Mahjabeen's life had turned into a nightmare, consumed by fear and paranoia. Hasan's sinister threats had taken a toll on her mental and emotional well-being. She lived in a constant state of terror, afraid for Murtasim's life and her own safety. She knew that she had to protect Murtasim at all costs, even if it meant sacrificing her own peace of mind.

Days turned into sleepless nights for Mahjabeen as she became increasingly paranoid, her eyes darting around the haveli, searching for any signs of danger. She became a constant presence by Murtasim's side, watching over him like a hawk. If he tried to leave the house, she would plead with him, her voice trembling with anxiety.

"Murtasim please mat jaye agar uss qatil ne aapke upar phirse hamla kiya toh?" she would say, her eyes welling up with tears.

Murtasim, concerned for her well-being, would try to reassure her, his voice filled with compassion and love.

"Mahjabeen, uss qatil ko dhundhne ke liye toh jaana hogana gao, mujhe kuch nahi hoga jaani," he would say, gently holding her trembling hands.

But Mahjabeen would shake her head, she believed that he would never return.

"Murtasim ye sab chod dete haina, hum yaha se dur chalte hain jaha qatil humein dhundhna sakey... Please hum chalte haina", she would have constant break downs like this on the gate as he had tried to leave.

In the midst of this emotional turmoil, an unexpected court discussion took place, providing a temporary respite from the darkness that engulfed Mahjabeen's life.

Maa Begum was having her court with the women as they told her their problems. She was slightly distracted today because of everything that was happening currently and realised that she hadn't introduced their new Khanum to the women.

Mahjabeen was called and introduced to the women, Maa Begum made her sit on her chair.

"Ye Murtasim Khan ki biwi hain, mere baad yahi ye kursi sambhalengi", she announced and the women started chanting her name in respect. Mahjabeen glanced at Maa Begum overwhelmed and confused about what to do next, she just smiled at her warmly. 

Mahjabeen, although initially overwhelmed, couldn't help but feel a wave of excitement and mischief bubbling within her. As the women chanted her name, she couldn't resist the urge to playfully wave her hands in the air, encouraging them to cheer even louder. Her smile widened, revealing her playful nature.

" Shukriya, Shukriya!" Mahjabeen exclaimed, her voice filled with a childlike enthusiasm. "Aap sabse milkar mujhe bohot accha laga, aap log mujhe apni baatein bataye bina koi lihaaz ke, mujhe toh bachpan se logon ki baatein sunney me bada maza aata hai!"

The women chuckled, caught off guard by Mahjabeen's youthful energy. They could sense her genuine excitement, which brought a lightheartedness to the otherwise serious atmosphere. Mahjabeen laughed and glanced at Maa Begum who gave her a nod of affirmation.

"Badi ho ya choti, aap mujhe khulke bataye saari baatein," Mahjabeen said, plopping back down onto Maa Begum's chair with a mischievous grin. "Aapki mushkilat ka hal dhundneki puri koshish karungi, magar beech beech me mazak bhi karungi !"

Some of the women exchanged amused glances, unsure of what to make of Mahjabeen's unconventional approach. However, they couldn't help but appreciate her refreshing and sincere demeanor.

As the women began sharing their concerns and seeking advice, Mahjabeen listened intently, occasionally interjecting with a witty remark or a humorous anecdote to lighten the mood. Despite her playful demeanor, she genuinely cared about each woman's problems and was determined to offer her support.

Mahjabeen's playful nature continued to shine as she interacted with the women in the court. She eagerly leaned forward, listening to each woman's story with genuine interest and empathy. Her animated expressions and occasional bursts of laughter created an atmosphere of comfort and camaraderie.

One of the women, Fatima, shared her struggle with balancing her responsibilities at home while pursuing her dream of starting a small business. As Fatima spoke, Mahjabeen's eyes sparkled with excitement. She leaned closer to Fatima and whispered conspiratorially, "Tumhe pata hai, Fatima, mere paas jaadugarni ka ek khufiya hunar hai. Ho sakta hai mai tumhe kuch tareekey sikha sakun takey tumhe har cheez ka intezam karne mai madad ho"

The women chuckled, appreciating Mahjabeen's lighthearted approach to the challenges they faced. Encouraged by their response, Mahjabeen continued to engage with them in a playful yet supportive manner.

When Sara expressed her worries about her children's education, Mahjabeen's eyes widened in astonishment. She exclaimed, "Arrey mai samajhti hu, mujhe bhi homework karne me kabhi kabhi pareishaani hoti hai.  Maa Begum hum kyu na badon aur bacchon ke liye ek study room banaye taakey sabko padhai ka accha mohol miley ek saath!"

The women felt a sense of relief and connection through Mahjabeen's take on their problems. Despite her childlike demeanor, Mahjabeen's words carried a genuine desire to help and uplift the women around her. When a women told her about her dilemma between getting married or pursuing her dreams.

Mahjabeen leaned in closer, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Toh tum dono karlo! Shaadi bhi karo aur sapne bhi poore karo! Ek aisa ladka dhoondo jo tumhara tumhari sapno ki raah par sath de. Phir dekhna, zindagi kitni khoobsurat ho jayegi!"

The women erupted into laughter, their worries momentarily forgotten as they basked in the playful energy of Mahjabeen's words. They found solace in her ability to infuse lightness into their struggles, reminding them that life could be approached with a sense of adventure and humor.

As the interactions continued, Mahjabeen gradually earned the women's trust and respect. They realized that beneath her playful exterior, she possessed a keen insight and wisdom that shone through in her advice and suggestions. Her sincerity and commitment to their well-being became evident, leading them to embrace her as their Khanum wholeheartedly.

"Murtasim bhai aaj Mahjabeen ne puri mehfil ka dil jeet liya", Maryam shared at the dinner table proudly and Maa Begum nodded.

"Sachme aur aaj ek baat saabit hogayi", Maa Begum said proudly, " Mahjabeen tumse behadd mohabbat karti hai"

Murtasim gave a funny look to Maa Begum confused about what she meant. She laughed and shared what happened at the very end of the court when someone had asked how can she fall in love with her husband after marriage.

"Jaise ki mujhe Murtasim Khan se pyaar ho gaya hai, waise hi tumhe bhi apne shohar se pyaar hojayega", Murtasim's eyes widened in surprise, and a smile slowly spread across his face as he imagined her saying that. He made a mental note to attend all the meetings in future.

***

Hasan, fueled by his own twisted desires and jealousy, couldn't bear to see Mahjabeen getting so close to Murtasim. He wanted her all to himself, and he saw her growing paranoia as an opportunity to manipulate her once again.

One evening, Hasan approached Mahjabeen in a secluded corner of the haveli, his voice laced with deceit.

"Murtasim se dur raho, pichli baar tumhara shohar bach gaya tha mujhse. Magar iss baar sidha sir me goli marunga usse. Tum chahti ho ke Murtasim zinda rahey toh usse talaq le lo, aur mujhse nikah karlo"  he whispered, a sinister smile playing on his lips.

Mahjabeen's breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening with a mix of terror and defiance. Though fear threatened to paralyze her, she summoned every ounce of courage she possessed. She refused to be manipulated by Hasan's twisted desires any longer.

Gathering her inner strength, Mahjabeen locked eyes with Hasan, her voice steady, belying the chaos within her soul.

"Aapki in dhamkiyon se mai ab darne waali nahi hu" she declared, her words cutting through the darkness. "Murtasim meri zindagi hain, aur mai unse kabhi talaq nahi lungi. Aapke ye ghaityaan khayalat kabhi haqeeqat nahi hongey"

Hasan's smile wavered, morphing into a scowl of anger and frustration. He had never anticipated Mahjabeen challenging him, daring to stand up against his reign of terror. He tightened his grip on her arm, his voice dripping with malice.

"Khudko kya samajhti ho? Pehle mai Murtasim ko marunga phir tumhe," he seethed, his eyes burning with venom.

But Mahjabeen stood her ground, refusing to be cowed by his threats. She drew strength from her love for Murtasim, knowing that she had a purpose to protect him and herself.

"Aap mujhse puch rahey mai khudko kya samajhti hu, Khudko kabhi dekha hai ainey me?" she proclaimed, her voice ringing with unwavering determination. "Aap insaan ki shakal me ek darindey hain, jo dusron ke darr pe jeetey hain. Mai aapki sacchai sabko batadungi."

Hasan felt his anger blaze and he lied to her, "Kisse bologi? Yaha tumhara mu khulega aur waha Murtasim ki jaan jayegi"

This broke something within Mahjabeen, and in a fit of rage she slapped him across his face shouting uncaring about anyone.

"Murtasim ko marenge aap? Aap me itni himmat nahi ke saamne se vaar karey. Isliye peeche se goli maari thi na Murtasim ko, aap ye baatein unke mu par bolkar dikhaye!"

She spat out as she pulled his collar in anger, Maa Begum ran out accompanied by Maryam and Murtasim who quickly ran to her side.

"Kya hua hai Mahjabeen?" Murtasim asked and Mahjabeen tried to explain to him, "Ye bolrahey they ke aapko maar denge, pichli baar aap bach gaye they toh iss baar aapke sir me..."

She trailed off breaking down completely, Murtasim hugged her and whispered soothing words of conciliation in her ear.

"Mujhe kuch nahi hoga, Mahjabeen", he whispered but she shook her head and pointed towards Hasan.

"Ye maar daalenge aapko, inhoney mujhe bola. Apna saara gunnah qubool kiya mai sach bol rahi Murtasim...", she said to him, Murtasim nodded trying to calm her down. She was hysterical and kept repeating her words, wailing, till her words stopped making sense.

A doctor was called to attend to Mahjabeen, Hasan quickly composed himself, wiping away any signs of the confrontation from his face. He acted innocent, claiming that Mahjabeen had suddenly attacked him without any provocation. His act of victimhood seemed convincing, and the gathered family members began to question Mahjabeen's mental state.

Murtasim, torn between his love for Mahjabeen and the doubts that had begun to creep into his mind, decided to keep his suspicions about Hasan to himself. He knew that he needed to investigate further to uncover the truth. He couldn't ignore the possibility that Hasan was manipulating the situation to his advantage, using Mahjabeen's vulnerable state to turn the family against her.

Murtasim approached Mahjabeen's bedside, his eyes filled with concern. He held her hand gently, offering her reassurance.

"Mahjabeen, mujhe tum par yaqeen hai," he whispered softly, his voice filled with love. "Mai sab theek kardunga, ye mera waada hai tumse bas tum apna khayal rakho mai tumhe iss halat me nahi dekh sakta"

Murtasim's heart ached with an overwhelming sense of sadness as he witnessed Mahjabeen's deteriorating mental state. The woman he loved, the light of his life, was slowly slipping away, consumed by fear and paranoia. Each passing day seemed to deepen the darkness that enveloped her, leaving him feeling helpless and distraught.

Every time he looked into her eyes, once filled with warmth and joy, he now saw a glimmer of confusion and despair. Her once vibrant spirit was fading, replaced by a constant state of anxiety that seemed to have taken root deep within her soul. It tore at Murtasim's heart to see her like this, lost and tormented.

He would sit by her side, holding her trembling hand, his eyes brimming with unshed tears. He would whisper words of comfort and love, desperately hoping that his presence alone could alleviate her pain. But no matter how much he tried, he couldn't reach the depths of her anguish or erase the haunting fear that haunted her every waking moment.

Murtasim's own soul felt heavy, burdened by the weight of his helplessness. He would find himself breaking down in silent moments, away from Mahjabeen's gaze, allowing his tears to flow freely as he grappled with the injustice of it all. It pained him to witness the woman he adored being robbed of her peace, her laughter silenced by the relentless torment of her mind.