Ishqana Dil

Part 17

"Things have been very strange since yesterday. Snehaji fell sick yesterday in the evening. And her eldest daughter, Rachita, she has been behaving oddly since the morning. She spent most of her time in her room. And the second? Amaya? She went out in the afternoon and this boy Mantu brought her back unconscious. She had a high fever. Hum toh kahat hain, kuchh gadbad hai!"

Dev laughed. Of course there would be strange things going on after the scare he had given Sneha Mathur the day before. And whatever was causing the weird behaviour of her daughters would be of an advantage to him too. Since he had found out that Amaya, who worked in his office, was Rishi's daughter as well, he had a plan mapped out for her. He had found his new toy.

"Achha, can you tell me anything else about those girls? Something that could cause a scandal?"

"Arrey haan haan!" Rudra provided eagerly. "That Amaya? I think she has a thing going with Mantu! Sasura pehle din se humko shak tha, it got confirmed today! He created such a tamaasha in the house! And the older one? Guptaji who owns the shop just a few streets down, his son, Ramashrey, has been after her for some time now. I have seen him following her when I was keeping an eye on her. He even attends her English classes!"

"Hmm..." Dev nodded. "Listen to the plan then..."

***

Amaya's eyes opened wider. "He did... what?"

"Yes, Amu! He gave it back to Nanaji. Without batting an eye!" Jazz whispered.

Rachita nearly smiled when Amaya turned to her in bewilderment. She almost told her what she had seen, that she was pretty sure Mantu had feelings for her. But then she changed her mind. That was between them. She would only ruin the magic of love if she told Amu. It would be more special to her when Mantu would say it to her himself.

"He actually did," she merely confirmed and Amaya blinked.

"I think I need to sleep," she mumbled.

***

He had the plate of food before him and he knew he should have eaten but he could not. Every nerve in his body was buzzing with an unknown restlessness. He didn't even understand what was happening.

"Itne bechain kyun ho?" Uma demanded. "Khaana khaa lo na! I have to go home too now and sleep!"

Mantu put the plate down and paced in front of her. "I can't eat."

"Why?"

"I don't know... I feel... I feel like I should do something, Uma, but... I don't know what!"

She got up and stood before him, forcing him to stop. "Mantu, what is it? You know you can tell me."

He grimaced. "You would not understand, Uma... Even I don't understand..."

"We know each other for so long, Mantu," she smiled. "You think I would not understand you?"

Frowning, he turned away from her to pace across the room again. Could he tell her? Was she going to comprehend this storm of feelings? Would she help him and support him? Well, she was his childhood friend... He could count on her. Couldn't he? But how would he explain it to her?

Mantu turned around briskly and, following his impulse, merely said the words. "I am in love with Amaya."

***

The air knocked out of her lungs and she gasped. Rachita leaped to her at once. "What happened, Amu? Tum theek toh ho?"

Amaya breathed deeply and nodded. "Yes, Rachi Di... I just felt uncomfortable for a moment... Shouldn't you go to sleep?"