The Binding String

T H I R T Y - F I V E

Next Day

"Mumma see I finished the page." Roohi called her mother in elated voice.

"Oh wow! Show me." Ishita kept the book aside she was reading and took the cursive handwriting workbook from Roohi. She did an appreciating work this time, as she taught her. The letters were not written out of four lines and she did a nice job in copying the letters written above.

"Good girl. Now we will write one page of hindi workbook okay." Ishita passed her the hindi workbook and asked her to start writing it.

"Mumma. I have to write so much in hindi." Roohi pouted with puppy eyes hoping her Mumma would assign her something else instead of it or better ask her to watch cartoon.

"No Rooh. You know the good students are one who always do the work teachers assign. You're a good girl right?" Roohi instantly nodded her head in affirmation, in an attempt to prove herself best in her mother's eyes. She started to copy the letter slowly in the blank column otherside Ishita resumed reading the book and started to make notes for the research paper she was writing earlier. It became a part of routine for Ishita and Roohi to sit and study together where Neelu will prepare the food for evening and they try to wrap up their work before Raman returns back. They resumed their work while munching snacks in between until Roohi spoke up again, "Mumma! Where is Paati? It's been long since we talked to her. You know, we even tried her number but it didn't connected."

"Accha! Do you know her number?"

"No. Papa dialled her number for me, last evening when I was playing with dollhouse. I want to show her my dollhouse. Where is Paati Mumma?" Ishita looked at her daughter with clueless expression, wondering what reply she can give to her daughter when she herself had no idea where her mother is, "She is fine dear. She is not in Delhi na, she went to visit temples along her friends, maybe that's why her phone is not reachable." Ishita made excuse knowing very well how much her daughter is attached with her grandparents and the news of having no contact with her grandmother may upset her.

"Accha Mumma you try dialing her number na. We will do video calling and than I will show her my dollhouse as well." Ishita nodded her head in affirmation and try to do video calling through watsapp which came unanswered like usual. Next she dialled her number which came unreachable as well, "sorry dear look like paati is busy, we will try to call her at night and we will also call Dadi today than you can show her your new dollhouse."

"Okay Mumma." Roohi squealed with delight and hurriedly finished the page she was writing earlier. Ishita was observing Roohi's work when the doorbell rang and they knew who must be at doorway. "Mumma Papa must be here. I will open the door." Roohi spoke with delight and jumped down from chair to open the door followed by Ishita. "Roohi. Ruko baba. Your hands will not reach till knob. Moreover Papa will come late today." Ishita knew her words were going into deaf ears and she remained stood few steps away giggling seeing her daughter attempts to reach till door knob.

"Mumma it's not opening." Ishita passed i-told-you look to Roohi and lifted her so that she can open the door and as Ishita expected Roohi's face fell with disappointment finding Neelu didi stood at doorway carrying bag of vegetables along. Roohi lips curled down in disappointment and she ran inside making Ishita shake her head unbelievably, "Where was you Neelu? You took time more than usual." Ishita questioned Neelu taking the vegetable bags from her hands.

"Sorry Bhabhi." Ishita felt something odd from her dull voice but she didn't felt right to question her anyway. Ishita asked Neelu to have a glass of water first before preparing for dinner and she herself came out in her balcony picking up her mobile phone. From last so many days she is trying to contact her mother about whom she had no clue, she also tried Bala Jeeju number which usually comes unreachable, Ishita and her elder sister Vandita always had clashes mainly due to differences in ideologies but she never thought if their differences in ideologies would create so much differences in between the sisters as well as between mother and daughter. Many times she had thought to discuss same with Raman but like always she didn't feel like to involve him with her matters, especially the matter related with her family. She dialled her mother mobile number another time which fortunately received by her.