The Binding String

S I X T E E N

"Yeh kya haal bana rakha hai tune Ishita?"
(What you did with yourself Ishita?)

"Sorry Mummy Ji. Main yeh room...saaf kar doongi. I'm sorry."
(Oh the room? I'm sorry. I will clean it.)

"Main kamre ki nahi teri baat kar rahi hoon."
(I'm not talking about room. I'm talking about you Ishita.)

"Main theek hoon Mummy Ji."
(I'm fine Mummy Ji.)

Santhosh lifted Ishita face and forced her to look into her eyes, Ishita averted her eyes unable to meet her eyes with her mother in law. Instead of answering her questions she hugged her tightly and buried her head in crook of her neck making the lady worried. Santhosh patted Ishita head who was sobbing continously without saying anything. "Bolo na Ishita kya hua hai?" (Tell me if something happened with you.)

"Kuch nahi bas. Aise hi. Amma ki yaad aa gayi." Ishita whispered somehow sobbing continously, overwhelmed with everything going in her life.
(Nothing Mummy Ji. Just missing Amma.)

"Main bhi toh meri Maa hoon na. Phir kyon ro rahi hai tu?" (Even I'm your mother Ishita. Please don't cry.) Santhosh caressed her head making Ishita eyes welled up more. Ishita held Santhosh hands going emotional seeing the pure love in her mother in law eyes.

"Why do you love me so much Mummy Ji? I do not deserve your love." Ishita whispered with hoarse voice wiping her cheeks, "I broke your dream. I broke the dream of happy family you wished for Raman. Your only son is unhappy in his life because of me. You should not love me Mummy Ji. You should hate me." Ishita cried bitterly embracing Santhosh who continued to pat her trying to understand the meaning behind Ishita words.

"I am angry with you but I cannot hate you Ishita. I'm angry with you for the way you treat my Roohi but I'm not angry with you for your and Raman relations. Ishita I don't know what is the issue between you peoples have but yes I know there is always two needed to break any relationship. For me you and Raman are equally responsible for your broken marriage. Trust me I'm not upset with you for it. I accepted you as my daughter the day you got married with Raman and our relations is going to continue despite all odds. I am your mother and nothing can change the fact." Ishita looked into Santhosh eyes continously, her filled with pride and happiness having wonderful mother in law for herself. She bit her lower lip, trying to suppress her emotions but she failed after few seconds and hugged Santhosh another time, trying to relieve her broken heart.

"My accident happened but Amma didn't came to meet me for once. Why does she hate me so much?"

"She does not hate you darling. She is just upset with you." Santhosh consoled Ishita who was wailing like a little child.

"She does. I'm not good enough to love. Everyone says same." Santhosh sighted seeing Ishita emotional and crying. She didn't know what exactly took over the girl but her tears conveyed the pain she is carrying in her heart. Santhosh made Ishita drink water and patted her head until her cries lessened down. She decided to remain seated with Ishita to make her feel better. She knows Ishita is a wonderful girl, all in these years she never disobeyed her, always did the things which meant best for everyone. Maybe she hated the concept of marriage earlier but after her marriage she never ran away from her duties until the fractions started to develop between Raman and Ishita. It's still indigestible for Santhosh that her son and daughter in law are adamant to take divorce. Raman Ishita seemed perfect to Santhosh, the thought of divorce itself makes her cringe and does not wish to see it turning into reality. Suddenly her attention fell on the broken phone of Ishita which she was clutching tightly in her fist still crying without telling her real reason.