The Binding String

S E V E N

According to Ishita the start of the day couldn't be worser then the same, the sobbing kid, the equally aggressive husband by side and the piercing gazes from her mother and mother in law, apparently nothing had made her feel better. She badly wished to get disappear somewhere instead of bearing those dead glares from her mother.

"You better look at me when I'm talking with you Ishita." Her mother anger filled voice made her flinched. She chose not to look at her but continued to sit at usual place.

"Amma please I'm not a kid." Ishita spoke aloud done with her mother usual rants.

"Neither you know how to handle one." Her mother, Madhvi Iyyer mocked keeping rudeness in her voice. "Pata nahi tum kyon usse itni nafrat karti ho."

"Amma please stop stretching the things. I do not hate her." Ishita replied angrily forgetting the presence of her husband and father in law.

"It's not like that you love her. Do you actually want her in your life?" The single sentence from her mother made her stop her breaths. She dared to look in her mother eyes which were filled with accusations for her, something which wasn't true at all.

"Amma please stop saying wrong things. I am not her enemy is that I was scared for her." Ishita kept her point infront of her mother with honesty.

"There is a way to present your point, children just understand the language of love but not other thing." Madhvi replied continued to throw draggers at her daughter. "Raman Ishita either you learn to handle your daughter or gave her to us. Mind you if you gave her responsibility to me then I will not allow you peoples to see her anymore." Madhvi announced her decision looking at the two guilt filled faces, she passed an assurance filled smile to Omprakash who got up from his seat seeing Santhosh who came out from room taking Roohi along.

"Paati." The uncomfortable silence of the room broke by the honey sweet voice of Roohi who immediately ran towards her grandmother wiping her tears. Madhvi happily took her in her arms and peppered kisses on her little face. "Kaisa hai mera kanna?"

Madhvi tried to make little girl happy but she rested her head on her grandmother shoulder instead of replying anything. Om Prakash caressed Roohi head as she insisted her Dadu to take her in her arms.

"Meri gudiya. Kya kya khaya meri Roohi ne?" Omprakash tickled little girl lightly unable to see her sad face.
(Oh my lovely Roohi. What you ate today?)

"Two aaloo ka paratha." Roohi animtaedly showed her two fingers, her eyes danced with happiness after seeing her favourite persons. Raman who was  sitting next to his father smiled little looking at the little kid who was smiling wholeheartedly almost forgetting the things happened with her few minutes back. Certainly the kids are better than adults, they know how to forget things and move foreword, he wished if he could adapt the same thing from his daughter.

"Roohi, yahan aao." (Roohi come here.) He called Roohi politely after clearing his throat. Little Roohi looked at her her father and then her grandfather with fearful eyes. Does i scare her that much? Raman wondered looking at his little daughter who bend her head down rather than going towards him.

"Hmm so Roohi, aap kyon gaye wahan par?" (Why you went there Roohi?) Raman asked politely making little girl sit on his lap. Madhvi who was sat just by side left the living room just to give a moment to father and daughter.

"Bolo Roohi, aap kyon gaye wahan? Aapko bhook lagi thi toh aapne humse kyon nahi kaha?" (Why you went there baby? You should have ask us.)
Raman asked another time and caressed Roohi's head who was looking at him without blinking her eyes.