Ishqana Dil

Prologue

He did not even know for how long he had been holding his phone and staring at it. Well, it was not going to do the work by itself, was it? He gulped and tried to dial the number. It took him five whole minutes. His hands were shaking. Mahadev, what was he even thinking? Kahaan voh, kahaan hum... He pressed the phone so hard against his ear it was hurting him but he couldn't help himself either. He was way too nervous. She answered his call on the fifth ring.

"So it's now that you get time for me," she grumbled. She sounded like she had been sleeping. He winced.

"Sorry... Were you sleeping?"

"Mantu, if someone is not sleeping at this hour, something has to be wrong," she chuckled.

He frowned. "Kya?"

"What time is it, Mantu?" She had started giggling and the sound of it just brought a smile on his own face.

"Ahh... it must be eight? Uma just gave us dinner." He avoided looking at the plate of uneaten food.

Her giggled turned to laughter that lasted a few pleasant minutes. "Mantuji, I think you really need your watch back!"

"What do you mean?"

"It's midnight, Mantu."

The phone almost slipped from his hands. What? But Uma had just... Oh... Everything on the plate had gone cold. Had he really spent all these hours just thinking about her? "I didn't realise..."

"It's okay, I know you have work to do and Chiklu to take care of too. And before you ask, yes sir, I took my medicines, rested and exercised my foot, just like the doctor had instructed me to do. Khush? You go, eat and sleep now, okay Mantu?"

Why did she had to say his name every time? And why did it even have to make his heart race like that? So many people called him by that name and he had been perfectly fine. Until now...

"Mantu? Did you fall asleep?"

"N-no, I... Yes, I'll go now... Y-you take care..."

"You too."

"Bye..."

"Bye."

"Bye..."

"Mantu!" she laughed again. His heart gave a surprising leap in his chest and he disconnected the call. For the first time in his life, having a conversation on the phone was so difficult. What would happen to him when he saw her in person tomorrow?

***

She clutched her phone tight to her chest, biting on her lips hard enough to draw blood. The pain was not important. Better this than having Mom, Rachi di and Jazz wake up in the middle of the night with her excited screams. She kicked her feet into the mattress repeatedly. God, she could dance. Mantu had called her! He had called!

He had sounded utterly lost but he had other things to do too, she understood. But he had still cleared a few minutes for her. The phone vibrated in her hands, making her heart skip a beat. Was it him again?

Resisting the urge to throw the device out of the window was not easy when she saw the caller ID. Uma.

"Hel-"

"Come to the Shiv Mandir near your house! Abhi!"

Amaya grimaced. This girl was seriously deranged. "Have you seen the time, Uma?"

"I don't care about the time just be there."

"I am really sorry, but don't count on me."

"Look-"

"No, you look. It's midnight," Amaya interrupted her sharply and firmly. "And I am injured. I should rest for now. Whatever you have to say can wait for the morning."

She didn't bother waiting for a reply. Why ruin the happy mood Mantu's phone call had put her in?