Ishqana Dil

Part 11

"Itni der kyun lagi tumhein aane mein?"

He suddenly remembered that Uma had been waiting for him to come with Chiklu to have dinner. Guilt hit him.

"Why? Did someone ask you to wait for us?" Chiklu replied with his typical cheekiness. Uma gasped with her usual hurt.

"Voh... Uma... The thing is, we have eaten already..."

And as he had expected of her, the hurt was immediately replaced by rage. "Uss Amaya ke ghar pe na? Haan? I knew it! That's why you took so long, no? You seem to be very attached to her these days, don't you? You bring her home, you go to her place, you take her defense, you fight with me for her, you ignore me because of her? Kyun? You-"

He had started to feel his frustration at her increase but before he could say anything, Chiklu had already moved forward. "Dekho Uma didi, don't talk about Amaya like that!"

"Waah beta! You have started taking that videshi chudail's defense too? Very good! Soon you'll kill me too for her, na?"

"Amaya is my best friend, Uma didi, and she is not a videshi chudail! Amaya is a very nice girl! You however are a naagin! Jab dekho naagin ki tarha hiss-hiss karti rehti ho!" Chiklu retorted, rather angrily. Mantu looked on frozen in place with horror as Uma stormed out of his house, throwing insults around.

He closed his eyes and sat down, not really knowing whether to be angry at his brother for taking like that to Uma or proud and grateful at him for taking Amaya's defense.

***

"Mom," she whispered at her mother. "What is this?"

Sneha glanced at her eldest daughter. "It's simple, Rachu. Your Nanji has forgiven me and accepted the four of us."

"Mamma, only a few days ago he denied every relation to us in the Shravan Puja! Don't you think it's really odd that all of a sudden he is interested in us?" Rachita pressed on but Sneha avoided meeting her eyes.

"No, Rachu, stop overthinking. Be happy that now our family is larger. We have more people to share our hapinesses and sorrows with."

Rachita almost groaned with annoyance. Something was going on. She did not know what, but she wanted to. Things were getting too weird... She stalked off to her younger sisters who seemed to be discussing together in hushed voices.

"What are you talking about?"

Jazz shrugged. "About how strange it is... you know... to have Mom's dad accepting us..."

"Oh come on, Jazz," Amaya laughed. "Don't be so paranoid. Nanaji love Mom a lot. Like dad loves... loved us. He had to forgive her at some point and accept us, na? You go and study. Don't worry about any of this, okay?" Rolling her eyes, Jasmine went to her room and Amaya's smile fell instantly. "Rachi Di, I did not say anything in front of Jazz because I don't want her to stress about this, but I think she is not wrong. Jo bhi ho raha hai, bohot hi ajeeb hai."

Rachita nodded. "Hmm... I tried talking to Mamma about this but she is not willing to tell me, Amu. I would like to feel good about this but my heart is not allowing me to."

"I know, me too..." Amaya bit her lip. "I just hope we are wrong about this."

"Yes, Amu, let's pray for that..."

***

She was staring at the computer screen without really seeing it. He could see she was deep in thought and there was no doubt about what it could be. He walked to her, smiling only to cheer her up.

"Kiss soch mein padi ho, Madam?"

She jumped and stared at him, stunned. He raised his brow. "Nothing. I was just..." she sighed. "Yes I was still thinking about last night. And as we are on it, I am sorry... Nanaji was very hostile to you yesterday and I-"