The Binding String

N I N T Y - T W O

That child cannot be mine. She is whore and always remain same. She would not be able to give that baby my name.

"How can I accept her Raman? You called me sl*t, you assassinated my character and now you want me to accept her?" The words she heard two months back still haunts her, she never imagined if a self sufficient strong woman like her would cross her own barriers to prove her dignity.

"I will never forgive you Raman, never. Your spoiled our lives, how would I ever be able to love her?" Ishita looked at her sleeping daughter helplessly, years back it was Ishita to suffered without any reasons and now twenty nine years later it's her daughter who is probably going to bear the same truama. Ishita felt herself too helpless to even save her, that night she attended pooja unwillingly, later when they were sitting over th dinner table everyone started to discuss about names of new member and at the same time, Mihir came to rescue.

"Let's name her Roohi, I know Raman wanted to name his daughter Roohi. Right?"

Raman softly nodded his head whereas everyone cheered for them but Ishita who was sitting taking her daughter on her lap felt no emotion and her dead eyes and empty heart can be seen and felt by her husband.

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PRESENT DAY

"Are Roohi ki bacchi kahan bhaag rahi hai. Ruk zara."

Raman rubbed his eyes and his attention went on his wife and daughter who were running around like a cat and mice, Ishita finally caught her daughter and twriled her around holding her through her chest.

"Badmash!" Roohi keep giggling as Ishita took her to nearby couch and started to tickle her.

"Mumma no..." Roohi attempted to save herself but she failed.

"Dadi told you not to take laddu before pooja, then why didn't you listen her?"

"But you told me once that kids are form of God." Roohi argued battling her eyelashes making everyone laugh.

"Yes kids are form of God but only when they listen to their parents." Ishita showed her tongue and continued to tickle her. "Chalo keep that laddu aside I will give you other one." Roohi lunged on her mother as Ishita happily carried her to kitchen and gave her another laddu which they prepared for her with using less ghee and sugar. "Puttar, everything is almost done, Sarika and Ishita you go and get ready. Is Romi awake?"

"Jee taiji. He is in the room along Tauji and Rohit."

"Okay. I have kept your new clothes for you three and jewellery for you. Jaakr ready ho ja." Sarika nodded her head and went to deck up for the festival whereas Ishita too started to walk towards their room, she took a moment to appreciate the decoration and surroundings of their apartment, the lights were sparkling all around, their furniture was adoring with new decor, rangoli were drew infront of temple and main door, they also prepared diyas to lit for the evening. From the last four years the festivals started to appear pointless to her, every day appeared useless to her but now with her husband and daughter along, everyday is a festival for her. It's not about the day it's more about the people's accompanying us.

"Ouch! Raman." Ishita was startled after finding herself in h r husband arms. She was walking while replying everyone and stumbled upon her husband making them land on the bed.