Can't believe that Murtasim did something wrong with her. So this is our MeerAsim in parallel universe, madly in love and understanding.

Meerab and Murtasim were each other's best friend as long as they  could remember. As Meerab's mother, Nadia passed away in the labour, Ma begum raised her like her own child. She was more attached to Ma begum than her own father.

And Murtasim, his world seemed to revolve around his Meerab. Whenever she felt sad about her father's absence he would sit with her and make every attempt just to see her smile again.

Maryum was her sister she never had. They ate together, laughed slept, played and what not.

But one day it all changed. Or to say her Murtasim changed.

When their phupho, Samantha Rehman and her husband Fawad Rehman died in a car accident, their daughter Haya came to stay at with them.

And she snatched everything from her.

As she lost her  parents in a young age, Maryum consoled her and started to be with her more. And it was always them. Whenever Meerab went to them, Haya just shooed her away. Her poor heart was broken.

Then came Murtasim. His attention divided between her and Haya. He laughed with her, made her laugh. And that didn't seem well to her. Wasn't this gesture just for her only?

Haya was too touchy to say. She would just keep her hand around his arms, pull his checks. And he didn't seem to notice. Why?

Does he like her doing that?

No it can't be. She just can't lose her sister, her best friend. But she had nothing to do.

After someday, Murtasim shifted to London for his higher studies. Just before the night of his departure, they were sitting on the terrace. Alone.

"So, you are leaving tomorrow!" She pathetically started the conversation.

"Yes. For 4 years." He whispered.

"Go. Just don't forget me please." She dreaded it. Period.

"Meerab, I just can't forget you even if I want to. You are my best friend. The one who knows me the most." He then pulled out a beautiful bracelet from his pocket.

"Always wear this. I really wanted to gift you something else but for now this seems to be perfect."

"Thank you." And it was silence again until he softly called her.

"Meerab?"

"Hmm."

"The moon is beautiful, isn't it?"

"There is no moon you duffer. The sky is dark, look carefully. "She scoffed.

He just smiled. A smile that conveyed everything. His longing, love, pain, happiness.

Only if she wasn't too naive to understand that time.!

It was after somedays of his departure, she found Haya flaunting the same bracelet in her wrist.

"Meerab, see Murtasim gave this to me. Pretty isn't it? He especially brought it for me. So sweet."

She just looked at her blankly. Did she really lost her best friend?

She blankly looked at her smiling face and left the place. She couldn't just digest the fact that he did this to her. She just cried and cried until sleep took over her. It felt like she lost everyone today.

------

It was 4 years later when the day came. He came back. He came for forever. His mother was so happy to say the least. She couldn't just hold her excitement..

"I'm so happy beta that Murtasim is back. I just want him to get married as soon as possible. What do you say Meerab?" She asked.

"As you wish Ma."

"Why are you taking her opinion, ma begum? She isn't ghe one who is getting married to Murtasim. "

"Even you are not the one. Keep your dreams low." Ma begum shuts her up.

That night they were again in terrace. But this time she was full blank. He awkwardly started the conversation.

"Meerab? Is everything alright?"

"Yes."

"Then Where's the bracelet?"

"I lost it." She lied. She just couldn't digest that he gave the same one to haya also.

"Oh. No worries. I will buy you more." She just kept silence and started to leave.

"Meerab, the moon is beautiful isn't it?" Again he asked the same question after all those years.

"I don't watch the moon anymore."

"Why?"

"They remind me something I must forget." With that she left.

And the next morning on breakfast table she dropped the bomb.

"Ma, I wanted to say something."

"Yes.'' "You know I want to study law." She started and took a glance of him. He was really into his breakfast and pay no heed to her.

"And?"

"And I got admission in Karachi. I really want to do the course."

"That's fine. When do you want to go?"

"The day after tomorrow. "

She left and he didn't utter a word. When she returned after straight 3 years, not that she never visited. But he was never there. And Haya always speaking about her and Murtasim made it unbearable for her that she stopped coming.

She kept sending hers and Murtasim pictures. That broke her. Made her insecure.  A girl who never received her parents love, brought up by chachi she found a solace and a best friend a person to talk in Murtasim.  So when she saw him going away, she started doubting everything.

--------

It was chand raat. People of the house was busy in  cooking, applying mehendi and what not. Everything was joyful to say. But she had none. Ma begum bought her expensive dresses but she really wanted to buy some churiyaan and jhumkas matching her outfits.

But she had none to talk her to market. Not that she is not capable of doing that it just that Ma won't like it. She only  had her left who cared, talked to her and didn't want to disappoint her.

So when she asked her about this, she told her to ask Murtasim.

Agh! Life sucks big time!

She slowly went towards his room just to see him busy in files. So she apparently dropped the idea to go. To her bad luck, he saw her and

"Meerab? Is everything okay? You want something?"

"I want to go to the market. Churiyaan leni hai. If you busy then let it be." She added.

"No. I am coming. Chalo." She watched him as he drapped his shawl around his  body, set his hair and wore the watch.

He was handsome.

As they came to the foyer, they met Haya.  "Where are you guys going?"

"Market." Was his reply.

"Really. Even I need to buy some things. Let's go." Meerab knew she had practically robbed all the designer stores. Even brought a diamond set much  to Ma begum dismay. She doesn't have anything to buy rather that sticking to Murtasim.

As they came towards the car, Haya ran to sit on the passenger seat. Meerub just looked at her blankly then went back to her neutral self.

"Murtasim come fast." Haya shouted much to her dismay.

"Bakhtu, please drive the car." The twist came when he handed the keys to his most loyal man and sat on the behind seat with her.

The air inside the car felt thick and hot and she found herself sweaty despite of the AC being on. It was 6 almost 7 years later when they sat this close with him.

"Meerab? Are you alright?" He whispered in which she nodded unable to form a single word.

She gasped as she felt their fingers brushing. A mere touch of him was enough to send shivers down her spine. Rest of the ride was awfully quite as she focused outside just to ignore him.

-----

As they reached the market, Meerab ran to the bangles store. Her eyes twinkled to see all those Chudiyaan. Of different colors. She choose the powder blue one and asked the seller to show her. As he tried to put them in her hands, Murtasim glared at him only to snatch the bangles and her hand just to put them by himself. As he did, Meerab couldn't help but admire him how carefully he made her wear that.

"Meerab, you could have just brought just a diamond set. What's the need to buy these cheap things?"

"What's the need to open a cheap mouth?" She argued.

"Murtasim did you hear what she said? Why don't you say something?"

"Haya just don't irritate me. Buy something if you want to otherwise keep quite." That shut her up..

As they passed by the jhumkas stall,  Meerab brought some jhumkas.

"Done?" He asked on which she just nodded.

They sat on the car. This time he and Bakhtu on the front sit and girls on the back. On the way back home, he found a boy selling gajre. He brought two of them in some extra price.

As they reached home, Haya straight away went inside fuming whereas Murtasim stopped Meerab.

"Chand raat mubarak aapko." He whispered as he made her wear those gajre making her breath hitch.

Was her best friend back??

The real bomb dropped on everyone when Ma begum suddenly announced

"Maine Meerab ko apne bete Murtasim k liye muntakhib kar lia hai. In sha Allah agle jummah inka nikah hai."

------

I had to part it into 2. I just couldn't write anymore. Writer just destroyed Murtasim's character .

Our handsome, romantic murtu!💔💔

Next one will be on Murtasim's pov. Stay tuned.

Feedback please.<3333.