Ishqana Dil

Part 41

Another wave of sobs crashed on her without mercy. He had left her. He had left her for that other girl. The past twenty two years of their friendship meant nothing to him. She meant nothing to him... Uma tried to wipe her face with her already wet hands as the sobbing ceased. That was enough. Enough crying for him. And herself. If she did not mean anything to him, he would not mean anything to her either.

She got up from the floor and threw the doors of her wardrobe open. She felt numb and hollow but she dug through everything she owned to find the things that were from him and piled them on her bed. She would destroy everything like he had destroyed their relationship. If it had been so easy for him to disregard her, to trample over her feelings like that, it had to be easy for her to do this too...

***

She sat on the bed, her eyes wide open as she replayed everything in her mind. He had told her it was his friend! Then how was it possible that... But Jazz was right too, she had been so stupid. The truth had been right there, in front of her, but she had never seen it. Of course Mantu was a short form for Abhimanyu. And why would Abhimanyu Shrivastav's letters come to his house? Because it was him, obviously. But could she really blame herself for not realising it? He had come up with the most perfect lies when she had asked him about Abhimanyu Shrivastav... The jerk!

"Amu?" Jazz stood by the door warily. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, still upset. "Hmm."

Her sister came and sat down by her side with a small smile. "Sorry. Chiklu and I over-reacted earlier, didn't we?"

"No, you were right. I am such an idiot," she sighed. "He kept lying to me every time I asked and I went on believing him. Next time I see him, I will strangle him!"

Jazz giggled. "I saved his life then." Amaya frowned at her. "Mantu was just looking for you, he wanted to talk to you. But I guessed you would not want to see him right now so I told him you were tired and you had gone to sleep. Bechaara, he looked so disappointed! I wonder what he wanted to say to you... But anyway, don't worry about the 'A'for Abhimanyu Shrivastav business. He doesn't know and he won't. I talked to Chiklu, he won't say anything."

"Thank you, Jazz. God... it's so embarrassing... Wait... You said something earlier... What was that about?" She looked away to shrug innocently but not before Amaya had seen that glimmer in her eyes. "Jazz! Main jaanti hoon, tum kuchh chhupa rahi ho!"

Smirking, jazz shook her head. "It's just... Chiklu and I wanted to set you two up. Mantu and you, I mean."

"What? Why?"

"I don't know, you look so good together. You two look... right together... Remember the first day you started working with Mantu and I said you fight like an old married couple?" Amaya nodded. "Chiklu and I have been thinking about it since then. You guys really look like made for each other, you know? We thought it would be cool if..." The look on Amaya's face halted her. Jazz laughed. "Achha, I will leave you now. Tum chaaho toh so jaao, Amu. You tired yourself out enough for today. Kal shaadi hai. Have some rest, okay?"

***

He looked at Jazz expectantly as the girl returned but she shook her head at him. "Sorry, Mantu," she gave him a remorseful but sweet smile. "Amu so gayi."

What? He scowled as Jazz left. Amaya was deliberately avoiding him, it was clear. And what would she achieve by doing this? Did she want to see him suffer like that? Maybe... Well, if she wanted to avoid him, he didn't want to talk to her either. He was not going to say anything to her from now on. And even if she wanted to talk later, he would refuse to listen. He crossed his arms over his chest and stood there, trying to pay some attention to the ongoing ceremony. But he just could not. Giving up, he secretively climbed the stairs to her room. The door was open, so he slid in quietly. He almost started lashing out on her since he was sure she would be hiding there, but instead he froze.