The Binding String

S E V E N T E E N

"Answer me you did that?" Her voice was stern and angry.

"Mumma woh...."

"Shut up!!!! How can you do that Roohi. How can you be so ill mannered." Ishita screamed with frustration making the girl petite body shook completely. She continued to stare at the shredded papers and then looked at Roohi who was trying to wriggle out from her strong grip. Her anger rose to another level seeing her attempt to run out from her grip. She held her both arms this time, more tightly than before and pulled her towards her, "Roohi stop making me more mad on you."

"Mumma....please...."

The seething anger inside Ishita didn't allowed her to see the traumatised face of her daughter, her ears refused to listen the unsaid words of Roohi which she never dared to utter.

"Mumma but maine kuch nahi kiya....."

"Oh god!!!! Audacity of this girl." Ishita pressed the girl cheeks with anger didn't let her finish, "Not anymore Roohi. Do you know how much it's going to cost me. Can't you even ask from me for once? No wonder you're just like your father. Reckless. And stop crying first of all. Stop streaming down your tears and go away from my sight." Ishita jerked off  girl hand rudely making her broke down in silent tears which never reached to her mother ears. The anger blinded mother crumbled and torn the things Roohi crafted with enthusiasm and dumped them into dustbin. She snatched the iPad and shoved it in one of the drawer of cabinet. Ishita hurriedly started to check the remaining answer sheets and realised it thankfully it was just two answer sheets which she ripped out of fifty. The damage couldn't be undone but somewhere she was glad atleast the damage was less. Before Ishita could shift her attention back to Roohi a loud knock on door made her distracted. She went to open the door and found the unexpected presence.

"Subbu. What a pleasant surprise." Ishita tried not to show her upset face to her colleague whom she saw after long time. She welcomed him and made him sit in living room, the lounge was farsighted from the place subbu was seated and she was glad that Roohi and her ruckus was away from visitors sight. Ishita shifted her seat nervously looking at subbu who came at her place with a cover.

"Ishita this is from university, some official papers regarding upcoming seminars and departmental activities. Actually I was passing from here so I thought to handover you personally." Ishita accepted the cover and kept it on coffee table. She passed him a glass of water and they remained seated in uncomfortable silence until subbu phone rang and he asked her permission to leave. Ishita bid him a bye and took few steps towards TV lounge when another knock on gate made her turn back, she expected Neelu this time but the color of her face drained finding another unexpected person this time.

"Raman."

"Was you expecting someone else? Maybe your lover."

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

AN HOUR BACK.

Raman Bhalla was unable to keep himself calm anymore, the words he heard wasn't helping him to stay calmed. Raman wished to thrash every dammit car which was blocking his road towards his apartment. He never imagined if a distance of a month can bring so much changes in his life. A month back when he departed for business trip he went with a hope of meddle relationship with his wife, the night he shared with her after coming back from party was the only thing which helped him in surviving for four weeks away from his family. While coming back his MD and other board of directors from Singapore he promises himself to give another chance to his marriage, the relationship which lost its spark somewhere but one single word from her mouth left everything what he had planned for them. Appearently she doesn't need him anymore, and even he should atop thinking about her.