The Binding String

T H I R T Y - O N E

"What was you doing baba?" Raman asked caressing Roohi's head.

"I was playing with grass and watching flowers. See how colorful are those." Roohi pointed towards flower beds made at different places of society garden, her enthusiasm heightened while telling Papa about flowers she watched in park continued to stay in his arms. Otherside Aurbindo and Raman heartily enjoyed Roohi's description about plants and flowers where Ishita and Mrs Shobhna followed them adoring little Roohi. Once they reached on their floor Roohi sweetly asked her mother to go Mrs Shobhna apartment for few minutes, "do you want to play with Pluto more?" Ishita asked curiously eager to know the reason why she wanted to go at Mukharjee's place again.

"Mumma aunty ke ghar bohot beautiful flowers hai. Main dekh ke aaun?" Ishita had no heart to deny Roohi and she happily ran behind Mr. Aurbindo to see her favourite flowers, where Ishita started to unlock the door something rang into Raman's mind and he started to make some calls.

"Ishita you go, I will be back."

"Now where you're going? Ishita managed to stop her husband somehow.

"To watch flowers." Raman winked waiting for elevator.

"Now what I'm supposed to do?" Ishita asked curiously resting her hands on her hips.

"Neelu is arriving in few seconds, you sit and watch her." Raman entered into elevator winking playfully making Ishita roll her eyes.

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"Hey good morning." Ishita mumbled morning to her husband stretching her hands lazily, she stretched her body and slumped down on couch without caring of her shirt which rode up, showed off her slim waist. Raman handed her usual glass of lukewarm water with lemon and honey and sat beside her taking his cup of morning green tea. Ishita remained laid on couch too lazy to react when a swat on her back made her jump. "Are you mad?" She looked at Raman making annoyed face and took her glass of lukewarm water.

"Just waking you up. I'm going for some work will be back in thirty minuges. Just wake up Roohi by the time I come back." And he vanished in next second leaving confused Ishita behind. What does he thinks of himself? Just share half of things with me, praanth. Ishita cursed her husband drinking her lemonade when door bell rang and she found cheerful Neelu arriving an hour early of her usual time.

"Neelu tu itni subah subah kya kar rahi hai."
(What are you doing in such early hours?)

"Bhabhi bhiya ne hi bulaya tha. Unhone hi kaha ki aaj jaldi aana hai aur aaj aap koi kaam nahi dekhogi." (Bhiya called me last night to come early today. He even told me to not let you do any household chores.) Neelu exclaimed cheerfully making Ishita frown. No wonder her husband can do anything without announcement. She threw her hands in air cursing her husband and went inside her room to wake up Roohi. Half an hour later Ishita was reading newspaper and Roohi was yawning lazily when Raman entered inside apartment carrying lots of paper packets along him. He greeted the mother daughter duo and kept all the packets near the sliding door making them confused. Raman picked Roohi in her arms and made her sit on his lap making her grin wide.

"Rooh have you brushed your teeth?" He asked lovingly combing her hairs with his fingers.

"Yes Papa. Mumma made me do so." Roohi replied looking at the cup of chocolate milk and cookies kept on dining table.

"Okay then finish your milk and than we will do something interesting." He cuddled her closely making Ishita frown with confusion. She rested her hands on her hips and raised her eyebrows wondering what is running in her husband mind. "Will you tell me what is going on in your mind?" She asked impatiently but pouted getting no response from him. Ishita helped Roohi in finishing milk as Raman took the packets in balcony and started to open them one by one.