Meerab was shaking. Shaking in fear. She just wanted to kill herself. For being weak, for being soft and falling in love with the man who hates her.

He was doing all these for revenge. His care, his love all were lies. He just pretended to love her. His care was just a show. She felt like a whore. Murtasim was right. She was nothing for him. No one.

Meerab reminisced all those beautiful moments they had together. Those moments were special for her. She may not say aloud but she always looked for him whenever she remembered because she had that feeling he would help him. He would be there for him.

Even today, she made dinner for him. His favourites. She knew he loved them. She went to his study to let him know. But all she heard, shattered her heart.

He was confessing to someone about his ŕevenge. He wanted to make her fall in love with him then he would leave her.

Why the life was like this with her? Didn't she deserve the love and care?

She sat in the dark of her room. Meerab regretted all of her life. The only thought she had was if her mother was alive, she would have never let her be like this. Maybe then, everyone would have love her. Maybe her father wouldn't have left her to waqas and Aneela. Maybe she had a brother to share her sorrow. Perhaps, Ma begum wouldn't have taunted her upbringing. She would have loved Meerab more than Haya and trusted her.

Maybe she had a strong bond with Maryam like Haya.

She laughed at Haya. She thought Meerab had Murtasim. Oh poor thing! How to tell her that Meerab was more Orphan then her? She had everything yet nothing. In that moment, Meerab regretted each and everything in her life.

After half and hour of crying, she just washed her face and acted like as if nothing happened. She had to be strong. For herself.

As she went to the dining table, she saw everyone was already seated. It was normal but that day it somehow hurt her a lot. Just Murtasim was left to come there.

"Meerab, where is Murtasim? Did you call him?" Ma begum asked her.

"No. I'll just..."

"No need Ma begum. I am here" As he came and sat beside her she felt her heart sank deeper.

"Today Meerab made all the food. Taste it." Ma begum laughed.

As Murtasim tasted and complimented her Meerab didn't feel anything like usual. She just looked at him for sometime then again start eating.

"Ma begum?"

"Yes, Meerab?"

"I think we should get Haya married." Meerab dropped the bomb.

"I don't want to get married."

"I didn't ask you. Last let you know. Keep your mouth shut. Ma begum, you had said that as I was the elder one among three of us and my marriage was fixed with Murtasim, it had to be done as soon as possible. So as far as I know her marriage is also fixed with her chacha's son Areeb. Am I right?" She asked.

"Yes. But.."

"Then it's decided. Haya is getting married next week. I have already talked to them. They are ready. We will do a small nikaah ceremony next week and after that week will be her Ruksati. Everything is already planned and I hope there's no problem here." Meerab calmly let them know.

"Who are you to decide? I will not marry. I love Murtasim. "

"Haya." Murtasim roared and Meerab smiled.

"Your Khanum. And before you start I don't have any physical relation with Murtasim, I will let you know that I don't have to have one to impose my Khanum rights. And Ma begum, I gave to say, kya khub tarbiyat hai aapki. Apke hi samne bole ja rahi hai aur apke muh mai toh jaise icecream jaam gayi ho. Anyways we can't cancel it as its fixed. So Ma begum, I will ask Bakhtu to start the preparations. " ma begum could only nod as it was the matter of respect now.

Whereas, Haya was furious. She had to do something to stop this. So she asked Murtasim.

"Won't you say something Murtasim? Meerab can't just do this. Who is she?"

"She is MEERAB,the elder daughter of the house. My lovely wife. The only daughter-in-law of this house. Your Khaani. She is the ruler of the house. What she says is the rule here. As Ma begum gave her all the keys and responsibilities, that cones with these authorities also. And if you don't want to agree with her desicison no problem. I will make sure you are not in Hyderabad or Karachi. Now choice is yours. And one more thing, Meerab bhabhi. She is elder than you. Talk respectfully with my wife." Murtasim coldly shut her up. While Meerab quietly had her dinner.

Later on that night, Meerab was sitting on bed oddly quiet. As Murtasim read file after file, she kept looking at him.

"Murtasim?"

"Yes Meerab?"

"How does feel to know your have been fooled?" Meerab asked absentmindedly.

"Why would you ask that? Did something happen?"

"Right. How could you do this to Mr Murtasim? You said you will be there for me. All lies. You were just taking your revenge. Because you.. you love Haya right? You should have told me. Why did you do this to me? Why ... you" Meerab couldn't say more as she coughed badly and foam started to come out from her mouth.

Murtasim was swift in his action as he cradled her face crying.

"Meerab you are misunderstanding me
It's nothing like that. Meerab.. I love you. Please don't leave me. You can't do this to me. I didn't do anything. I am genuinely in love with you. You are listening to me right? Ma.. Ma.. " Murtasim was crying and calaaling his mother.

"This is your punishment Murtasim. For making me a fool. Dhoka dia hai tumne mujhe."

"No... no. Meerab listen to me. Please. Meerabbbbbbb."

Murtasim panted hard as he realised it was all dreams. Meerab was there. In his arms. And he tightly held her from the waist.

"Murtasim? What happened?" All Murtasim could think was Meerab will hate him knowing everything.

"I.. I need to tell you something."

"Let's sit on the bed and talk, hmm?"

"Meerab, I wanted to tell you... Meerab, please believe me. I I love you." Meerab just holds his hands. She knew what he's gonna say.

"I know it's weird. At the beginning of the marriage, I just wanted to convince myself that I don't have any feelings or any kind of attraction of you. But no matter how hard I tried, I was bewitched. I just wanted to be with you. I don't know how, but it happened. So I thought if I said this as revenge, I would be able to think correctly.  But it never happened. Trust me when I say I love you. Because I really do. I know nothing justifies me, but it was never revenge. Never a lie. I genuinely love you. Now it's up to you what you want. How will the things go?" Murtasim was crying. But he felt lighter as he shared these thoughts. But Meerab didn't utter a word. So he was about to leave the bed.

But then Meerab called him. "Murtasim. Sleep here."

"Are you sure?" She just nodded.

As Meerab pulled him closer to her, she placed his head in the crook of her neck. She knew she loved him. But it will take a while for her to confess. But they will be there. Only that will help them to move forward in their happy life. But they will be there for sure.

It was two days after that night. Murtasim was out for work, and Meerab was going through the files. She had become oddly quite recently. The way she just ate, slept, and talked just when it was necessary, it was like as if she was mute.

As she returned to her room, she saw her husband sitting there looking lost. She was about to avoid, and then he called her.

"Meerab?" Only for Meerab to turn towards him.

As she came towards him, he softly pulled her on the bed.  Took the set of powder blue glass bangles he brought.

"I was just passing by the shop and saw these. Just imagined these in your hands. They will be more beautiful if you wear them. I really want to see them in your pretty hands. So... can I??"

Meerab looked at his eyes. So deep and dark. As if she could see her world in them. So when she forwarded her hand to him, there was a different glow in his eyes.

He himself made her wear them. He took her hand in his just to say Ma sha Allah. His begum was so pretty. From now on, he is gonna recite ayatul qursi every day to get her evil eyes off.

"Meerab, these look so pretty in your hands."

"Thank you. But on a serious note. Suddenly? I mean."

"You don't have this colored one. So when I saw them and you were also wearing the dress so just bought them."  Murtasim smiled at her.

"Thank you!" She hugged him, making him fall on the bed, and he just laughed it off.

"Seems like someone is a great mood."

"No. Someone just liked getting gifts. Well, you can gift me pizza too."

"Next time, I will keep it in mind."

As they sat for dinner , Ma's eyes went on her wrist. And as usual, she had to taunt her.

"Meerab, we have a class. Why are you wearing these glass bangles? Don't you think it's just rubbish?"

Murtasim looked at his mother in rage. He had gifted her those. His mother never really understood anyone other than  herself.

"Ma begum, I am not an outsider of this family if you remember. Even I have class and standard. I liked them a lot to keep them in the dresser. Hope you understand. " She didn't want Haya to know about her husband gifting her these. Otherwise, that insane woman would do something with these for sure.

Just then, Murtasim took her hand in his."Ma, if you have any problem, talk to her husband. Actually, he gifted these to his wife." That made everyone shut up.

Meerab and Murtasim understood one thing that they have to support each other no matter what happens. That will be their key towards a successful relationship.

Feedbacks please!!<<<<333333