Mahjabeen consoled Maryam as she cried her eyes out, she was heartbroken, the unexpected events had made her feel helpless. She laid on Mahjabeen's lap finding solace there as she didn't want anyone else to enter her room. To see anyone's face except hers, at last she had to sacrifice her life for their so called izzat.

They didn't care about anything if their izzat was at stake, "Maa ke liye khandan ki izzat ke uppar kuch nahi, khud ki beti bhi nahi", Maryam cried tears welling, she remembered how her mother had tried to bribe her. The amount of betrayal she felt wasn't something she could handle, Maryam had given her mother another chance, she had chosen their family over her own ego. But Maa Begum made her realise how little worth she carried, as she without another thought had draped the duppatta over her. When Maryam had shook her head, she had kissed her temple and whispered, " Aadhi zameen tumharey naam par kar dungi, Maryam

"Sach bol rahi ho Maryam, yaar Haya baji kaha hongi? " she wondered her thoughts out loud. It was midnight and have been nine hours, Mahjabeen shuddered as she thought about her current state.

"Bhaagi hai toh kuch toh planning ki hogi usne. Uska naam mat lo mera toh Haya ka gala dabanne ka mann karraha filhaal", Maryam seethed in rage, if Haya had never accepted the proposal in the first hand, this event wouldn't have occurred. Or maybe she had done this on purpose, to defame their family name. She couldn't believe this was the same girl she grew up with, how could people who grew up in the same family be so different.

"Haya ka gala...", Mahjabeen giggled she couldn't forget that day, her rage had overtook her and without thinking she had grabbed her neck, "... maine daba chuka hai"

Maryam sat up with a look of wonder and caught Mahjabeen's hand, she saluted and kissed her hands as if she had killed all her enemy soldiers on the frontier and won a battle, "Badshah Begum ye qaneez ab zindagi bhar aapki seva karegi"

"Kitni drame baaz ho yaar tum", Mahjabeen giggled and continued " Waise batau uss din hua kya tha?"

"Haan haan batao", Maryam sat up now excitedly as she listened to Mahjabeen. At the end she couldn't clap as she bowed to her, "Aaj toh sachme mai aapki fan hogayi hu Badshah Begum, kya adaa hai aapki, Mashallah. Shayad Haya isliye bhaagi hain, uska aakhri sahara toh ab bhai bangaya ... Arrey sorry bhai jaan", Maryam was giggling the tears had dried up as Mahjabeen laughed along.

"Haan toh mere Murtasim ko galey lagani ki jurrat ki thi na", she said normally, but Maryam smirked and taunted " mere Murtasim aaye haaye mai sadke java kya pyaar hai mohabbat hai!"

"Pyaar mohabbat nahi ishq hai", Mahjabeen corrected then she held Maryam's cheek and said to her, "Ek baat manogi meri?"

"Haan farmaye Badshah begum", Maryam said as she held her hand across her chest, Mahjabeen pulled that hand away and seriously gave her piece of advice," Dekho aaj jo tumne kurbaani di hai, usse badi kurbaani Naurez bhai ne di hai. Mai maanti hu Maa Begum ne tumhare saath theek nahi kiya, magar woh phir bhi Maa thi tumhari. Magar Naurez bhai ka toh koi rishta nahi tha, unhoney tumse shaadi ki raza mandi bina hichkichai dedi...tumhe pata hai iske do matlab nikal sakte"

Maryam who had been thinking about herself all along, nodded. Maybe she would have runaway just like Haya had, if it wasn't for that reassuring smile. A smile that had pierced her heart, it wasn't forcing her to say yes, instead it was a smile filled with acceptance and understanding. She always wondered what Kashaf meant when she had said, "Chai ka cup"- it was this, she understood the phrase for the first time. Naurez had protected her family from the disrespect and even reassured her with that one smile- it made all the difference. Just like Zaroon had without a hint of hesitation, shield Kashaf from harm by placing himself before her.

"Kya?" Maryam asked while smiling now feeling slightly better, Mahjabeen giggled and whispered teasingly "Unka tum par dil aagya hai shayad"

Maryam backed off, and raised her hand gasping at the possiblity. It would be terrifying to imagine that whilst he was getting married to Haya, his heart held her. It sounded ridiculous, "Hain! Kuch bhi"

"Theek hai, aisa nahi hai toh aur bhi acchi baat hai. Iss khandan ki kitni izzat karte hai woh, fauran haan kardiye. Maryam ek baat maano meri, ye lo phone uthao aur unse baat karo", Mahjabeen suggested, but she shook her head so she dialled the number immediately.

" Tumharey paas unka number kaise aaya", Mahjabeen shrugged, as soon as the nikah had ended Mahjabeen had stolen Naurez's number from her husband 's phone.

"Woh choro, apne ahem... Shauhar se baat karo", she teased tilting her head endearingly as she passed her the phone.

The man on the other side greeted, his voice didn't sound groggy. It seemed like both of them had lost their sleep because of the same reason. " Assalamualaikum"

Maryam stuttered as she nervously glanced at Mahjabeen and replied to his greeting.

"Chalo tum apne shauhar se pyaari baatein karo, mai apne waaley ko dhundhti"

With that Mahjabeen escaped the room, to find her dearest husband. As she was running she collided with him, he was coming out of Maa Begum's room.

"Sab theek thak na?" Mahjabeen asked tentavily, he sighed and nodded. He looked exhausted, today's events had taken a toll on his mental state.

Mahjabeen wrapped her arm around his shoulder and brought him to their room. He wasn't meeting her gaze, as if he had wronged her instead of his own sister.

"Kya hua hai Murtasim?" She asked softly, as she lifted his chin so their eyes could meet. His eyes held so much sadness that it broke her heart, his face seemed like a defeated soldier.

"Mai haar gaya hu Mahjabeen, mujhe humesha ye galatfehmi thi ke iss khandan ka bojh me utha raha tha, Murtasim Khan hu apne ghar waalon ke liye kuch bhi karaskta hu. Magar aaj pehli baar itni bebassi ka saamna karna padha, apne khaandan ki izzat ke liye maine apni behen kurbaan kardi", he poured his heart out, the pressure on his head was suffocating him.

"Murtasim, ye Maryam ki kismat thi. Aapko pata hai, jodey aasman par ban tey hai. Isme agar aap dakhal andaazi karte toh bhi kuch nahi hota, kyuki ye rab ka faisla tha", she explained as she kissed his forehead, the way she ruffled his hair and held him made him feel special.

Murtasim gazed at her with tear-filled eyes, finding solace in her words. Taking her hand in his, he entwined their fingers and rested his head upon it. Tears streamed down his face as he sat before the woman who possessed him in every way. In her presence, he felt like his true self, even in his moments of vulnerability. He knew that her love and trust would never waver, and she would never perceive him as weak. Instead, she sought to mend his broken heart.

As his hands trembled, she tightened her grip, offering him support. For the first time, he felt the weight he carried on his shoulders being distributed between them. A surge of positive energy flowed through their joined hands.

In that tender moment, their eyes met and conveyed a depth of understanding beyond words. Their hearts beat in unison, speaking a silent language of connection. With gentle care, they leaned closer until their foreheads touched-a gesture of profound closeness and trust.

Their bodies gravitated toward each other as if pulled by an invisible force, the air thick with anticipation and unspoken desires. Their lips brushed against each other's in a chaste and lingering kiss, an exploration of tender affection and longing. Each touch carried an unspoken promise, a testament to the depth of their love. They reveled in the simple beauty of their embrace, savoring the tenderness and vulnerability they shared.

Time seemed to stand still as they traced the contours of each other's faces with trembling fingers, mapping the landscape of love etched upon their skin. Their caresses were gentle and reverent, savoring every moment and cherishing the vulnerability they embraced.

Their fingers traced gentle patterns on each other's skin, leaving a trail of warmth and comfort. Within the safety of their embrace, they found solace and reassurance. Their bodies remained close, cherishing the emotional connection that surpassed physical desires.

In a passionate and hungry kiss, a surge of electricity coursed between them, igniting a flame that burned with fervor. Their bodies intertwined, exploring the depths of their connection with longing and pleasure. Every touch and caress spoke volumes of their shared desire and intimacy.

As they melted into each other, the world lost its meaning, and they surrendered to a union that surpassed words. They danced to the rhythm of their bodies, reaching heights of ecstasy known only to them. Their intimate encounter was a testament to the depths of their love, trust, and vulnerability.

Finally, as their bodies stilled, they lay together, their breaths intermingling in the afterglow of their shared passion. In that moment of bliss, they knew they had reached a new level of intimacy-a profound connection that would forever bind their souls.

The room filled with a sense of peace and contentment, as if the universe itself acknowledged and celebrated their bond. In that moment, they knew they had discovered something rare and precious-an unwavering love that transcended the physical. It was a love that nurtured their souls and healed their wounds.

***

This was my first time writing a R18 scene, and yeah I know it wasn't exactly that, but I tried to make it subtle. If you want I can write a chapter on this, not here but on my other account and you can read it there.