The Binding String

T W E N T Y - F O U R

"Roohi, have your milkshake and then we will do something good today, okay." Ishita spoke making Roohi sit over chair. She sat beside her and wiped her wet face with fresh towel and then her fingers, Roohi started to drink her milkshake silently otherside Ishita instructed Neelu to do dusting carefully before starting sweep the floor. When she shifted her attention back at Roohi she found her looking here and there like she is looking for someone, "Kya hua? Kise dhoondh rahi ho?" (What happened? Are you searching someone?)

"Papa kahan hai?" Ishita couldn't help to stop herself from smiling listening her question and she caressed her head before answering her queries, "Papa has gone for a meeting but he would be back by evening." She forwarded her four almonds which she grabbed quietly and started to chew it. Ishita left her remain seated and herself went inside as Neelu started to call her . The weekend was a nice opportunity for Ishita to clean and rearrange the cupboards which were pending since weeks. She instructed Neelu to change bedsheets of Roohi's room and she herself opened her cupboard to rearrange it.

"Roohi zara andar aana." She smiled at little girl and held her hand. "Roohi Mumma is arranging your cupboard after that I will give you bath, okay. Meanwhile I'm giving you some activity will you do it?" She smiled when girl nodded her head in positive and she passed her the workbook she purchased yesterday evening. "Roohi see this is workbook of cursive handwriting and you have to copy the word written above. Okay. One page everyday." She explained Roohi with patinece otherside Neelu hurriedly changed new bedsheet and cushion covers. She sharpened pencil for Roohi and herself started to fold all her clothes. She found her most of the clothes were worn out, many tops were torn out and frocks were old as well. The clothes were too mismatched to wear, she wondered who shopped such mismatched old fashioned clothes for four years old Roohi.

"Roohi are you done writing the page?" She asked some twenty minutes later done arranging her cupboard. Roohi showed her the page where she did the activity her Mumma suggested, at the first page the kid had to write a in a proper cursive manner. Ishita scanned the page and calculated indeed her daughter had not so good handwriting and she need to pay too much attention on same. "Roohi dekho pencil ko tightly hold nahi karna hai. See you almost torn the page while writing it." She showed her the part of page which torn down, "Dekho hold the pencil lightly okay and try to write it in between of lines. Okay." Ishita finished explaining the girl hoping she is attentive but she hit her head with palm finding her busy playing with her dolls.

"Roohi what are you doing? Mumma is explaining you something and you're busy in playing." Ishita threw the dolls at farthest side of bed, away from her approach and handed her the book again,  "Come on write the next page and write it in the way Mumma explained to you." She handed her book and pencil and signalled her to sit on her study table, "Mumma woh....potty...." Roohi whispered meekly and pointed towards washroom. Ishita closed her eyes leaving a sigh and indicated her to go. She closed the book and called Neelu who was finished dusting Roohi room by now.

"Neelu yahan ka ho gaya na? Chal ab mere room ki bhi dusting kar de aur sun Roohi aa jaaye toh usko nehla bhi dena." And with that she moved towards her room followed by Neelu.

AN HOUR LATER

Neelu came out from washroom carrying freshly bathed Roohi in her arms and smiled at her bhabhi who appearently came to call her for something. Ishita instructed her to make Roohi stand over rug and she herself sat on bed and started to wipe her hands and legs. She was thankful of Neelu who took the charge to give bath to Roohi and she got time to take a leisure shower for herself. She started to apply moisturiser on her hands and legs and noticed her daughter legs were indeed too boney according to her age and it was too odd for her. She slid the blue cotton frock in her slim body and tied her hairs in two pony tails. "Roohi chalo, Neelu didi had made paratha's for breakfast. You must be hungry haina."