The Binding String

E I G H T E E N

A sharp pain in the juncture of her neck and shoulder made Ishita sleep disturbed. She immediately sat back continued to rub her neck which has started to pain maybe due to improper posture of sleeping. Ishita checked the watch and found it was just five of morning. She looked at other side and sighted seeing her daughter sleeping at farthest side of bed, cocooned inside her duvet. Ishita face fell recalling the last evening which brought unexpected things in their life. Her words and actions with Roohi were still making her bother. She picked Roohi slowly and make her lay in middle of bed, it was just five and she had two hours to wake little girl up. Yesterday night, after finding herself unable to sleep she came to her daughter room and sat beside her and never realised when sleep engulfed her. None of them ate anything last night especially Roohi, Ishita decided to prepare Roohi's favourite breakfast today and she left the room to start preprations.

After two hours when Ishita entered inside Roohi's room to wake her up, she stopped at doorway finding the girl already awake and making her bed silently. She already arranged her pillows and kept Mintu at his place where the duvet wasn't neatly folded yet she arranged it using the knowledge she had. Ishita continued to observe Roohi who immediately averted her eyes from her and entered inside washroom. Ishita bit her lower lip with guilt recalling the last night when she lashed her daughter badly, her tear striken face still made Ishita restless. She silently kept Roohi uniform on bed and left the room to check the breakfast.

"Neelu you came. Milk packets uthaye bahar se?" Ishita asked Neelu who entered in apartment carrying packets of milk.
(Neelu have you picked packets of milk from outside?)

"Yes bhabhi. Bhabhi there is a packet of bhiya. Neeche reception pe diya. Bhiya kahan hai?"
(Yes. Bhabhi receptionist gave me this packets for bhiya. It look like some official papers. Where is he?)

"Kya pata. Tumhare bhiya kab aate hai kab jaate hai woh kisi ko nahi batate. Tum rakh do wahan table pe. Aayenge tab dekh lenge." (I don't know. He never tells me about his whetherbounds. Just place them in living room. He will check those after coming back.)

Ishita replied with sarcastic voice continued to grill sandwiches. She opened the microwave and kept the idlis on kitchen counter. After ensuring the arrangements Ishita walked towards Roohi's room in order to help her and stood amazed seeing girl trying to dress by her own, the little girl was trying to button her shirt with her small fingers. Ishita leaned herself against door while continued to observe reflection of Roohi who was finding hard in buttoning the shirt. Ishita held Roohi's wrist and made her stand near the bed while she herself sat at one end of bed. She unbuttoned her white shirt and started to button it one by one. Next she made her wear the pleated tunic and then socks. While untangling her long hairs Ishita silently observed Roohi's eyes which looked still gloomy and empty. Ishita bit her lower lip regretting on her own behaviour of last night but found herself unable to face little girl. She finishes braided her hairs and took her out near breakfast table.

"Do you know Roohi. Mumma is so much hungry today. You must be hungry as well. Haina?" Ishita tried to strike conversation with Roohi who was looking at her continuously without blinking her eyes. She bowed her head down instead of replying her mother and continued to play with the free end of her braided hairs. Ishita bit her lower lip and started to serve idlis in dish, "How about having a breakfast for idlis today?" Ishita asked softly making Roohi free the hairs. She tore a piece of idli and dipped it in chutney and forwarded it towards her mouth leaving the little girl shocked.

"Eat it Roohi. You have to go school as well na. Khaao jaldi." Ishita encouraged little girl to eat who was still looking at her without blinking her eyes. Ishita made the girl look towards her and forwarded morsel which she finally ate. A small smile came at corner of Ishita lips seeing her eating the breakfast. Ishita signalled Neelu to finish her breakfast fastly so that she can her to school.