Tere bin episode 29
One-shot
Part 1
Murtasim had been silent since that gun shot he fired into the air. The drive back home tested Meerab. She had done nothing that could call her character into question and yet her heart ached. She had not seen Murtasim so withdrawn before. She could hardly bear his silence and indifference. Meerab knew she’d fallen for this man who she’d been forced into a marriage with. He had turned out to be the very opposite of the man she’d assumed him to be. She knew she had been testing his patience these past few months. She had started enjoying and even yearning his attention. She had begun craving his warmth from across the pillow in between them. She started disliking his visits to the village. She had grown used to and dependent on him. She’d be damned if she was going to admit to any of this. Furthermore, there certainly were times that made her question everything. Haya’s constant presence and Murtasim’s engaging behavior led to recurrent doubts. Each time he’d convince her of his truth, another questionable interaction occurred. Then there was his mother. There was the slap snd the banishment from the Haveli and of course the very unforgettable, initial insult at her hands- the forced marriage. And despite all this, the current truth was she did not like his silence. His indifference. Not one bit. They reached home and then their room. Murtasim went to the bathroom and then left.
The night felt cold and dark. Murtasim had later come to bed late when she was pretending to sleep.
The next morning, he got ready in silence. She tried to talk to him as usual. She brought him tea which he left untouched. She was infuriated at his behavior. She was restless. Then she remembered the gun shot and her adoptive father’s words. Legitimate or not, Murtasim was wounded and she needed for him to feel better so she could feel better.
She’d try a bit harder, she thought. On Ma Begum’s suggestion that afternoon, she had started preparing Biryani. Perhaps a candle light dinner for just the two of them would help. She spent hours in the kitchen cooking up a lavish dinner. Hajera baji happily helped her around.
After getting ready she came back down early to ensure the table was set up to her liking. She tasted the Biryani. Murtasim would really like it, she thought. She then sent Hajera Baji to ask Murtasim down for dinner.
Meerab stood waiting by the table. Murtasim walked down a few minutes later and took long determined strides. He made no eye contact and simply walked past her and then past the dining table toward the door. Within seconds, he was out of her sight. She felt a flush of fury and embarrassment especially as Hajera Baji who had been placing the last dish on the dining table witnessed Murtasim’s arrogant rejection of her efforts. Tears smarted her eyes as she nodded her head in fury.
She took a deep breath and reminded her self that, though unintentional, she did play a role in him getting hurt. She was going to wait for him.
It was 11 pm. Meerab had fallen asleep at the dining table. Murtasim walked in and saw her seated alone, her back asleep. He was still angry. Still, the sight of her having fallen asleep waiting for him tugged at his heartstrings. She probably hasn’t eaten dinner, he thought. He was, however, too angry to let that thought continue. His terse voice awakened Meerab.
Murtasim: yaha tamasha mat banao Meerab. Kamre mein jaake so jao
Meerab listened with her back facing him. She turned and walked towards him. Her anger and indignation rose.
Meerab: mujhe kab kya karna chahiye, yeh tum mat batao. Tum achi tarha Jante ho mein tumhara intezar karte karte so gayi thi
Murtasim: mat karo itni koshish. Itni mehnat itni mohabbat. Jis tarha chal raha hai chalne do. He seethed folding his hands in front of her
Meerab held her tears back as her nostrils flared in more anger and indignation: kya tumhe Waqe mujh pe bharosa nahi hai Murtasim, her voice broke
Murtasim: in baaton ka koi fayda nahi, tumhe jo karna tha tumhe kiya. Woh manzar mein nahi bhoolunga
Meerab grabs his collar and pulls him closer: mere kirdar pe koi ungli uthaye yeh mujhe gawara nahi. She lets his collar loose push him back slightly
Pehle keh chuki hoon and ab phir bataan rahi hoon Murtasim, mein Karachi Saba se Milne gayi, Rohail se nahi. Woh mujhe zabardasti ghar le gaya
Murtasim stares at her for a few seconds and then says stoically: yakeen dilana chahti hon? Toh chalo
He grabs her hands and dashes up the stairs. Meerab can hardly keep up with his pace nearly losing balance. They make their way to the terrace. He lets her hand loose with force lunging her forward.
Murtasim: jump…now..
Meerab with tears in her eyes asks him softly in shock: yaha se kudne se meri sachai saabit hogi?
Murtasim responds matter of factly: bilkul
Meerab looks at him tears and rage building up further threatening to spill over her face: theek hai and steps onto the edge
She slightly looses her balance letting out a loud gasp. Murtasim’s heart leaps to his mouth and he grabs her hand from
behind with full force. He can hear his own palpitations and gasps ‘Meerab’
Once she’s stable, still holding her hand Murtasim regains his voice. Firmly he says: ya phir ek vada karo
Meerab turns around and leans forward with her other hand on his chest. He reaches with his other hand sliding it on onto her waist steadying her. He’d never held her this way except when they once danced.
She stares at him and then says: Marjana wade karne se Kai zyada asaan hai
With that she pushes him back and disappears through the doors. Just then the lights go off
Murtasim, still recovering from the sudden jolt of seeing her nearly leap, strides on in the dark, heading to his room in urgency guessing that’s where Meerab must’ve gone
He could never remain indifferent for too long. He’d suppressed his emotions at Waqas Chacha’s house ultimately unleashing them partly through a bullet shot into thin air but his anger, his hurt, his restlessness was far from over. It was heart over mind now and he wasn’t thinking rationally anymore. He didn’t know what he was going to say or do but he just knew he wanted to go after her. A little more misstep and he may have just lost her
Making his way through the dark, as he is about to pace through the corridor towards his bedroom door, he hears a loud wail that stops him in his tracks.
Murtasim saaaab. Biryani thandi ho gayi. Microwave aur chulha bhi band ho Gaye. Ab kaise garam hogi?
It’s Hajera Baji..staring at him in agony at the tragic turn of events.
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