The Binding String

T H I R T Y - S I X

"Mumma." Roohi pouted at her Mumma thinking how to deny her.

"Kya hua Roohi?" Ishita asked correcting her cotton frock.

"No one talks with me but." (No one talks with me but ) Roohi whispered sadly looking at other girls who were playing with each other.

"Aapne friendship ki unse?" (You tried to befriend with them?) Ishita further asked and Roohi shake her face in denial.

"Phir kaise hoga baccha? Aao chalo Mumma aapki friendship karwayegi. Aa jaao." (Okay come with me and befriended with them.)  Ishita took Roohi where the kids were playing and befriended her with other girls. She hoped her girl would play and mingle with them and she left to take round of big garden. Ishita started to take slow stroll where she met Shobhna ji and together they started to walk around park. "Where is Roohi?"

"She is playing in small garden. That's why I'm walking here. I hope she would play with them today atleast."

"It's fine dear. She is too young right now. Bacche hote hai thode se shy is umar mein." Shobhna ji patted shoulder of young mother making her smile. "By the way how's Neelu now? She joined job back?"

"Yes from yesterday itself. I can't believe she is facing such issues since months. Pehle bata deti toh shayad itna nahi face karti." Ishita spoke recalling the conversation she had with Neelu yesterday evening.

"Not everyone is comfortable in sharing their personal problems." Shobhna ji stated her opinion behind Neelu's behaviour.

"Yes I agree. Now I'm able to connect dots of past. You know in last few months many times she came on work with limping leg and whenever I asked her the reason she shrugged off saying either she got slipped at her home or stumbled on stone." Ishita shared the information Neelu shared with her. Yesterday when Neelu join her work back Ishita decided to enquire her everything about her sister in law and mother in law and hence the young maid told her that it's happening since long and her limped leg wasn't accidental, it mostly happened due to abuses she was receiving from her in laws but she was happy now. She finally started to live separate from her in laws and looking forward to start a new life with her husband.

"That's too beautiful. I'm happy for her as well." Shobhna ji replied once Ishita finished narrating everything about Neelu. "Should I ask you something Ishita?"

"Sure aunty?"

"Tum ne aur Raman ne? I mean kya socha hai ek doosre ke baare mein?" (Have you thought something about you and Raman?) Shobhna ji sounded hesitate while asking about her divorce proceedings but she dared to ask anyway.

"Wahi jo aapne mujhe samjhaya tha. Agar insaan saamne se koshish kar raha ho toh usko ek mouqa mila chahiye aur ek mouqa khud ko bhi dena chahiye." (Yes the same you taught me. There is no harm in giving person a chance especially when he is making genuine efforts from his side.) Ishita's words bought smile on Shobhna ji face and she patted her shoulder happily. They continued to take walk discussing about their teaching experiences in JNU and Delhi University, the changing dynamics of teaching over a span of three decades. They continued to take walk when Ishita saw Roohi coming towards her carrying her ball with her. Ishita kneeled down to match her daughter height and raised her brows seeing the scowl on her cute face.

"Kya hua? Vaapis kyon aa gayi?" (What happened? Why you returned back from middle?) Ishita rubbed Roohi's back first seeing her panting hard and then make her drink water.