Ishqana Dil

Part 32

"Mantu Bhaiyya, bohot bhookh lagi hai," Atom came to him, complaining. "Ab aur kaam nahin hoga humse. Ghar chalte hain na? Kal savere aayeinge toh kaam poora kareinge."

He frowned down at his friend. "I had told you to get the lighting earlier, there was a problem with it. Did you check it?"

Atom winced. "Voh... hum... bhool gaye... Jaane do na Bhaiyya... kal dekhleinge, na?"

"Achha jaao tum! Aur baaki sab se bhi kehdo ki ghar jaa sakte hain. I'll check the fault myself. And ask Manohar Bhaiyya to check on Chiklu when he is going home, please."

"Ji, Bhaiyya! Mahadev."

"Hmm, Mahadev."

He picked his tools up and went to look for whatever fault could have developed. It seemed to be coming from one of the connections upstairs. As he put all his attention in his search, he felt the roll of tape slip from his fingers and disappear into a room. Amaya's room. His heart started thumping with needless apprehension again.

Mantu shook his head before grudgingly stepping in her room. The smell of her was all over the place. Another bit of his sanity broke off and ran away. He scrunched his eyes shut and reminded himself why he was there. Just to get his tape. And then he had to go take care of the problem in the wiring and get back home. As for Amaya Mathur, she was to be avoided. At least until Rama's marriage was done with. Because she was already angry at him for a reason he did not even know, and on top of that, being around her for the past few days was taking its toll on him. Feelings and thoughts he could never have even fathomed before were starting to occur to him. They drove him crazy. And she was not helping either...

Sighing, he looked around for the tape. It was under her bed. "Mahadev," he muttered, lowering himself to his knees to get it back. Just as he was about to stand up, he heard someone coming. The steps got louder and louder so whoever it was, they were coming here. Fear gripped his heart. Without thinking, he ducked and rolled under the bed. A pair of feet appeared, entered the room, then the door closed. His heart lurched. It was Amaya... Mahadev!

He soundlessly slid a little bit forward to have a look at her. She was leaning against the door, her back pressed against it and her eyes closed. She looked so tormented... He wished he could just find what was troubling her this much and get rid of it for her. Abruptly, she opened her eyes and moved to the mirror to dry her hair with the towel she had been holding on to tight. She kept frowning at her reflection, worrying him even more. She threw the towel on the bed and it slapped him in the face. He flinched at the sting.

When he looked at her again, she was blow-drying her hair. He didn't even know what went through his mind, he simply caught the piece of towel that was hanging off the bed and barring his view to hold it to the side and watch her. He didn't even think she could easily have seen him. Instead, he smiled at her reflection. Like an idiot. But what could he do else? She was beautiful. She was all he wanted. She was so close to him. And still so far...

Amaya put the hair drier away and clipped her earrings on. "Aise kya dekh rahe ho?" In that split moment, he could have died of terror. What would he say to her if she had caught him in her room, under her bed like a creepy stalker? He would probably never be able to face her again. But she turned around to look at the wall, not where he was hiding. Silently, he exhaled with respite. She had not caught him. Yet...

"Main aap se hi baat kar rahi houn, aise kya dekh rahe ho aap?" she stepped towards the wall, and he realised he was talking to her father's picture that was stuck there. "This frown on my face? I know you hate seeing me upset, Superman... Aap hote toh meri saari problems door karke hi chhodte na? Lekin main kya karoon, Superman? Baat hi aisi hai... Your daughter is going crazy! And why? For the stupidest reason! You must be laughing at me, na? But you understand me too, don't you?" She rested her head where her father's shoulder was. "You know when you used to tell us how impossible it was to be around Mom when she didn't know you loved her, I always thought it was stupid. Especially for you! I thought my dad should have gone and told Mom he how he felt for her. Now I know just how messed up it actually is..."