The Binding String

S I X T Y - T H R E E

"Bhabhi Roohi ne Bhai ko powder Kumar bana diya hai." Romi spoke further making everyone laugh at him. Raman made a cry face as he spotted his parents looking at him with a bewildered face. They too joined everyone, it's rare to see Raman Bhalla helpless.

"Papa!!! You're looking so pretty." Roohi went awwed on her work, she flicked her eyelashes making Raman cringe inwardly, "Now it's time for curls." Roohi put the plastic hair dryer from her makeup box and started to blow dry her father's hair which she tied with plastic clips. Raman cursed his sister Simmi for gifting this makeup box set to Roohi.

"Papa see you're looking nice na!!"
Roohi presented small mirror to Raman and he urged to cry over him. "Papa now it's lipstick time."

"No Roo!!!! No lipstick." Raman jumped on his seat, not ready for another horror.

"Okay then nail paint? You will look beautiful." Roohi made animated face trying to lure her father.

"No Jaan. This makeup is fine. Thank you." Raman kissed her cheeks one by one making her grin, "And no more this game. Let's play something different."

"No Papa. See how cute you look. Haina Mumma!!"

"Indeed. He is looking like pinky Kumar." Ishita teased Raman making him fume. He snatched the face towel she was holding and started to wipe off the so called makeup done by his darling daughter. Roohi who was standing next to her father grinned looking at the face towel and took it from her father hands, "Papa we can play some other game. Romi Chachu will you play with us?" Raman and Ishita widened their eyes with horror, their little baby already embarrassed them once and they're not prepared to receive another round of teasing by their siblings.

"Rooh. Here take it, apply more makeup to papa." Ishita stuffed bottles in Roohi hands and Raman made a cry face, both Ishita and Roohi knows how to make him scapegoat. His face soon met with another batch of powder and he hoped none except his family witness him like this.

"What if someone saw you like this Raman?" Ishita teased Raman, whispered in his ears making his fume.

"You just wait and watch Madrasan. What I will do with you at night." Raman threatened Ishita making her giggle. "I am just wondering how comic it would be when someone from your business world has see you like this."

"No one other than you would do this Madrasan." Raman replied irking making his siblings to laugh more loudly. "I have never thought if I can bow my head infront of anyone but see, here I am ready to do anything for this little girl." Raman smiled lightly looking at Roohi, she was lost in her own world giggling on seeing her father face at the same time enjoying her aunt and uncle presence around her. Roohi stood over her feet and started to jump, her sudden act was enough to fear Raman and Ishita before they could stop her, Romi gathered Roohi in her arms and twirled her around.

"Roohi choohi, no jumping jumping for now." Romi pulled Roohi nose making her sit on the bed. Both Ishita Raman held Roohi hand and cupped her face, "Roo you scared us baby." Ishita caressed Roohi head, she held her tiny hands and peaked her back of hands.

"Haan beta, you're not allowed to jump for the next few days. Just for few days beta." Raman added further, they knew they were asking a lot from this little life but it's for her own benefit. "Papa!!!" Roohi face fell listening her parents words, she didn't wanted to remain bedridden anymore.

"I want to play with Chachu and Bua, they would leave me." Roohi start crying enough to panic her parents and uncle aunts. "They're not going anywhere Roohi, they came to meet you." Roohi nodded her head in negative not ready to listen her parents words.

"Roo sacchi baba. Romi Chachu, Simmi Bua everyone came to meet and play with you my love." Ishita wiped off the big fat tears coming out from Roohi doe shaped eyes.