The Binding String

F O R T Y

Ishita consoled to herself and ignored the forwarded link and dialled Raman's number instead. "Hey Raman." Ishita spoke softly as the phone answered from another side.

"Hello wifey. I thought tumhe college mein apne students ke alaawa aur koi yaad hi nahi aata hoga." (Hey wifey. What's up?).She rolled her eyes listening the remark from other side.

"Apart from my students, meri beti bhi hai aur mujhe yeh jaanna hai ki woh aapke paas pohochi bhi hai ya nahi." (There is nothing like that. I just called to enquire about Roohi.) Ishita replied sweetly from other side playing along with him.

"Kaash hume bhi koi Roohi ki tarah poochta." (I wish if you would cared me like you care for her.)
She smiled softly listening his reply in dramatic way and wondered actually he is the one whom she wished in her life knowingly or unknowingly, since beginning.

"Ho gaya aapka? Kahan hai Roohi?" (Where is she?) Instead of replying to Ishita, Raman switched the call to video call and showed their little daughter enjoying her visit at her father luxurious office by squealing and running around. "Raman yeh kya hai. Roohi.....Roohi beta mat bhaago na beta. Mumma ne mana kiya tha na aapko Roohi." (Why she is so running around? She is forbidden from doing so.)

"Mumma!!!!"

"Roohi. Beta Mumma ne mana kiya tha na ki aap nahi bhaagogi. Aapki tabiyat theek nahi hai na beta." (Roohi don't run here and there. Mumma had instructed you not to do so.) Roohi who was jumping like a little bunny by now sat quitely on her father's lap and put her little hands on her mouth to cover her sheepish smile.

"Roohi Papa ko tang nahi karoge aap okay aur time se khaana khaaogi. Haina Roohi." (Don't trouble him honey.)

"Yes Mumma." Roohi nodded her head on affirmation making her two pony tails to wiggle. Raman Ishita smiled together seeing Roohi antiques, nowadays a sight of Roohi was enough for Ishita to forget her worries. She is the fresh breath in air for her, undoubtedly Ishita's dependency was increasing on Roohi's as well. The other chaos related with Raman simply vanished from her mind as soon as she came saw Roohi. Ishita had a free period in middle and Raman also have an hour free before his next meeting start and they decided to take their lunch while conversing over video call. "Raman would you leave her alone?" Ishita asked with concern filled voice as they were in middle of their lunch.

"No. I will try to make her sleep after lunch and moreover I'm going to take the meeting in my chambers itself. I won't leave her alone." Raman assured Ishita with smile and she nodded her head. "Rooh see Mumma is leaving. Wish her bye." Roohi who was watching something on her iPad kept it aside and waved back her mother.

"Don't trouble your Papa honey."

"I won't Mumma. Papa and Roohi are best friends now." Roohi replied with a grin making her mother smile. Ishita waved the father daughter duo and disconnected the video call. Indeed Raman and Roohi bond is adorable she wish if their bond remain intact and no such incident occur which affect her daughter in negative way like what happened with her. Ishita took a deep breath and left to take her class cherishing the conversation happened with Raman and Roohi.

NEXT DAY

Around evening, as soon as Roohi returned from Raman's office, Ishita bore her into a tight hug. Little Roohi peaked her mother cheeks whom she saw her for first time since morning and buried her head in her mother's chest for her amusement. Ishita kept standing at doorway of their apartment hoping to see Raman but when no one came out from elevator she looked at their driver, Sateesh with questioning gaze, "Madam Sir was with us but at downstairs some other car came and he left for somewhere and asked me to take Roohi upstairs and handover car keys to you." Ishita nodded her head in affirmation and took the car keys for Sateesh. She passed Sateesh his two wheeler keys which he parked in common parking area of the society building and took Roohi's bag from him. "Thank you Sateesh." Ishita thanked their driver gratefully and closed the door with Roohi in her arms.