The Binding String

T W E N T Y - T W O

Does it happen daily or today is exceptional? Ishita wondered pacing too and fro in the dining area with worrisome face. She was confused whom she can ask, before she could think more she found Raman entering inside apartment with slumped shoulders, carrying his laptop bag on one shoulder and business suit on another arm.

"Kya hua? Aise kyon chakkar laga rahi ho?" (Why are you pacing too and fro?)

"Roohi aaj phir so gayi aur lunch bhi nahi khaakar aayi." (Roohi slept early again and she didn't finished her lunch as well.) She showed him the lunch box filled with aloo paratha's and pickle they kept in morning. Raman scartched his left brow seeing the tiffin untouched and then looked at Ishita who was tapping her foot continously.

"Maybe usko mann nahi hoga ya phir day boarding mein kuch khaya hoga usne. Itna kyon soch rahi ho." (Maybe she didn't felt like to or she ate something in day boarding.)

"But.."

"Ishita bacchi hai woh, chaar saal ki. Nahi hua hoga khaane ka mann toh nahi khaya hoga." (Ishita she is just four years old child. Maybe she didn't feel like to eat.) Raman replied casually sprawling himself on three seater sofa.

"Mummy Ji bhi keh rahi thi ki Roohi ko akele khaana khana nahi pasand hai. I think hume jaldi ghar aane ke baare mein sochna chahiye." (Mummy Ji told me she didn't enjoy eating alone. I think we should try to return back early from our works.) Ishita proposed the possible best idea came in her mind as a solution.

"I can try but main promise nahi kar sakta." Raman replied with closed eyes.

"Shayad tumne kal raat hi promise kiya tha ki hum try karenge." (I guess you made promise about same yesterday only.) She pulled him through his arm making him open his eyes.

"Haan toh main keh toh raha hoon ki main try karoonga. You know how much busy I'm. Main kaise karoonga yaar, I'm CEO now. I have thousands of things to manage its nearly impossible for me to return home early everyday."

"You meant I'm free here. Even I have things to manage Raman. The mid terms are already begun at university, even I have chores to finish but I'm trying right."

"Yes you are trying. Just like me." He emphasised trying to make his point correct. "Moreover Ishita an efforts from mother should always be more than an efforts of father." He murmured and loosened his tie.

"You know I hate this male chauvinism Raman." Ishita gritted her teeth with irritation.

"Just enough of it now. Have you prepared the dinner?" He immediately diverted the issue as a part of his usual habit.

"Not yet."

"Good then. Get ready fast. We will dine outside today. Roohi will also get some change." Raman entered inside his room without caring to listen her response. Ishita wasn't convinced with idea of dining out, she was still exhausted with last day but maybe a change would help better. Roohi is a small child and who knows she got bored with regular food, a change may make her feel better. She changed into something casual and woke up Roohi to make her ready. The couple expected some excitement from Roohi but she remained quite through entire ride and while dinner as well.

"Roohi likes chinese but she didn't showed any excitement today like the way Maa told me." Ishita spoke later while returning back from hotel, she glanced at backseat where Roohi was seated quietly looking outside from car.

"Usse baat karke dekhe kya." (Should we try talking with her?) Raman whispered back driving carefully. Ishita nodded her head eagerly waiting to reach home. The restaurant was an hour away from there society and the roads were badly crowded to move an inch. The car remained silent and the couple chose to glue there eyes on road instead of continuing the conversation. After few minutes when Ishita looked back she sighted finding Roohi dozing off, resting her head over glass window. She nudged Raman and passed same expressions as her but gestured her to stay silent.
"Raman we cannot let her sleep like that." Ishita whispered in hushed tone once he parked his BMW at designated spot.