, you actually needed proof to believe in her." Bala sat beside his wife and took the frame from her hand which she was holding since long. A picture from their childhood, faded and crumbled. Their smiling faces looked unaffected with the weight of their parents betrayal, the lies fed by their parents improved nothing but only worsened their relationship and now there is no place left between them.

Neither for love, not for hate.

"I need to talk to her bala."

"And what will you say? You really believe she will forgive you? Aur kyon maaf karna chahiye Ishu ko tumhe?"

Vandita had nothing to say, she bit her lower lip and hid her face weeping silently. "There is no point of crying now Vandu, I have warned you thousand times to think before you act. You failed to see her innocence, you failed as a sister." Vandita cried harder and hugged her husband unable to bear the heartache. "Broken hearts takes time to heal, I don't know how you will cater your relationship with your parents but Ishita definitely needs a time.

Don't rush."

Vandita nodded her head and hugged her husband tighter, still holding their childhood picture close to her chest.

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

A DAY LATER

"Ishita! How much time?"

"Five minutes more."

"That's what I am listening since last thirty minutes." Raman murmured tapping his feet on the floor. He called one of the house help and instructed him to place the boxes in the car. The door looked closed and having no option he went in Roohi room to check her. It's been twenty minutes and the house is all silent which was not going well with him. He peeped inside the room and hit his head with his palms on finding Roohi rolling on the floor with Oreo on the top. These two musketeers cannot be left alone.