The Binding String

O N E - H U N D R E D

100th one!!!

Feels surreal and like a dream. I know this might not be a perfect one but still thanks for giving it immense love and affection. I am truly grateful of all those who chose to stay stick by my side and encouraged me through their votes and beautiful comments.

Thank you for staying by my side.

Love to all
Aarohi ❤️❤️

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TEN DAYS LATER
MORNING

The sun hadn’t fully risen over South Delhi, but the Bhalla residence was already buzzing with life. Or rather, buzzing with giggles, squeals, and one very determined four-year-old trying to elbow her way onto Ishita's lap.

"Mummaaa! You said you’ll play blocks with me!" Roohi pouted, her arms crossed, standing like a mini storm cloud in a purple woolen frock.

Ishita adjusted the toddler in her lap, Sarika’s one and a half year old son, who had decided his day would begin at exactly half past six and sighed. "Rooh, sweetheart, just five minutes more? Baby is still drinking his milk."

Roohi 's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You said five minutes ten minutes ago also."

Handling lectures on postcolonial feminism? Easy. Managing a toddler who thought buttons were chew toys and a daughter who considered her lap an ancestral right? That was war.

This wasn't the life Ishita had imagined herself living at the year’s end. She was supposed to be finalizing her research notes, sipping adrak chai in peace while Roohi painted quietly in the balcony. But then came the phone call. Sarika. Hospital. Bedrest.

And here she was, with one baby drooling on her sweater and another plotting emotional blackmail with doe eyes.

To her surprise, her father in law Om came to her rescue. "Roo beta, come help Dadu choose a sweater. I can’t find the blue one!"

Roohi's possessiveness melted into a mission, and she trotted away like a general summoned to duty.

Ishita exhaled and whispered to the baby, "Beta, you owe your Dadu a lifetime of chocolate." She cuddled the little baby and helped him in burping as he threw his milk bottle on the floor like it meant nothing to him. She wiped the drool off from his mouth and patted his back. The days have been busy for them ever since Romi and Sarika shifted at their place. Sarika is doing better than before but the scars were deeper, both mental and physical. Her skull had an injury and ribs were broken which made her bedridden for at least a month. It was not possible for Santhosh and Manjot to take care of her while handling a child and hence Raman Ishita decided to shift Sarika and Romi at their home, two nurses were appointed twenty four by seven for them and there is Ishita for the kids. Manjot and Shiv went to visit the pilgrimage to thank matarani for saving their son and daughter in law and now it's Ishita Raman along with his parents left to take care of the couple and the baby. Thankfully she had an army of households around her to manage the chores but she can't trust anyone with the kids except Neelu. 

She has been observing the change in her daughter's behaviour ever since Rohit started living with them. She was excited for the first two days, the toddler crawling all around and making sounds was fascinating to her. The way Ishita asked her to make him sit on her lap or play with him was all keeping her engaged until she realised the little lad is stealing all her attention and she is grumpy since then.

Mumma! Why is he staying with us?

Where will we leave him jaan? He is too young na. You know na Chachi and Chachu met with an accident and they can't handle Rohit.