The Only String Attached

6

MAHIR

I was busy working and lost the track of time. It's been one and a half hour and Bela is not back. I don't know to which place she went for walk with Mahira. I called her but she is not answering it. God knows when this girl will learn to answer calls. Well it doesn't matter to her, she has been doing it since two years. I was getting worried, Mahira must be hungry. I heard my door bell ringing and I went to open it. I saw my dad, Bela's dad and Yuvi standing. I gave them way to get inside.

"Where are Bela and Mahira Mahir"? asked my dad.

"She took Mahira with her and went for a walk", I told irritated.

"What happened Mahir bhai, you are looking pissed off", said Yuvi and I glared him

"I'm calling her from past five minutes and she is not answering, only god knows when she will learn to attend calls", I said and heard the door bell ringing again. I expected her this time and went to open the door with full anger. I opened the door and saw her looking at her feet nervously. She came inside and looked at everyone.

"When will you learn how to use a phone", I yelled at her with anger. She flinched with fear. Yuvi came and took Mahira with him.

"If you are having a fucking phone, learn to answer the calls", I yelled at her again. She looked around, gave me an angry look and stormed into her room.

Does she think that I'm a mad person asking her something. She always runs away instead of facing it.

"Fuck...damn it", I cursed under my breath after realizing that I yelled at her very badly.

Dad, Bela's dad and Yuvi were giving me an 'you are impossible kind of look'. I took Mahira from Yuvi and went to my room to feed her. She was a bit cranky before taking the bottle in her mouth because she din't get dry nursing now. With a lot of difficulty she drank milk and drifted to sleep.

"Mahir you have to be patient beta, I know being a father is difficult but you should not yell at her like this", said my dad.

I looked at Bela's dad and saw tears in his eyes. They were tears in his eyes but for me they were reminding me that I'm guilty. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I opened my eyes and looked at them, they were seated on the couch. I went near Bela's dad.

"Uncle I'm really sorry for yelling at her like that", I said with guilty.

"Just think about her situation also Mahir, she will always have an explanation for what she does", said uncle while wiping his tears. He is making me feel more guilty.

"If she really has an explanation, she would have told me why she left before two years", I said feeling disappointed.

"She will give that explanation also when the time comes Mahir, she is not so expressive like others", he said.

"Just let her be in peace for now at least", he said with a sad tone.

"She must be very happy these two years without family and friends", I mocked him.

"Mahir you don't know the reason for that, so don't jump into conclusions for yourself", said my dad warning me.

"Then tell me dad, why no one is telling me about her disappearance , you don't know how Bani used to cry for her at times", I shouted at them.

"You will get to know about it beta, don't stress yourself so much on that matter", said her dad.

"Till how many years uncle? I was waiting since two years and I lost Bani in that phase", I said feeling dejected.

"Yuvi? you and Vyom were trying to tell me something on my wedding day, is it somewhere related about her"? I asked with a hope.

He was shocked when I asked and he looked at Bela's dad. They both were talking through their eyes, I can sense that.