Ishqana Dil

Part 42

A/N: You could kill me, but just trust me on this? Please? =P

It was a quiet night, just like when she had tried to run away from home. Nights were so quiet and peaceful in Banaras. She heard a few shouts when she reached the nearest ghaat but did not bother about it too much. God knew who those men could be... She was there to fill this ridiculous matki and that's all she would do. Carefully, Amaya went down the steps to the riverside, exhaling with respite when she could finally put the matki down.

Another shout. She stood up straight, looking at the men now. Something was oddly familiar about the three of them. Her eyes narrowed, she turned to their object of attention, a girl who stood on the edge of the ghaat, not too far from her. The girl was looking down in the waters of the river that rushed on recklessly. It was clear she was going to jump and she was so hauntingly familiar too... Amaya broke into a run.

"Uma!" she screamed. "Kya kar rahi ho tum? Dimaag kharaab hogaya hai tumhaara?" There was no answer, no reaction. She turned to Rano, Atom and Manohar Bhaiyya, who looked terrified. "What happened?"

"Pata nahin," Rano gushed. "Mantu bhaiyya ka phone aaya kuchh der pehle. He said Uma was missing. We have been looking for her and we found her coming this way. She... she... We tried to stop her, she is not listening to us!"

She shivered. What new drama was that now? Slowly, she crept forward until she reached the edge next to Uma and glanced at the boys to reassure them. "Uma," she said softly, putting her hand forward. "Chalo. Get away from here, it's dangerous where you are standing."

Uma lifted her eyes to meet hers. "If you are scared, go away," she hissed.

"Tum girjaaogi. Chalo mere saath."

"Hum yahaan kanche khelne nahin aaye hain! Marjaane do humein!" Behind them the boys gasped and tried to come forward but she raised a finger at them in warning. "Paas mat aana humaare! Door jaao!"

She didn't look like she was joking. Amaya gulped. "What madness is this, Uma? Just stop it. Take my hand and let's go from here, okay? Whatever problem that's bothering you, I promise... We will all help you. Just stop this."

"You will help me?" Uma repeated incredulously. "You? You want to help me?" She turned violently to grab Amaya by the wrists, making her wince with pain. "All this happened because of you! You ruined my life! You snatched my love from me! And you want to help me now? What will you do? Will you turn time back? Will you erase yourself from my Mantu's life and heart? Will you make he forget that he ever knew you? Will you make him unlove you? Will you just go away from our lives? Tell me, Amaya Mathur, what can you do for me?"

It was difficult but she forced herself out of her stupor as Uma shook her, as if she were a mere ragdoll. "Stop it, Uma! Get a grip on yourself!" Uma did not listen. She did not stop. And Amaya saw it coming...

Suddenly Uma had lost her footing and was falling. Amaya tried to catch her but to her own horror, she felt herself fall too. The Ganga engulfed her, sweeping her away. She fought until she broke the surface though. Breathless, she located Uma and swam towards her against the current. Thank god Superman had once thought of enrolling his three daughters in proper swimming classes. Although she was out of practice, she managed to hold on to Uma and reach the bank safely. They sat next to each other on the last step, shaking and sputtering and panting. Rano, Manhohar Bhaiyya and Atom ran to them.

Amaya glared at Uma. "What were you thinking?" she bit out. "What were you trying to prove?" Uma stared at her feet silently. "You could have died, Uma! Did you really want to die? Are you crazy? If you didn't think about yourself or your old aunt, did you at least think about Mantu? You say you love him. You are a liar, Uma! Because if you even cared about him the least bit, you would not have done this to him! Yesterday it was his birthday. Is this your gift to him? Is this how you repay his friendship? I don't know what your reasons were for doing something so completely stupid, Uma, but... do you have any idea how hurt Mantu would be?"