The Binding String

N I N T Y - S I X

"Accha par kal toh kisi ke pas time bhi nahi tha Mumma se baat karne ka?" Ishita playfully wiggled her eyebrows making Roohi hide her face behind her palms.

"Nahi par ab aap Roohi ke pas jaldi se aa jaao." The couple smiled the way rooyi demanded her parents to come sooner. She looked absolutely cute in open hairs and scrunching nose.

"Sirf Mumma? Papa nahi aaye aapko lene? Don't you miss me?"

"I do papa. Haww Papa....you look like hero." Roohi gushed on her father appearance making him shake his head. His little daughter knows how to impress him with her compliments. They talked for few more minutes and grabbed their belongings before leaving for Mihir place. The weather was foggy mostly that's why they decided to drive slower. Mihir apartment was some twenty minutes drive away from their place, the drive was slow and silent for them. Throughout the ride, he kept their fingers entangled with stolen glances and blushed cheeks.

"Hey! Let's stop on sweets shop. We must take something for kids na." He hummed in response and they stopped in front of the sweet shop, the couple purchased chocolates for kids and carrot and moong dal halwa for everyone. The winter delicacies are mouth watering and cannot be resisted. Ishita mouth watered with the heavenly aroma of moong dal halwa.

"Stop looking at halwa like a kid Ishita." Raman made fun of Ishita who was literally looking at the box like she will gulp it down in a single go.

"You know how much I love eating moong dal halwa."

"Who else than me will know about it Ishita. I remember how you demanded for moong dal halwa just few hours before our marriage." She giggled recalling their wedding day, Ishita was expecting cateres to keep moong dal halwa in the dessert and when she came to know that they didn't kept her favourite dessert in the menu, she literally threatened Raman to arrange it anyhow giving him tough time.

"So what! Khud ko shaadi mein toh pasand ka khana kha sakte hai na." Ishita tried to justify herself, their car already reached in the premises of Mihir apartment.

"Khana khaane ke liye shaadi nahi karte hai Ishita." Raman replied in nonchalant tone, they parked the car and came out. He secured her hand in his and made their way towards elevator.

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"Ishu!!!" Mihika exclaimed seeing her friend who was removing her shoes. She waved her hand and hugged her tightly making sure not to hurt her belly. "Oh god! You look so cute." Ishita pulled her cheeks making her scrunch her nose.

"You mean I look like teddy." Mihika corrected her making her giggle. She passed her boxes of sweet, her eyes were looking for Roohi who was nowhere to be seen.

"Your daughter is in the washroom." Mihika pointed towards mira room making her shake her head. "Oh! See it's moving." Mihika made Ishita feel the kicks of the baby making her giggle. Raman who was watching everything from afar shook his head enjoying Ishita childish smile.

"How are you Ma Papa?"

"Good." Santhosh caressed her son head elated to see him back. "How was Ishita councilling session? Is she alright?"

"Yes Ma! We talked about our childhood and she shared all the embarassing details of our childhood days." Raman whispered with a sheepish smile making Santhosh laugh. She patted Raman back and he excused himself and went towards Mira room couldn't wait more to see their little duck. He expected her to be in the washroom but for his surprise his little duck was roaming in the room, dressed in a oversize bathrobe which was definitely not her.