ManYa - Dheere Dheere se... (Continuing)

Chapter 17 - Amaya got slapped...

Mantu stood there with no idea of what is going on. He got mixed between the crowd and saw the videos. It was an amazing delight. Amaya danced like a butterfly, as beautiful as it can be. She danced on every type of song whether it be english or hindi, modern or old, folk or western. Amaya was a certified dancer of lavani, and kathak and learned western dance for about two years. She travelled to different states of India with her junior college for drama and dance competitions. She was learning belly, pole and ballet to an extent. Mantu never knew Amaya knew so many forms of dancing. She gave so many interviews and even won so many awards, which mostly included international awards as she was more famous there rather than in India. She was really successful. But one thing was common everywhere. She was with her dad. Every award function, every important event of her life was incomplete with him. If not physically then virtually. First time he saw why actually Amaya worshipped her dad. Her dad was really her backbone, her pillar of strength. Their conversation was like more like friends rather than a daughter-dad duo. She included her dad in each and every sentence. And her rampwalk to various fashion shows was fascinating. The way she walked, with those beautiful, tricky dresses or when she walked as a designer she rocked the stage. She was genuinely happy. Satisfied. She vlogged her daily routines and everyone saw how amazingly beautiful her life was. Though Rama's mom was continuously taunting Sneha for this, Mantu was indeed proud of her. She worked on so many beautiful campaigns for India. Somewhere she represented India,  somewhere she represented the artists and somewhere she represented female interests. She was pursuing acting and was working in New York while studying in business school for an year. Mantu was certainly astonished by all these things. He was more surprised that Amaya never shared these things with him. She wore a saree with utmost grace and nailed a bikini on the other hand. She was indeed an artist, who was working with some acclaimed personalities of the world. But still credited all her success to one man in his life, her father, Rishi Mathur. And he too was super proud of her. In many interviews which they gave together in Paris depicted that they love each other. Amaya was surely very proud of her art. She designed , danced and sang with utmost sincerity. Though her father was always proud of her business sense. All this was going on when Amaya entered the room. She looked at everyone's face and then turned her gaze to television and froze. Tears rolled down her eyes as she saw her interview with her dad on television. All the happy memories flashed in front of her eyes which she preserved deep inside her heart. All those laughs, those awards, those achievements, those moments, those dance moves, those designs, everything. She buried them in her heart so that no one can see that but now everything was like an open book. All those scars which were healing started bleeding again. She was proud of her past but never liked to talk about that. Her dreams and ambitions were like glass which she broke herself. Even if she wants she can't get back to what it was before. She was reminiscing all those smiles which she shared with her dad when a sharp resounding slap from Sneha came her way. For first 10 seconds she couldn't believe it, "her mom slapped her in front of everyone, without even considering to give her a chance to explain why she hid everything from her." Mantu felt the same pain but couldn't do anything. He promised Amaya to not say anything between her matters as it can ruin his chance to impress Nanaji. He closed his eyes and counted till 10. Karan ran and hugged Amaya. "Sneha aunty!!!! What are you doing? Let her explain herself please.", said Karan as he caressed her sister. "What kind of explanation I need after watching this. I told you I don't want you to become a fashion designer. I told you to stay away from this industry. But still you did this! You ruined my reputation Amaya, you finished it. This is not a girl from a respected family pursues. I told you, haven't I.", said Sneha as she shoke Amaya vigorously. But Amaya stood like a dead body. Everyone was enjoying this scene, whether it be Rama's evil family or Uma or Masi. Jazz was angry, no not on Amaya but on Sneha. "What are you proud of ahh! You said you are proud of, your art! What you have!? You are a careless, stupid, irresponsible and childish woman Amaya, who is still living in her dreams. All this, art, dance, painting, acting is not done by us. You just know how to show your body nothing else. You ruined us Amaya. By manipulating your father, you used him. Now I understand why you wanted to go to Mumbai. Tell me what all kaand have you done. Tell me!", screamed Sneha as Amaya stood there frozen. Her eyes were fixed on the floor. "Arre samdhanji, leave na, she is a child. Let's dig it here only. We are good people that we understand and not breaking the marriage but if there should have been someone else, they would have left in a minute. I am suggesting you, find her a husband as soon as possible.", said Sumitra as she used the opportunity to taunt Sneha. She now knew the key to operate the Chaubey family and Amaya was the key. "You know na, all these things she has done, it is very difficult to find her a husband.", said Sumitra. "I don't think so!", said Mantu. Sumitra turned to him as he said, "I don't think she did anything wrong, if her dad is present with her on shoot locations, dance academy or anywhere else. If her dad trusted her. Look how proud he is of Amaya. And didn't you listen, her dad doesn't want her to get her marry soon. He wants to see her successful. And what the problem in doing dancing or acting. We have seen that in our country we worship actors so what Amaya has done no wrong. She just followed her heart. And if someone can't understand this simple thing, I don't think he can ever keep Amaya happy." Sumitra furiously looked at Mantu as she said, "Beta, you are a kid, remain like a kid, don't say between elders. You don't know this world" "Yes aunty, I don't know anything about this world, someone else is feeding me and my brother na since last 10 years and someone else is handling my tourists. I have may have never stepped out of Banaras but have met people from all over the world. And I think experience comes from that and not age.", said Mantu looking straight in her eyes. "That's why I said he is gunda, an ill-mannered, illiterate gunda.", said Chaubeyji as he raised his hand to silence him. Mantu was about to say something but Rachita stopped him by pressing his hand. Mantu forcefully kept his mouth shut. He knew that in no way he can bring senses to these old people. He wanted to hug Amaya so bad, to just take her pain away and she was just 3 steps away but those 3 steps seemed 3 km to him. Amaya was still in that position. Suddenly Amaya's phone rang and Sneha forcefully took from her and saw Sinha uncle's name flashing on the phone. "Why is he calling you!?", asked Sneha as she picked up the call. "Please put the call on speaker.", said Karan as he hugged Amaya as she stood there like a dead body. He kissed her hair but she was not responding. Sneha puts the call on speaker as Sinha uncle excited said, "Amaya beti!! Hari got a two-week bail, he can come to Banaras to attend the wedding and he is coming to Banaras from afternoon's flight. Your plan worked beta? God bless you."