The Binding String

N I N T Y - T W O

Finished writing this chapter ten days back but forget to update.
Sorry 🥴

_______________________________

"Papa kya hum poore ghar mein lights lagayenge."

"Haan beta."

"Par lights kyon kagate hai? Humare ghar mein toh kitni saari lights hai na pehle se."

"Dekho is din lord Rama apne ghar ayodhya vapis aaye the, isliye sab logo ne diye jala kar unka welcome kiya tha. Isliye ise festival of lights bhi kehte hai." 
The father daughter duo were in the balcony and decorating it with fairy lights, roohi was helping her father by holding the roll of lights, following him everywhere. They put lights around the flower pots as well as swing too, the entire house was done revamping but Raman wanted to do the balcony makeover by himself and he got the time on the morning of festival only. It's been two days since Romi and Sarika shifted back to their place, he is doing comparatively better but still Romi injuries were serious and he is going to take months to recover. They have lodged police complaint but Raman knew a mere police complaint would not be enough.

Sooner or later they have to face her brothers and parents.

"See it's done." Roohi jumped at her place and clapped finding the lights all around, she held her father hand and both came back inside and the apartment was whole chaotic. His wife and mother were running here and there, doing things by their own so that they can make the festival grand. Other side toddler Rohit was playing along Oreo or better said following him tailing behind him.

"Papa, I am unable to get if Oreo is running behind or vice versa." Roohi rested her hands on her hips making Raman chuckle. He joined his daughter and the father daughter duo set along enjoying the chaotic morning of Diwali festival. It's been years since they celebrated any festival as a family, they have been together before but the strains in their relationship didn't allow them to celebrate the festival whole heartedly and the festivals after Roohi birth were mere a formality for the sake of their family. Raman remembered celebrating first diwali with Roohi, she was a fragile baby that time, just three months old. The couple wasn't intrested in celebrating any festival but that day they didn't have choice, it was first big festival after her birth and their parents were visibly excited to celebrate this festival.

NOVEMBER 2016
AKASH GANGA HOUSING
SOCIETY, MAYUR VIHAR
NEW DELHI

Raman helped Romi in decorating the lights and rearranging the furniture, the hall looked spacious for the evening Pooja and gathering.

"Bhai, we are going to make this diwali memorable. Haina?"

"Hmm." Raman nodded his head, his longing eyes were stuck at his wife who was sitting at the corner of the hall with a gloomy face. For the world she is a new mother who is worried for her daughter but only he knows what is the truth. In these two weeks he has never seen her willingly taking her in her arms until someone force her to do so. Her cold behaviour with their little girl is enough to sink his heart.

His decision certainly proven wrong.

A mixed emotion of anger and frustration surged inside his veins but he knew this is not a right time to show his anger.

As he vend to pick few flower strings his eyes met with his daughter eyes who was awake and lying in her bassinet, wrapped in woollens. Her hazel eyes met with him and she made gruggling sound making him chuckle. He couldn't stop himself from sitting next to her and admiring her beautiful face. It's still hard for to figure out about her features but her eyes resembles as his wife and face cut as his.