Ishqana Dil

Part 31

The last time this had happened, they were in the tabela on this night of the reception. They had been running away from the kidnappers when they had reached the tabela and as they had been looking for somewhere to hide, she had felt herself fall amidst a stack of hay and he had fallen on top of her then too. He had hauled her up on her feet as well, like he had just now...

Amaya leaned against the wall, sighing heavily. Why did it have to be so painfully hard to stay away from him? Even if she managed to steer away from his path, she could not stop thinking about him. It was horrible!

"Amaya!" she jumped at Jazz's growl and straightened herself immediately, her wide eyes focusing on her younger sister. "Mere aur Rachi Di ke room ko kya hua?"

She had expected Jazz to be angry about this. "Jazz, Rachi Di and you will be staying in my room until the wedding. Rama's relatives will be staying with us so we are giving them your room and-"

"Kya? And that too without asking me?"

"Come on, Jazz, please... you were at school so I asked Rachi Di."

Her frown did not fade but she seemed to calm down a little. "Is Rachi Di alright with it?" Amaya nodded and Jazz rolled her eyes. "Theek hai... Rachi Di ko koyi problem nahin hai, toh I'm fime with it too. But I need to talk to Mom. Will you take Chiklu to your room please? We have to study and there's so much noise down here."

"Of course," Amaya grinned at Chiklu who had been standing next to Jazz and amusedly watching them talk. "Mujhe vaise bhi Chiklu se kuchh zaroori baat karni thi. Chalo," she gave him her hand to lead him to her room.

He made sure no one would hear them before whispering to her. "Mission successful. Humne Uma ka voh kardiya hai."

She giggled, knowing what he meant. "Theek hai. Jinse main yahaan pe miloongi, unka voh main kardoungi." He raised his hand and she gave him a high-five. "And did you do the things I had told you to?"

"Haan, ek-do cheezein baaki hain lekin hum samay rehte kardeinge. Tumne Barfi Miyan se baat ki?"

"Yup! Voh Rachi di ke measurements lene aaye the toh maine unse baat kardi, aur-" She froze as Mantu suddenly appeared before them. A furtive peek at Chiklu told her that he too did not know how to react, while his older brother watched them suspisciously.

"Kya hua?" Mantu confusedly asked.

Chicklu shook his head violently, causing Mantu's eyes to narrow. Amaya cleared her voice. "Main bas Chiklu ko..." she looked at the boy, trying to come up with an acceptable excuse, "Chiklu ko... a-apne din ke baare mein bata rahi thi!" A broad smile pulled at her lips and she allowed it. "Haan! I was telling him about the amount of work you... uhm... usually have in a wedding... you know... Kya pata usko kab zaroorat pad jaaye?" She felt Chiklu grip her hand tighter and she added a nervous laugh.

Mantu gave her an incredulous look. "Chiklu abhi baccha hai. He doesn't need to know about all this, he's not getting married any soon."

"Aapki shaadi ke liye, Mantu Bhaiyya! Hum sab sambhaal leinge!" Chiklu replied cheekily.

His brother's face tightened and Amaya felt herself redden. "Hum koyi shaadi-vaadi nahin kar rahe hain," Mantu snarled. "Tum apni padhaayi pe dhyaan do, Chiklu!" And he stalked off without looking at her again.

Chiklu heaved a sigh, his hand pressed over his heart. "Tal gayi bala! Varna Bhaiyya toh humein pakad hi lete. Good excuse, Amaya!"

"Hmm," she tore her eyes away from the door through which Mantu had disappeared and looked back at Chiklu. "Achha, let's go to my room before Jazz comes and gets angry at us now."