The Binding String

T H I R T Y - F O U R

"Kya kar rahe ho Raman?" (What are you doing now?)

"Kuch nahi. Aao Roohi, Papa ke saath." (Nothing. Come along Papa Rooh.) And as the three walked inside her room, Ishita smiled with surprise seeing the beautiful present there. She was unable to believe if Raman actually arranged it for Roohi and removed the blindfold from Roohi's eyes very well knowing that she is going to love the present arranged by her father.

"Doll House!!!!!!!" Roohi exclaimed with delight and started to jump everywhere finding the same doll house in her room, of same height as her which she saw on the mini computer few days back. "Papa is it for me?"

"Yes my darling. It's just for my princess." Raman replied with swelled heart enjoying the beautiful smile on his daughter face. Like Raman even Ishita was delighted with the beautiful present he arranged for Roohi even before the girl could vocal her wish. The doll house was from world famous company Barbie; designed beautifully just like they designs barbies to lure little children with every modern thing a child may think. She looked at Roohi who was caressing everything with awwed face and than Raman who was filming everything in his mobile.

"How you came to know about it Raman?" Ishita asked curiously after capturing her daughter smiling face in her eyes.

"Roohi had scribbled the name of this dollhouse in her drawing book maybe after watching the movie you played for her some two days back. From there only I came to know about it."

From when he became so thoughtful? She wondered unable to believe that he understood his daughter unsaid wish as well. Indeed he is changing and the change is good this time, "But this one looks expesnive Raman." Ishita further said checking the price written on cover.

"So what! I'm earning for whom? If Roohi wishes something, she will get it. I can do anything for this smile." His words left her speechless and she went two steps back recalling her own childhood when she carved and cried for such gifts but never got any. Ishita know owing a dollhouse is a dream of every girl, even she had a same dream when she was of Roohi's age but no one cared to fulfill any dream of her. If her daughter is getting all the love than who is she to deny. She dragged a stool and sat beside Roohi hoping to get involved in the conversation but her face fell when she saw Roohi climbing on her father lap and peppering his face with her kisses.

"I love you Papa." The way Roohi hugged her father and confessed her love was beautiful in its own way but it broke Ishita's heart and she wondered if she got rejected by everyone again. Her head bowed down and she came out from room with dejected face, she was walking towards kitchen to fetch the water for herself when she stopped by a tug on her wrist, "Why you came from there? Oh God! You girls have so much to say. Mujhe toh samjh hi nahi aaya kuch." Raman scratched his head like a silly teenager boy trying to understand the reason behind the sadness in her eyes.

"I...I was thirsty." Ishita replied and averted her eyes to avoid any eye contact. "Thank you." He cupped her face overwhelmingly and kissed her forehead.

"Why?"

"Just like that. Thank you." He repeated his words planting a wet smooch on her lips making her blush. She nodded her head somehow and excused herself to take water from refrigerator when little hands wounded around her legs making her stop. "Mumma where was you?" Roohi questioned her mother with a scrunched nose.

"What happened darling?"

"I want to show you so many things. Papa is silly he is not understanding anything." Roohi replied with animated expressions making her mother chuckle. "Papa is right only Mumma can play with Roohi." Ishita threw her head back laughing, listening her daughter words and nodded her head to come with her. "Mumma can we arrange a party for my dollhouse?" Roohi asked later after tired playing and arranging her dollhouse. Ishita happily agreed for same and Raman Ishita together cooked food for Roohi's dollhouse welcome party and invited Mukharjee's on dinner.

****************

Later that night Ishita heart was restless and unable to find peace. She tried to sleep hugging Roohi but even that didn't worked and ultimately she stepped in balcony to calm down her mind after the eventful day. Roohi's acceptance to the situation and forgiveness to her fellow classmates made her compell to rethink about her and Raman marriage, the mistakes they made and refusal to forgive each other. If their young daughter can forgive her classmates than why can't they restart again. Raman's growing care for her, his sensitivity towards family is heart touching and forcing her to get inclined towards him again. The faith she lost from him and their marriage started to restore again and she was ready to start afresh again without caring the fact that he is still hiding the major truth of their life. She rested her hands on the steel railings and closed her eyes to feel the winds when a warm pair of hands encircled around her neck.

Baawri si karwaton se nindiya door bhaage.
(Why does sleep runs away due to these maddening twists and turns?)

"What are you thinking?" He whispered burying his head in her hairs.

"Nothing specific." She replied leaning her back on his chest.

"I expected you sleeping."

"I tried but didn't got. Have you finished your work?"

"Yes. It's done." By that time he wrapped his one hand around her waist and another one was around her neck . They said nothing but cherished the silence together, the mind still carries reluctance to come closer but heart is willing to give another chance but this time they wish to take it slow. "Raman can you you stay with Roohi? I have to finish some work."

"Sure." He assured her with smile and soon she left leaving him alone. As she disappeared from his sight he sat on the sitting area of balcony replaying the day they spend together. He was trying hard to be a husband a his wife wishes him to be, a father who will be a hero of his daughter. He took out his phone from his pocket and reload the page about; How to be a good husband.

He has read many articles on same and one thing he learnt to make your wife feel loved. The one kiss each day was the part of same, he was scared of initiating intimacy after a gap of an year. Moreover he had no idea if she consider his initiatives towards intimacy as an act of love or lust and hence he decided to suppress his desires until she herself vocalises or initiates same and they will be stick on the kisses. And he walked back to their room, carrying a smile on his lips and dreaming the happy future with her and Roohi which glimpse he got today. He snuggled close to Roohi after texting Ishita to join them and he lost into world of dreams of happily ever after unaware of the strom going to hit their lives.

Baawre se nain chahein, baawre jharokhon se
Baawre nazaro ko takna.
(The wandering eyes long to see some crazy sights, through the amazing closed balcony.)

To be continued........