The Binding String

S I X T E E N

"And I really hate you Ms. To be Ex-Bhalla. You're a thankless woman Ishita. You had everything but you never cared to acknowledge it. Hate is not a good word for you but I feel pity on you."

"Get lost you swine. Just get lost before I smash your face with this vase and yes I hate you more Mr. Ass Bhalla."

A frustrated Ishita threw remaining things laying on bed, continuing to curse him audibly unaware with the fact that her little daughter had witnessed there fight in bits and pieces.

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

"Dadi...suno."
(Dadi I want to ask something.)

"Hmm bol betu."
(Okay then ask.)

"Ladna buri baat hoti hai na?"

(Fighting is not a good thing. Right?)

"Haan. Ladna bohot buri baat hoti hai. Acche log kabhi nahi ladte."
(Yes. It's not a good thing darling. Only bad peoples fight.)

"Matlab jo ladte hai woh acche nahi hote?"
(Means those fight are not good peoples?)

"Aisa nahi hai par acche log baat samjh kar usko solve karte hai."
(It's not like that dear. But good people try to solve things with discussions rather than fighting.)

"Oh. Matlab baat karne se ladai solve ho jaati hai?"
(Oh means discussion can solve any fight?)

"Haan. Vaise meri choti si Roohi itne bade sawal kyon kar rahi hai aaj?" (Yes maybe. By the way why is my little granddaughter asking such big questions today?) Santhosh finally turn off the knob of gas and moved towards Roohi who was sitting over kitchen counter, eating the slice of apple slowly slowly. Santhosh scooped little girl in her arms and took her in TV lounge where her favourite cartoon was playing. Santhosh started to make the girl feed remaining slices of an apple making her sit on her lap.

"Aise hi." (Just like that.) Roohi replied slowly while watching her favourite cartoon but her sadness and disappointed face cannot stayed hidden from her Dadi. Santhosh cupped Roohi face worried to see sadness in little girl eyes. She hugged her tightly recalling the loud shouting noises coming from Ishita Raman room this morning. "Roohi tune kuch dekha kya Puttar? Bata na beta." (Roohi have you listened or saw something?)

"Dadi woh Mumma Papa......" Santhosh raised her brows listening Roohi tentative murmurs, Santhosh continued to study the expressions of young girl who appeared hesitate to speak. Roohi bit her lower lip first and later ran towards her room jumping from her Dadi lap but her actions were enough to make Santhosh worried. She was talking with her daughter Simmi over call she heard some noises coming from adjacent room but she ignored assuming it sounds coming from television or maybe music system from Ishita Raman bedroom but she never assumed the couple arguing and fighting, she certainly didn't expected another fight so soon especially seeing there behaviour in hospital and she decided to have conversation with Ishita and Raman later.

After two hours when Santhosh entered inside Ishita's room her mouth opened with shock finding everything scattered around the room, her foot got stomped with Raman suitcase which was lying on floor, Santhosh tried to adjust her vision but failed due to darkness in room, all she was able to listen mild sobs. She slowly went towards the glass panels and removed the thick curtains to let afternoon light fill the room. Her heart wrenched seeing her daughter in law sitting leaning against headboard, sobbing continously hugging her pillow. She caressed her head slowly making her aware about her presence and in next second she feel her averting her eyes from her.