The Binding String

S E V E N T Y - O N E

"Aaaoooo.....you will crush me Papa." Roohi whined which didn't affected Raman, he tucked her back inside the duvet and closed his eyes.

"Papa, don't distarct me. I want to know something."

"What!!" He asked, opening his one eye.

"How I came on the side, I was sleeping in the middle." Raman coughed listening his daughter question, meanwhile Ishita too woke up and rested her head on her elbow curious to know the matter going between father and daughter.

"Mumma! Tell me how I end up sleeping there?" Ishita shared a clueless look with Raman and sighed, this kid is becoming smarter with her age. "Babies sleep in the middle, but Papa slept there." Roohi jumped in middle of her parents making them laugh. They snaked their arms around her little frame and closed their eyes. It was just six in the morning and they wanted to grab more sleep.

"Mumma!! I don't want to sleep." Roohi whined and pulled her mother cheeks.

"Roo please. Let us sleep." Ishita tried to pat her little daughter who was not in the mood to listen her mother.

"Mumma! Am I missing something?" Roohi tapped her forefinger dramatically earning a chuckle from her parents. Ishita opened the bedside drawer and pulled out the cap she made last evening. Roohi looked at her mother with horrified eyes and than at her father who was enjoying Roohi hilarious expression.

"Uiiiii baap le.....aaj toh Papa ka happy bilth....day hai." Roohi lunged upon her father making Raman laugh loudly, he bore his little cookie in a tight hug before nuzzling his nose in her tummy.

"You forgot Papa birthday?"

"I didn't Papa, Mumma didn't woke me up." Roohi battled her eyelids making Raman laugh harder. "You like the card and the cap?"

"Yes darling. I absolutely loved it. Thank you."

"I love you Papa." Roohi cupped her father face, her small palms were not able to cover her father cheeks but she wanted to show all the love she carries for him.

"I love you too meri Jaan." Raman replied earnestly, it's going to be a memorable birthday for him. He asked Ishita to join him and they bore Roohi in a tight hug. She bounced few minutes later and rushed outside calling her grandparents name, Raman Ishita shared a chuckle knowing well this little brat is not going to sleep them.

********************

Roohi chirpiness was able to wake everyone up before the time, their little mice was excited to celebrate her father birthday in the best possible manner. She was excited to watch her grandmother who was preparing her father favourite dishes and her mother was helping her. The aromatic smell of paneer Paratha with ginger tea was filled in the entire living room. Ishita Raman invited Mr and Mrs Aurobindo for breakfast as well.

"Mumma! Where we will take Papa today? He will stay with us na? We will take him to park and then we will do a party haina chachu!!"

"Han meri Maa! We will do whatever our Roohi wish." Mihir spoke from the distance, Raman who finished taking call from his associates picked Roohi in his arms and twirled her around. "Such a lively house this is. Ishita Puttar, I am so happy for three of you. Go and lit the diya infront of matarani." Ishita nodded her head and went towards the small temple set up by her mother in law, she covered her head with the end of her sari lit the matchstick which soon extinuguish. She found the windows open and sighed, Ishita was about to move towards the balcony when Raman came from behind and covered her hand with his own. The matchstick didn't extinguish this time and they managed to lit the diya infront of God. "Happy Birthday." Ishita held his hand, she applied small kumkum on his forehead. Her misty eyes were enough to convey her unsaid emotions. Raman knew Ishita is not good with expressions either but now he learnt to read her eyes.

"Mumma!!!! I want red dot as well." Ishita chuckled looking at roohi who was jumping to gain her attention. She kneeled down infront of her and applied little kumkum on her forehead. "Chalo Puttar!! Breakfast karne aa jaao." And the three moved towards dining area to enjoy the Punjabi breakfast. Two hours later Raman, Ishita along Mihir were present in the campus of the PSR Globals premises, the garden spread in the acres was decorated to celebrate their CEO Birthday. Raman was dressed in a three piece Armani whereas Ishita chose a striped chiffon saree for occasion, the board members and the investors were also guest of this celebration. Today, PSR is going to inaugurate their new buildings and warehouses. Indeed RKB is popular and favourite of entire PSR Globals Family and Ishita can feel that. Raman who was talking with one of the board member, asked Ishita to join him.

"Raman Ishita you two looks great together. You better bring her with you." Raman nodded his head looking at his wife, his seniors wives are fond of Ishita. Everything was going smooth but someone standing at afar caught his eye.

Samaira Khanna was standing at the distance with the rose bouquet.