The Binding String

E I G H T E E N

Roohi was pleasantly surprised today, she haven't expected Mumma in her room especially after last night. Her heart was scared from her Mumma and Papa, she always wondered why does her Mumma papa fight, she never saw her Dadi Dadu fighting nor her Mihika aunty and Mihir chachu then why does only Mumma papa fight with each other. She wished to run school hurriedly or stay with Dadi but didn't expected Mumma in her room. Earlier she was scared from Mumma but she was happy when her Mumma braided her hairs and made her feed breakfast. She wished to eat food from her Mumma hands like her all friends does. She wanted to show everyone that her Mumma is same like everyone's Mumma but her face fell when her Mumma phone started to vibrate and she went inside instructing Neelu didi to make her finish the breakfast.

"Neelu didi mujhe nahi khaana yeh. Chalo school chalte hai." Roohi spoke with teary eyes looking at her Neelu didi and pulled her towards the door after taking her bag.
(Neelu didi I don't want to have breakfast. Let's go to school.)

"But breakfast toh kar lo Roohi." Neelu tried to stop little girl who already ran outside.
(But going empty stomach is not a good thing Roohi. Finish one idli atleast.)

"Aap chalo bas." (No I don't want it. Let's go to school.)  Roohi didn't gave chance Neelu to speak and dragged her towards elevator without giving her chance to pick her lunchbox. Otherside as Ishita received her phone she received pleasant shock finding Dr. Shalini Iyengar on other side.

"Good Morning doctor." Ishita greeted doctor politely wondering why she called her in such early hours.

"Ishita my morning slot is free so I was wondering if you can come for your another session."

"Oh, okay as you say but Raman is not in town." Ishita decided to lie rather than discussing the previous evening.

"It's okay you can come alone. So I will see you by ten." Ishita hummed in response and disconnected the call. She smacked her head looking at watch, it was already quarter to eight. When she reached in dining hall she frowned finding it empty.

"Neelu where are you? Roohi kahan hai?" Ishita bombarded her questions on Neelu in single go as soon as she picked the call.

"Bhabhi she forced me to come to school. I just dropped her." Neelu reply disappointed Ishita. She looked at the dish which still had Roohi's unfinished breakfast and the tiffin she didn't took with her. Ishita own hunger died realising Roohi didn't ate anything. She kept the food back on kitchen counter and went to take quick bath. Around twenty minutes when Ishita came out from bath, Neelu rang the doorbell. Ishita helped her in putting vegetables on kitchen counter and started to prepare coffee for herself.

"Sorry bhabhi I really tried to make Roohi finish breakfast but usne meri suni hi nahi."

"It's okay Neelu. Mujhe lagta tha shayad Roohi apne Papa par gayi hai par ab pata chala ki kai maamlo mein woh mujh par gayi hai. Jab mujhe gussa aata hai tab main bhi aise khana nahi khaati." (It's okay Neelu. Earlier I used to think she is like her father but today she made me realised she is somewhere like me as well. Even I used to skip meals if I'm angry from  someone.) Neelu chuckled listening Roohi's antiques and started dusting. "Neelu do not throw those papers. Just keep them safely." Ishita stopped Neelu who was about to throw the crumbled piece of papers in dustbin. Neelu looked at her bhabhi with confusion first, later shrugged her shoulders and kept the pieces at nearby table. Otherside Ishita hurriedly finished her coffee and silently picked the paper pieces she crumbled mercilessly last evening and entered into Roohi's room straightly. She sat on bed and tried to give the pieces shape as they were before. The little girl had made 3D birds with papers which looked perfect in itself. It was hard to belive that a four year old girl could make those with so much fineness. Ishita continued to give them shape with moist eyes and silently kept them back in Roohi's almirah.