Meem se mohabbat OS - Humsafar part 2 - Ibtida

Talha sat in his living room, attempting to focus on his laptop. It was a sluggish Sunday, and concentrating on work was proving to be a challenge. His gaze kept drifting toward his wife, Ayat, who sat a few feet away on the floor, surrounded by a pile of books, deeply engrossed in her assignment. She looked endearing—her brows furrowed in concentration, her curls falling into her face, and her nose scrunching up whenever she encountered a moment of confusion. She was so absorbed in her work that she seemed oblivious to everything else. There was a time when her lack of dedication would frustrate him, but now, it was her complete absorption in her studies, leaving him unnoticed, that irked him.

Ayat was immersed in her assignment; the submission deadline was tomorrow. She missed Uncle Abid—he would have guided her and offered suggestions. Her project design was nearly complete, but something about it felt unsatisfactory. She scrunched her nose, pondering how to improve it. Glancing over at Talha, she caught him quickly turning his head back toward his laptop. Had he been looking at her? She dismissed the thought. Why would he? After all, this was Talha Ahmed—a man who prioritized his work above all else. Could she ask him for help? Would he even be willing to assist her? Talha was an exceptional engineer, and it wasn't just her love for him that had inspired her to pursue engineering—it was his passion for his profession that had ignited her interest in the field. She continued to watch him, unsure whether to seek his help.

"Kuchh puchhna hai aapko mujhse?" Talha asked, without looking up, sensing her gaze and understanding her hesitation.

Ayat was startled by his sudden question. How had he known she was looking at him? "Nahi... I mean, haan... actually... woh" she stammered, unsure whether to ask for his assistance.

"Araam se bataye" Talha said, finally glancing up from his laptop to meet her gaze, his expression soft.

"Aap... woh assignment hai, maine complete kar liya hai, lekin agar aap ek baar dekh letey, agar kuch thhik na lagey toh..." Ayat's voice was tentative, almost hesitant.

"Zaroor" Talha replied, his eyes twinkling with a gentle smile playing on his lips. He had always loved being a civil engineer, but today, he found himself falling even more deeply in love with the subject.

A wave of relief washed over Ayat as she heard he would help her. She quickly grabbed her chart paper, made her way over to the sofa beside him, and sat at a respectful distance. Placing the chart paper on the table, she began explaining her assignment, outlining the solution she had formulated.

Talha watched her intently, captivated by the way she spoke so passionately about her work. His gaze alternated between the chart paper and her face, struggling to stay focused on her explanation instead of losing himself in her presence.

"...toh, bataye aap." Ayat concluded her explanation.

Talha examined her design, clearly impressed by her work. However, with his years of experience, he quickly spotted areas where improvements could be made. "Aapne jo design banaya hai, woh bohot khoob hai," he said, genuinely appreciative.

Ayat's heart swelled with pride at his praise. Hearing Talha compliment her, gaining his approval, was priceless to her. She offered him a triumphant smile, one that made his heart flutter.

"Bas, yeh kuchh enhancements se aapka design aur behtareen ho jaega. Agar aap entrance ke paas yeh..." Talha continued, suggesting the changes he thought would enhance her design. As he pointed out each modification, Ayat's smile gradually faded, replaced by a frown. He had found flaws in every aspect of her work. She had already felt dissatisfied with her design, but now, she felt as though she had completely missed the mark.

"Bas yeh kuchh cheezein badal lijiye, baaki sab perfect hai. Good job!" Talha concluded his feedback.

"Ji, shukriya." Ayat muttered, her voice tinged with disappointment, her frown lingering.

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Ayat had nearly completed all the changes Talha had suggested and felt a surge of pride as she gazed at the final design. Holding the chart paper in her hands, she moved closer to Talha, narrowing the space between them, and presented her work. "Yeh dekhey" she said, her voice filled with pride.

As she sat near him, her arm brushed against Talha's. She was too absorbed in admiring her design to notice how close she had gotten, but Talha was acutely aware of the proximity. He instinctively shifted slightly, attempting to give her some space, but he was already positioned at one end of the sofa. His heart raced, and he worried that Ayat could hear the thumping in his chest. Stop acting like a teenager, he chastised himself internally.

"Arey, dekhey na" Ayat repeated, glancing at Talha, and only then did she realize how close she had moved to him. Talha's eyes loomed over her, and she found herself gazing directly at his lips. She could feel the warmth of his breath brushing against her face. Ya Allah, how close I am to him, she thought, her heart skipping a beat. She quickly lifted her gaze to meet his eyes and found him staring at her with an intensity that left her momentarily breathless. They locked eyes, both unsure of what to do next. Ideally, Ayat should have shifted to the other end of the sofa, creating some distance between them, but she was too stunned to think clearly. She was lost in the depths of his gaze, and her nervousness seemed to overpower her.

The sudden ringing of Ayat's phone shattered the stillness of the moment. She jumped up with a start, almost feeling a sense of relief, and hurried to grab her phone, silently thanking Allah for saving her from further embarrassment. Talha cursed under his breath, relieved that the tension between them had finally broken. The awkwardness had passed, but a part of him felt a pang of longing for the warmth of her presence beside him. He watched Ayat smile as she answered the call, hearing her say, "Assalaam Vaalekum... Haan, Zahir, mainey assignment kar liya hai," before she quickly left the room to continue her conversation.

A flurry of questions bombarded Talha's mind—who was Zahir? And why had she felt the need to leave the room to speak with him? They had been discussing her assignment, but there had to be something more personal that made her step away from him. Talha wasn't doubting his wife; he knew her too well. Yet, how could he trust a stranger so easily? His sweet, innocent wife wasn't exactly known for her ability to judge people's character, and her past only added to his concerns. No matter how hard he tried to push it away, the gnawing jealousy and bitter ache in his chest refused to subside.

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Ayat swiftly ended the call and tried to steady her breath, her heart still racing from the proximity she had shared with Talha. She silently thanked the call for providing her a reason to leave the room and compose herself. Standing in the passageway, she inhaled deeply, letting her heartbeat return to normal. After a few moments, she gathered herself and entered the living room again.

She took her chart paper from the table and, without sparing him a glance, began to return to her original spot on the floor, determined to resume her work.

"Kiski call thi?" Talha's voice broke the silence. He hated how invasive he sounded, but the question had slipped out before he could stop it. He knew it was wrong to pry and had been trying to mind his own business, but the jealousy gnawing at him wouldn't let him be.

Ayat's brow furrowed in surprise at his sudden, pointed question. She turned toward him, trying to mask her surprise. "Ek college friend ki." she replied.

What a response! Talha thought. He knew that already, but he couldn't help himself. He wanted more details. "Kya keh raha tha?" Talha asked casually, now treading carefully. He knew Ayat could snap at any moment, but as a husband, he wanted to know about the people in her life.

Ayat paused, searching his face, wondering what had sparked this sudden interest in her life. She had no intention of being rude, but his persistence felt strange, almost too personal. "Bas assignment ke baare mein puchh raha tha." she said, hoping that would satisfy him.

Talha's response came a little too quickly, his words laced with an undertone of something more. "Kyun? I mean... sabko apni assignment khud complete karni chahiye," he replied, his tone tinged with jealousy, despite his attempt at sounding casual.

Ayat's patience was beginning to wear thin. She'd tolerated his probing long enough. Yet, something held her back from snapping. She wanted to say that it was none of his business, but she also knew that he had just helped her with the assignment. It wouldn't be right to snap at him. "University assignment nahi hai yeh. Zahir ke bade bhai ki company mein internship ke liye apply kiya hai maine. Ussi ki assignment ke baare mein puchh raha tha woh." she explained, trying to keep her voice calm, even as her frustration simmered beneath the surface.

A rush of emotions flooded Talha's chest as he processed her words. So, she was applying for internships elsewhere now. Talha's mind flashed back to the day he had fired her from Ahmed Associates, and regret twisted in his chest. He wanted to offer her an internship there now, but he didn't have the courage.

"Aapko nahi lagta aapke liye zyada hectic ho jaega, university aur internship saath-saath manage karna? Mohid bhi aapka kaafi waqt le leta hai." Talha said, his voice softening with genuine concern. His jealousy was real, but so was his worry. How was she going to manage so many things at once?

"Isiliye Zahir se baat ki hai. Aisey kisi random company mein internship nahi kar rahi. Zahir ne bata diya hai ki flexible timings chahiye hongi mujhe." Ayat explained. She watched Talha carefully, noticing how the mention of Zahir made him tense. She couldn't help herself—she didn't want Talha thinking anything wrong about her. "Also, shifarishi nahi hoon main wahan. Bakayda pura interview process de rahi hoon." she added, wanting to assert her independence and show that she was more than capable of securing this opportunity on her own merit.

"Haan, aap bohot kaabil hain. Ahmed Associates ko bhi zaroorat hai aisey kaabil engineers ki." Talha replied meekly. They had a family business, and deep down, he didn't want her working with Zahir or his brother.

Ayat's lips tightened, her patience now fully tested. "Toh dhundh lein kaabil engineers. Main bhooli nahi jis tarah beizzat karke apne nikala tha mujhe." she said sharply, her anger finally bursting through the cracks of her composure. She had endured enough of his questions. Enough of his subtle insinuations. She was done with playing this game.

Talha saw the storm coming. He stood up from the sofa, closing the space between them, his eyes locking with hers, a raw vulnerability in his gaze. He knew this was the moment he had to apologize. It was long overdue, and he wouldn't let her slip away without speaking his truth. "Maafi chahta hoon main apni uss harkat ke liye. Bohot sharminda hoon main. Aap turant maaf kar dey, yeh umeed nahi mujhe, lekin ek baar meri majboori samajhne ki koshish karein." he said, his voice thick with emotion. He couldn't bear to let her carry this hurt anymore.

Ayat stared at him, her emotions conflicting. She had always known Talha to be proud, stubborn even, but here he was, breaking his pride to offer her something she hadn't expected—a sincere apology. But no matter how sincere he sounded, the bitter memories of the past were too vivid. "Aapki majboori jaanti hoon main. Sabeeka tha na uss majboori ka naam jiski wajah se aapne nikala tha mujhe?" she shot back, her voice raw with the pain of old wounds.

Talha took her hands in his, his grip gentle but firm, as if trying to reach her soul. "Ji nahi. Sabeeka kabhi bhi meri majboori nahi thi. Majboor insaan uske saamne hota hai jissey woh mohabbat karta hai, jiski woh parwaah karta hai. Maine aapko Sabeeka ki wajah se nahi, aapki wajah se nikala tha. Aapki roshini ko mera saaya dhundhla naa kar dey, isliye aapko nikala tha." he said, his words trembling with emotion. His heart was laid bare before her, but he wasn't sure if she could see it.

Ayat's heart wavered as she tried to process his words. It was a truth she had never considered before, and it made her question everything she thought she knew. She wanted to argue further, to push him away, but standing so close to him, feeling the sincerity radiating from him, she found it hard to continue the fight. Her heart began to melt against her will, but she quickly stepped back, putting physical distance between them.

"Maazi ki baatein karke apna time waste nahi karna chahiye humey." Ayat replied coolly. She couldn't stay in this moment any longer, not with the emotions stirring inside her. She quickly gathered her things, her hands shaking slightly as she left the living room. Her heart ached, torn between the sincerity in his words and the fear of being hurt again. She wasn't ready to forgive him. Not yet. She wasn't ready to open herself to him again, to let him shatter her heart.

Talha stood there, frozen, watching her retreating figure. After so many days, he had finally found the courage to apologize, to express the remorse that had been eating him alive. But Ayat had pulled away. Yet, he wasn't ready to give up. He would wait as long as it took. He would wear down her walls, make her see how deeply he cared, and no matter how long it took, he would win her love back.

As Ayat disappeared into the hallway, he sank back onto the sofa, his mind racing. He had laid his heart bare, but her walls were still standing tall. He knew it would take more than words to bridge the gap between them. It would take time, patience, and perhaps a little vulnerability on both sides.

In her room, Ayat leaned against the door, her heart still pounding. Talha's words echoed in her mind, stirring emotions she had tried to bury. She wanted to believe him, to trust in the sincerity of his apology, but the scars of the past were still too vivid. Yet, deep down, a small part of her longed to let him in.

She glanced at the chart paper in her hands, the one she had worked on with Talha's guidance. It was a symbol of their shared effort, a reminder that despite everything, they could still create something beautiful together. Clutching it tightly, she let her tears fall, each one washing away a fragment of the sorrow that had weighed on her heart, making room for forgiveness, for healing, and for a new beginning.

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