Ishqana Dil

Part 26

They were welcoming the Guptas with such pomp and show, nobody would have believed the drama that preceeded this day. However, Amaya's mind was barely there. She was wondering if Mantu would come. She knew her mother had made sure he received an invitation from their side and he was the groom's friend too but she had not been able to talk to him with everything that was happening. She longed to see him. It hurt her so much she felt it physically but he had not showed up yet. She had been hoping he would arrive with the groom and his family but no.

She gestured Jazz to go get Rachi Di with Neeti as the two families went to sit in the aangan to start the prayer. She did not have the heart to go herself. It would feel like she was taking her own sister to slaughter. She did not even have the will to go and sit there with everyone so she simply stood by the door. One person could give her the strength to even fight death but he was not there...

Neeti and Jazz appeared with Rachita soon and she was made to sit next to Rama, adjacent to Gajanand and Pushpa Chaubey who would be participating in the puja. She watched as Rama looked at her sister, his face glowing and smiling, but her sister sat there with her face blank, her eyes fixed on the floor. Some people were already commenting about it, saying that the would-be bride was so shy, but she was one of the very few people who really knew what Rachita Mathur was going through.

They could not start yet, the shubh mahurat was yet to come. Since they had some five minutes to spare, her Nanaji proudly asked Neeti to sing a bhajan. She could not help but feel the resentment. Would he ever show this much pride for her or her sisters? Probably never. But as her cousin began to sing, Amaya realised that anyone would be proud to know or be related to her for that. Neeti was gifted. She had that sweet melodious voice and she sang with so much emotion, it could bring tears to the eyes. Her song was about Radha singing out to Krishna, remembering him, yearning for him. Amaya bit her lip and pressed her back further into the wall.

There appeared to be no difference between Radha and her. The same longing, the same distances, the same tremendous love that had turned their lives upside down... They both felt like they would not be able to live another minute without the men they were in love with and still, they had to. She crushed the skirts of her cobalt anarkali in her fists when her heart suddenly picked speed. Even her breaths grew more ragged. And she just knew.

Amaya turned, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips, and there he was, his eyes on her only. Her toes curled at the intensity in his gaze. He was looking at her as if he could not see anything or anyone else. She felt the rest of the world melt away too as she stared into in eyes. Neeti's song, somehow, remained in the background, the words and meaning resounding through her entire being. Was it the same for him? Did he feel the same? Did he know how she felt?

The feelings that went through her were maddening. Their closeness even more so. Shivering, she clutched her dress tighter to stop herself from going closer to him. She wanted to touch his face, hug him, tell him how she felt about him. But something stopped her. This was neither the place, nor were the circumstances right. Looking at him, then, felt like staring into a mirror. Whatever she felt, she could see it clearly written on his face. The anguish, the love, the ache...

Someone appeared between them, breaking their eye lock. Amaya jumped and Mantu looked away quickly. Uma stood in the middle, glowering sourly. Chiklu, who had just entered with her, smiled brightly at Amaya though.

"Aaj bohot jach rahi ho, Amaya!"

A surprised giggle escaped her lips. "Thank you, Chikluji!" He winked at her, making her grin.

Just then, her Mami came over and greeted them. "Come on in, sit down. Amaya, tumbhi chalo. You have to be with your sister in case she needs anything, na?"