The Binding String

O N E - H U N D R E D - O N E

If I didn't love her then I would never stay back here.

Ishita heart screamed looking at her daughter smiling face. The world feels she doesn't love her daughter but how she suppose to tell them she never sleeps until she ensures her comfort. She woke up at night again and again just to check her diapers, she keeps an eye check on all the staff members who takes care of her. Yes she never holds her, she never fed her but she do love her. Her daughter is a part of her flesh and blood, how couldn't she love her then but her presence reminds her how vulnerable life can be. She was never a desired baby, rather the pregnancy imposed upon her.

"Oh God look. What she has done." Madhavi started to laugh on Roohi, her face was covered with the juice. The juice taste sweeter and Roohi apparently tried to drink it but ended up emptying the glass on her. She was cutely trying to taste the remainings of the juice on her lips and mouth by making her tongue dance around. Her sweater and dress got colored in orange making her look cute and hilarious at the same time.

"Amma!! Why you gave her the glass of juice." Ishita scolded her mother as an act of impluse and took Roohi in her arms. The little baby continued to make noise whereas Ishita made her lay on the sofa and started to change her dress, she first cleaned her face with wet tissue and kept her soiled clothes aside.

"Aeeeeebabadadaa...." Roohi squealed and tried to crawl close to the table when Ishita moved at other side to take out her clothes.

"Ishita!! Watch out." Both Ishita and Madhavi almost got startlet as a loud voice boomed in the living room. It was Raman who held Roohi in the nick of the time who was about to fell down from the sofa.

"Kanna!! You came at right time." Madhavi sighed with relief seeing Roohi in her father arms who looked like enjoying the heroic act of her father and started to clap.
"Paaaapaaaa." She called his name cutely making everyone smile. He sat next to Ishita and made her wear pants and then frock Ishita picked for her. "How was your office dear."

"Good Amma. Now I am little relieved, the last one year was hectic for me but now everything is smooth." Raman smiled still holding Roohi in his arms.

"She has started looking like you Raman." He smiled a little admiring his little daughter who is indeed his replica but for him she is her mother's shadow but every time he takes her in his arms the truth pains him. He hurt her mother alot and still doing the same and the guilt never allows him to settle down. Everytime Raman take her in his arms his heart ache and mind accuse him for all his wrong doings he had done with Ishita.

"Amma! I will be back." He handed roohi back to Madhavi and went upstairs to change leaving the mother daughter duo alone.

"How long you will continue this Ishu?"

"What Amma?"

"This!! Your behaviour with your daughter? How long you will continue to ignore your daughter?"

"I'm not ignoring her Amma."

"You're not acting like a mother too, just look at her once. Don't you feel like to adore her, pamper her even once. You know how she survived, you must take care of her. Be thankful of murgan that he blessed you with wonderful husband and in-laws. They are loving and kind towards you."

"Amma!! I'm seriously not able to understand your problem. Your demands and expectations are never ending Amma. First you wanted me to get married, then you wished me to have a child and now you want me to take care of her as well and you know I cannot do it. Isn't it's enough that I have given birth to her?