Meerab Anwar Khan, Baba's pride. She was the only child of Anwar Khan and a carbon copy of her mother, Nadia. If anyone see her mother's picture and her  they will say both were the same person.

Her mother died while giving birth to her. But she took a promise from her husband to never let their daughter feel the emptiness of a mother and let her do what she wants. She was the elder daughter of the house and pampered to the fullest.

Both her mother and her uncle wanted to marry her with her cousin, Murtasim.  At the age of 17 and 20 they came to know about this fact. They were married. Now she was a lawyer and he was a feudal lord.

It was a hectic day. As Meerab checked documents after documents simultaneously waiting for Murtasim while gulping down the third glass of caffeine, she felt exhausted.

As Murtasim entered the room, Meerab couldn't help but check him out. He looked like a delicious thing in that black shirt tucked in formal black pant and his blazer in his hand.

"Done checking me out?" Murtasim smirked

"Not yet. Turn a little left." Murtasim laughed at her comment.

"As if you never saw me."

"I do. Every night almost." She was nothing less.

This was their thing. Teasing each other to death. Its been just a month of their wedding for the family.

Only If they knew.

"Get freshen up. Did you eat?"

"Yeah. I was too hungry." He was almost sleepy.

"I am going to give you a hair massage. Your hairs are getting too rough. They need oil."

"No. Not oil."

"Yes. Warm oil. Keep quiet."

As they changed into something comfy, Murtasim found his wife in his cotton t shirt and trousers. She had a obsession with his clothes. Since always.

"I always tell you to take care of yourself at least once in two weeks. But you are the busy prime minister. Kuch din baad buddha lagoge." She said as she kept massaging his hairs with oil.

"Still you will love me."

"What if I don't?" She asked playfully but his eyes shot up. He pulled her towards himself and said

"Then nothing would be able to keep me alive."

"Murtasim, have you gone mad?" She couldn't bring herself to even think about the possibility of the fact that he won't be there in the world.

"If you're not mine, what's the point of living?'"

"Go to the bed. Sleep Murtasim. And stop talking about this death. We have just got together after 7 years of hide n seek. So not this min kärlek."

She then gave herself hair oil massage and washing her hands, joined him in bed. She had a habit of sleeping almost on him. He was her very own mattress.

"Murtasim?" She whispered as she kept tracing his jaw with her finger.

"Bole Murtasim ki jaan."

"Have you ever thought what would be Ma begum reaction if she ever learns about us being together for last 7 years before marriage?"

This made Murtasim open his sleepy eyes. He looked at her with those eyes only to make her heart stutter.

"I don't know. The only thing I firmly believe is I am yours always. And we are married already. So if she comes to know only thing she could do is glare us."

Damn his sleepy voice.

"I love you Murtasim. " She just whispered. And all Murtasim did was kiss her. It was a slow, passionate, full of love kiss. A promise to be always with each other.

Meerab has always been a chirping bird. As she was everyone's favourite, no one ever questioned her. She, Maryum and Murtasim was the trio who literally gave Ma begum tough time with their tactics. But as they brought Haya and Maryum started to spend more time with her, Murtasim and Murtasim gave each other company. And that's what somewhere made them come together. .

They shared almost the same interest. Solitude. They wanted peace rather than screaming . They understood each other. Relay on each other in times when they were are their lowest.

They didn't know when the friendship turned into love. All they knew was the other person was their to claim. They needed each other to keep themselves sane. To be them. They didn't know what will be his mother's reaction but they knew how to fight for themselves.

It happened one night when they were on the terrace. She was sitting on the bench with him seated beside her. Their hands in a tight grip.

"Meerab ?"

"Bolo."

"Kuch kehna tha." He murmured as he put her baby hairs behind her ears.

"Pasand aane lage ho tum mujhe, Meerab. Maybe my feelings are not as deep as ishq right now but it isn't fading. And I am sure it's way more than crush. I am in a position of more than like and way to love."

"Took you long enough to say. I was waiting for this from last month." She added looking at his shocking expression.

"Yet you didn't say."

"I wanted you to say first."

"Typical?"

"Maybe. I don't know."

That was the starting. They were so in love with each other and each day their love got deeper for them. It was after almost three years after that night when Meerab confessed her love.

"Mohabbat ho raha hai tumse Murtasim!"

"Shayad itna ki kisine agar ankh utha k bhi tumhe dekha toh usse jaan se hi maar dalu mai."

"Chorna nahi mujhe."

"Tum chahogi tabbhi nahi."

It was Meerab's 24 birthday when Ma begum announced their marriage. They were so happy that once the party was over and everyone were in room, Murtasim found himself in her room.

He just closed the door and engulfed his love his Meerab in his arms. They both were crying. Their legs gave up but at that moment nothing mattered to them. They just couldn't believe that Ma begum announced their wedding without them telling about their love? Did she know about them?

They put those questions aside to celebrate their new found happiness.

"Finally we will be together. We should pray for this." Murtasim said. He himself was in a daze.

It was after a month they were married with Haya fusing over everything. But that would be another day to handle her.

It was a pleasant weekend morning. Well, all most 12 of the morning.  And the reason of the couple to sleep was the week which was almost sleepless owing to the workload or their love making.

They were there, in their bed wrapped in each other's arms with a face full of peace. Meerab was the first one to wake up. She lazily hummed and opened her eyes only to see herself on top of her husband. The more she saw him, the more she fell in love. Their love was something she couldn't ignore.

She tried to untangle herself from his tight hold but couldn't. His hold was too strong to say.

"Murtasim, it's almost 12. Are you planning to wake up today?" She was serious. Although Ma begum never scolded her for anything but it was inappropriate for her to sleep half of the day.

"No. I am going to love my begum!" He pinned her to the bed.

"And what were you doing at night? Wasn't that enough?"

"Aapke liye hamare niyat kabhi accha hota bhi hai toh aap bigad deti hai."

"Baate accha bana lete hai aap."

He wouldn't have leave her if they didn't hear something break. There stood Haya and a cup of tea was lying broken on the floor.

Haya was their aunt's daughter. It wasn't a secret that she lured behind Murtasim.  It irked Ma begum to death and she loathed her presence. Unfortunately,  she couldn't oust her from her.

Anyways, she left the place hurriedly. And Murtasim was beyond frustrated.

"I am throwing this idiot out of the house. She just spoiled everything." He complained like a baby.

"Mere Murtasim,  get up before Ma begum comes here. It's 12pm for God's sake."

"What to do? I love cuddling you. It's not  my fault."

Later that evening, Murtasim was downstairs sitting idle. He was scrolling his phone when Haya came there.

"Murtasim." She called him in sounding an over sweet person.

Allah help me. Astagfirullah

"It's been long we sat together and talk." She started her rant only to be stopped by him.

"We NEVER sat together for your kind information. And don't disturb me."

"Murtasim,  why don't you understand I love you. I want to be yours." She said desperately.

"And let me tell you, I am Meerab's.  Her husband. And I am very much happy in my married life. Dare you create any problem. Last warning Haya."

"She doesn't love you. She is a characterless girl and...."

"Shut that mouth of yours. My Meerab isn't characterless.  She is a pure soul. I know my Meerab. If Meerab is characterless,  then what do you call yourself? Who lures behind others husband? Pata nahi kisses gali se naam Haya rakh dia tha. Behaya hona chahiye tha. Akal ki andhi."

Murtasim left the place while Haya fumed in anger. She planned to harm Meerab.

She was searching a chance to execute her plan. So when everyone was out of sight and Meerab was coming downstairs, she pushed her from behind. But in excitement,  she didn't see Murtasim was there only.

As Meerab slipped a few stairs,  Murtasim felt his soul leaving his body.

"Meerab!" He screamed on his top voice and everyone came there. Only a moments late and Meerab could have a serious head injury. While Haya lost all her colors.

Murtasim hugged Meerab to death. He couldn't imagine what would have happen if he couldn't come in the right time. He was shivering. He was checking again and again if she has hurt herself.

"Murtasim,  look at me. I am fine. Nothing happened to me. Your Meerab is all good." Meerab rubbed his back to calm him down. His legs gave up and they both sat there. He was so much in shock.

As Meerab continued to handle him, Ma begum and Anwar left them for their privacy. But Haya stayed there like a shameless.

As everyone left and Meerab continued to wipe away his tears Murtasim crashed his lips on hers pulling her in a passionate kiss. That described his fears his weakness.  But again Haya screamed.

"Murtasim what are you doing?" She kept shouting but nothing changed.

As they broke off, Murtasim hid his head in the crook of her neck. He needed to breath in her scent to calm down his nerves.

A while later, when everything settled down, Murtasim stood in front of Haya seething in anger. He will never forget the fact she tries to harm his Meerab.

"Ma begum, slap this vile creature. And send her to her dadiyal. When they tortured her, she will remember how she was kept here and what she did to my Meerab. And her marriage was fixed to her chachu's son, Haidar right? Get her nikaahfied too. So that she can't come here anymore. And if she us here, we won't he here."

With that, Haya's chapter closed from their lives. Haya only loved Murtasim's power. Not him. And in return got nothing.

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