When Love Conquers [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 7

It was morning's aarti that stirred Mantu from his sleep. He realised where he was as he sat back straight, rather quickly. Her hand was still in his as he was sleeping on that. Everything that happened last night, rushed in his brain immediately. He tightened the grip on the hand as he looked at it. Mantu looked up to see Amaya's face and saw her awake. Though, she was not looking at her. Her eyes were fixed on the window, from where aarti's sound was coming. Even though her face was pale, weak and covered with bandages, she looked gorgeous. Those early morning rays were giving a whole new life to her, but, her eyes were still blank, ironically they felt stronger as much as they were miserable yesterday. Amaya sensed him staring at her as she slowly turned her face towards his. Mantu suddenly got conscious of how he looked. Amaya looked at her hand in his, and then back to him, to make him realise, he was still holding it. He quickly removed his hand and ruffled his hair through that. She slowly placed her hand in her lap as she said, "Why are you still here?", her voice was hoarse and emotionless. His face fell at that. "Umm.. Someone got to stay with you, to take care of your health. Di and Jazz wanted to stay, but your mom forced them to leave. Hence I stayed back.", he explained. "So if my family doesn't care, why do you? Go and take care of Chiklu & Uma. They are your famiy. Don't stick here." Mantu was hurt by this. He stood up as he placed his hands in the pocket. "First of all, Chiklu and Uma can live for a week or so without me. Also, Manohar Bhaiya is taking care of them. Secondly, I didn't take a single holiday for 2 months, so I can take now and Third," He took a quick breath as he bent a little to look in her eyes. She drew a sharp breath, as her hands immediately turned into fists. "For the whole world, you might be Chaubey's natin, Sneha's disowned daughter or Rama's wife, for me; you are my whole fucking world, and I don't care what anybody else thinks. Even you. And that's why I WILL CARE.", said Mantu with utter love in her eyes as he raised his index finger and bopped her nose. She blinked as she registered what happened. A single tear formed in her eyes as she stares in his eyes. "I'll go and call the doctor.", said Mantu as he straightened himself up and walked out of the door. Amaya exhaled loudly as she looked at him across the glass. "No, he doesn't deserve a mess like me. He deserves someone much, much better.", thought Amaya to herself as she looked at him talking to the doctor as they both entered the room. "How are you feeling Amaya?", asked Doctor as she smiled and sat near her. Amaya nodded. "I'll come in a minute, just going to freshen up. Please stay with her doctor, till I come. I don't want her to stay alone as of now. Thanks", said Mantu in between as he left. "So Amaya, do you remember anything from last night.", asked the doctor, as she checked her blood pressure. "Umm... In bits. Not everything.", replied Amaya. "Of course, your meds were way stronger for you to remember everything. What all do you remember, if you want to discuss?" "I... I remember falling on the floor in the bedroom as I heard Mantu calling me. Then me crying. Div... Divorce papers. And and, me shouting at mom, I guess, and then something I clearly remember; me saying that I will leave Banaras and then everything is a blur." "So let's just say, you remember the highlights, shall we.", smiled the Doctor as she patted Amaya's arm. "Your BP is still high, we will keep that in check. Let's check your pulse and sugar." Amaya nodded as she whispered softly, "May I know what all happened yesterday in detail. I mean, I remember divorce papers but I am not sure, what the conclusion was, am I divorced. Fi... finally..." Doctor nodded. "Yes, you are. You are not a wife of that guy. I guess his name was Rama. Alot of things happened last night though, you should ask Mantu for details." "No! I mean, I don't want to disturb him. Please tell." "Well, I don't think, he will ever be disturbed by you. He loves you to the point of madness. Yesterday he ran inside the hospital, holding you in his arms. He was such a mess. He even got into a fight with your husband... I mean ex-husband Rama, when Rama insulted you and almost got him hospitalized. And when you were awake, he was the only one who could handle you, until you went unconscious. He hasn't left since then. You are quite lucky to have him in your life.", smiled Doctor as she got up. "We will still keep you here to check on regularly. I don't want any complications for you. You have already been through alot. Also, I'll suggest, go to a therapist... You know talk your feelings out. It's important to get things out of your system.", said the Doctor as he patted Amaya's head. "Let's wait for Mantu to come." Amaya nodded as she slowly started getting sleepy again and within minutes she dozed off. "Ahh!! Thanks Doctor... Is she sleeping again. Is she supposed to sleep again, is she fine?", questioned Mantu as he quickly sat near her and caressed her forehead. "Yeah, she is fine, the meds, the exhaustion from last night's heat and the bruises, will make her tried. She will doze off like this for around 3-4 days so, don't worry she will be fine. I gotta go! Take care.", replied the Doctor as she left the room. Mantu sat on the couch as he relaxed himself for a bit. And the doctor's words were true. Amaya's sleeping schedule for the next 4 days was like a baby. Sleep, Eat, Medicines and Repeat. Whenever she was awake, she barely had a conversation with him, she kept everything to herself by simply staring at the window. Mantu also, didn't force her, he knew, she needed space and time. It was Amaya's 5th day in the hospital as she woke up in the afternoon. "Ahh! You are awake, I was about to wake you up for the lunch. Here you go! Now you are allowed to have home food, hence daal khichdi with dahi for you. Barfi Miyaan's wife made it for you.", said Mantu as he poured everything for her in the plate. Amaya looked at him as he was opening the tiffin. He hasn't left her alone even for a minute. His hairs were all messy, dark circles covered his eyes due to less sleep and even beard grew because he wasn't grooming himself at all. He too looked weak to be honest, but always addressed her with patience, love and calm. "Why do you care so much?", blurted out Amaya, her voice still hoarse and emotionless. Mantu paused at that as he looked up to her. "I guess, we had this conversation before.", replied Mantu as he closed the tiffins and starts mixing the khichdi with dahi. "Still? After all this time..." "Always." "After everything I did to you? Hurt you, betray you, be rude to you, made you miserable.", questioned Amaya as she looked at him with shock. "You didn't do anything on purpose, did you!? You too were miserable. You are still miserable. Look at you! You are almost half your size, your smile is gone, your eyes look dead, you are suddenly a grow up, you scream and cry in your sleep. You shiver... It's not something you wanted. But it happened, it was in our destiny." replied Mantu with a soft smile. Amaya looked at him in shock. "My destiny...", corrected Amaya. "You never should have connected my miserable fate to yours. You shouldn't.", whispered Amaya as she went speechless. "I think our fates came connected from the beyond. I had nothing to do with it." "What do you mean?" Mantu took at deep breath as he looked in her eyes seriously, "Do you really think, everything is in our hands. Some things are fate Amaya, you can't do anything with it. Who could have thought, that an angel like you would come on this earth, come to Banaras after such a huge loss and meet me. Fall in love with me and I'll do the same. Some things are just meant to be. You can't do anything with it.", said Mantu as he looked at her with utter love in his eyes. Amaya's heart fluttered as she shivered. How can someone be so selfless. She came out of her trance as she said, "Umm... Did anybody come to visit me in these 4 days, assuming that you were here every minute." "I was here every minute and yeah, Rachi di came and visited you for like 10 mins because she lied to your mom and came here, and Jazz, while going to school, for a few minutes." "Anyone else, umm... like...". Amaya hesitated as she looked around. "Your mom... No... She didn't come once. I'm sorry Amaya.", whispered Mantu as he was about to touch her arm but stopped midair. "Sorry.", apologizes Mantu as he smiled sheepishly. Amaya nodded. He was happy, atleast they were having some conversation. "Though, at first I thought I'll not tell you, but I think you should know, Rama came yesterday while you were sleeping. To pay the hospital bills.", said Mantu with hesitant. "Rama and to pay the bill. What did he say and what did you say?" "Nothing, he... I told him I have already paid, and hence he left. We didn't talk much.", said Mantu as he raised the spoon towards Amaya to eat. "You paid the bills, too. Why? Why you are doing everything?" "Amaya... First eat your lunch and then we can discuss... To be honest, it doesn't even deserve a discussion, it's nothing.", said Mantu as he again raised another spoon for her to eat. She looked at him with tear filled eyes as she ate, rather angrily. "Honestly, I never thought Rama would come. But he did.", said Amaya as she ate another spoon from his hands. "Yeah, he did. He wanted to pay the bill.", said Mamtu as he shifted uncomfortably. "Ironic that he wanted to pay the bill for the scars he only gave.", said Amaya as she looked at Mantu and gave a sad, tiny smile. Mantu nodded again. "But he was the only one, who at least came to visit me. Right?" "Yes. Except your sisters." "Hmm...", said Amaya thoughtfully. Mantu looked at her, sadly. "Is she thinking of getting back together with Rama?", thought Mantu.