ManYa - Dheere Dheere se... (Continuing)

Chapter 37 - Mantu in Action

Mantu called Rudra. He knew he needed more and more people right now to make his plan successful. In no way he will let go of Amaya and their love. After 5 mins, Rudra was standing there too. He was clueless. "Why the hell are you blackmailing me, Mantu.", asked Rudra as he stood there. "We need you to support us Rudra. You do a lots of planning and plotting na. You are the most experienced person here. We too are planning but for the good.", said Mantu. "What are you talking about Mantu?", said Jazz and Rachita nodded, "Elaborate it, Mantu!" "Amaya was suspecting that Rudra is fooling everyone in Mathur haveli and she was right, I promised her to keep an eye on Rudra. He was the one who brought Sharma to lend the haveli so that he can make you all homeless. He has done a lot of other things as well, which I'll tell you later. He hates the fact that Hari uncle stayed in Mumbai with Rishi uncle rather than living here. He himself told Sharma. He believes that Rishi uncle is the reason behind him and his mother's miseries." said Mantu as he looked sternly at Rudra. Rudra was silent, he was exposed.

He was about to say something when Mantu said, "Don't explain it to me Rudra. I will not be convinced you know that. If you want me to stay quiet do as I say." Rudra gave in and nodded. "But what the hell is your plan Mantu. We barely have 15 more minutes.", said Karan. "Rama give me your sherwani...I'll replace you in the mandap. And Rama you take Rachita with you to the mandir along with Karan and Piya for rituals and witness. I'll call Atom and Rano to reach there as well. Jazz and Rudra will help me to reach the mandap without any revelation. I need to hide my identity until I fill Amaya's maang... with... sindoor.", said Mantu with a deep breath.

In no chance he will lose his love now, he will not sacrifice it for anyone. Not even for Amaya. "But why we need Rachita and Rama to marry? We can wait.", said Karan as he thought to settle this first with Sumitra. "If they both will marry then Sumitra aunty has to keep her mouth shut as she can't reveal the truth if Rachita di will be her bahu.", said Mantu as he continued, "I know it doesn't matter. We don't have problem but sadly Chaubeyji and the entire Banaras will curse di. Even if it's not di's mistake, people will consider her wrong. Indian parents are never blamed in our society even if they are wrong." Karan nodded in agreement and said, "That sounds good then, we should quickly execute the plan." Everyone nodded and Rama quickly took Mantu to his room where he was getting ready. He gave his sherwani and quickly went outside from the backside of the door. Rudra and Jazz helped him to get through the door. Karan, Rachita and Piya were already waiting outside.

Mantu took a deep breath as he closed his eyes. His mind was working way too much. He knew that he will marry Amaya only because Sumitra aunty will check that herself. Someone knocked the door, he quickly covered his face with sehra and opened the door. It was Sumitra aunty and Rudra. "Are you ready beta?", asked Sumitra as she tried looking under the sehra. But Rudra stopped her and said, "Aunty. In our caste, it is the ritual to hide groom's face till the marriage. It is not consider well..." "What happens, I never heard this.", asked Sumitra. "Ahh...it reduces the age of the man.", lied Rudra. Sumitra instantly agreed and covered Mantu's face as she said, "I am going get Am...I mean Rachita. Rudra you take Rama." "Ji, sure.", said Rudra as he quickly took Mantu and made him sit on the mandap.

Mantu's heart pounded in his chest when he saw Amaya in the wedding dress. That red dress fully embossed with the colour matching his sherwani. Those hands, those jewellery made her look so delicate. He so badly wanted to see her face. Though her face was covered but she was looking surreal. Though the moment was sad and the circumstances were wrong. But everything came to a stand still when Amaya sat next to him. It was pure as their love was pure. He quickly saw the ring which he gave her the day they proposed. The only gift he gave her. He was sure that it is Amaya. He heard a sob and quickly saw a tear that dropped from her eye to her hand. She was crying. Mantu wanted to hold her hand but he didn't. He controlled so hard. The shaadi began.

Present Time
Everyone heard the story and gasped. Amaya lost her balance as she quickly held his arm and said, "So… so… Di now knows everything..." Mantu nodded as he quickly held her arm and gave her support. "She has many questions and she is heartbroken Amaya but... that time we were required to act fast. You were at risk.", said Mantu as he slowly traced his finger on her face. Amaya shivered.

Mantu looked at badi maa who didn't really reacted much. She just smiled and said, "I'm proud of you Mantu..." Mantu felt it weird, she was certainly not upset or hurt or objectionable but she wasn't even surprised as if she already knew this big truth. But before he could ask her Masi shouted, "Hey bhagwan. Her father was a fraud now her mother is also characterless. Mantu, which khandan's daughter you have married beta, she will ruin you. Out of all the girls in Banaras, including Uma you chose her."

Amaya gripped his hand as she dugs her head on his shoulder and cried. Mantu took a deep breath and calmly said, "She will ruin me na, not you so why are you worried. You just relax and steal money." Masi's eye widened and Uma said, "We can see the change clearly Mantu. She has already influenced you with her black magic." She paused and looked at Amaya's mangalsutra. Amaya saw her gaze on mangalsutra and quickly covered her mangalsutra from her other hand, tightened the grip and leaned on Mantu.

"Okay fine let her ruin you, but your respect, what about that. When the whole Banaras will know that her elder sister is an illegitimate child of Sneha. No one will respect her. I am sure, if you didn't have rescued her, no one would even marry these disgusted sisters.", said Uma. Mantu clenched his fists as his eyes shot on Uma. She wanted to say further but went quiet seeing those eyes. What if, Mantu's third eye opens and kills her. Amaya softly touches his palm and he looked at her. She very softly shakes her head in a no. Mantu calmed himself and said, "Badi maa do you have a problem? I will be honest. I don't care about what masi or this non-existent human (Uma) says, what matters to me is your acceptance and Chiklu's happiness." Badi maa smiled at Amaya and said, "I don't have any problem beta. What I needed to see or check; I checked and she passed it. I wanted to see whether she will break the family or join it but she indeed knows family's importance and believes in joining them. If she can give up on her love for her family. Mantu, indeed she is very special. Take care of her.", said badi maa as she ran a hand on Amaya's hair and Amaya smiled warmly.

She was still clinging on him. Mantu took a breath of relief. "Always remember, marrying someone is easy but maintaining that marriage is not.", said Badi maa as she looked at Mantu. Mantu nodded. "Okay it was a long day for both of you. You should go to your room now.", said Badi maa as she went upstairs in her room. With her, Uma and Masi too went upstairs. Smokie was sitting in the corner quietly. And he was so quiet that no one even noticed him. Mantu looked at him and said, "Let me prepare a bed for him and give him water. You go inside." "Do you need any help?", asked Amaya. "Ahh! No! You go inside and remove the jewellery." Amaya nodded as she went inside her new bedroom.