'Continuation of part V'

For a moment everything felt numb, 'The steady dut, dut, dut echoed in the middle of no where'. The noise got louder and louder as it reaches at a distance.All the birds on the trees flew away making a loud unpleasing sound as if they wanted to warn everybody about the adversity. A wind blew in silence, it was filled with desolation. Everything was normal, except the series of event which is now going to happen.

Mallick Zuber's hand felt heavy, 3 bullets were shot at the scene. Bakhtu came running from behind with all the gaurds covering murtasim and Meerab. Mallick Zuber had gunshot injury on his hand in which he was holding gun, he kneels down holding the injured hand from the other one. All the bodyguard cocks their gun leveling it on MZ waiting for 1 command from their khan and all the bullets will be in his body. The MZ was groaning in pain, now he was not laughing and even his anger was worthless, the helplessness of the situation had made him silent for the first time.

But their was pool of blood near murtasim, it was Meerab who took the shot over her, murtasim was holding her close his heart, his white kurta was drenched with the blood of his lover, the person he admires the most. He was looking pale, the fear has overpowered the anger he was holding for his enemy, his eyes was concerned filled with tears which he was holding back strongly. He was tapping her continuously taking her name.....Meerab....Meerabbb!...trying to wake her up, she was also calling murtasim meekly, almost in whispers.

A tear rolled down from murtasim's eyes, his voice had desperation while calling out Meerab. Meerab was lying on the ground but he has taken her on his laps.

Murtasim shouted at bhaktu, nhi don't shoot him. He ordered him to call the police and then he scooped Meerab in his arms and run towards the car, he made her lie on the backseat and started driving to hospital.

What happened......

While Meerab was almost reached near Murtasim she covered him from the back facing MZ who fired and bullet hit the Meerab just near her heart, on her left side. Everything happened in a blink of a second. Meerab who was running desperately, her face had a fear and anxiety but she looks calmer now. Murtasim turned around holds the Meerab who was at the verge of falling. MZ looks at Murtasim and fired again towards him after a failed shot but murtasim dodges him while holding Meerab in his embrace and pulls out his gun and fired on MZ's right hand, making him weapon less and injuring his fingers after which bakhtu covered MZ taking the charge of the situation.

Here, murtasim was driving fastly, rushing towards the hospital. Meerab had already lost lot of blood, which could result into life or death situation. But the saviour Murtasim was trying to rescue his wife, he was constantly calling Meerab who has fallen unconscious at the back seat.

After driving for few minutes, they reached hospital and murtasim admitted Meerab, calling the doctors loudly. Doctors also rushed to check her and took her to the ICU immediately.

Murtasim was just helplessly waiting outside, leaning against the wall , his hand had blood, his kurta was also drenched with it. The tear was escaping from his eyes without his concent. His anger has now turned into Agony, he wasn't able to protect Meerab. He was questioning himself, doubting his words of 'sambhal lunga inhe har kadam par', 'mere hote hue tumhe kuch nhi ho sakta' all these words were making him feel like a looser.

Murtasim bends his head, and covers it with his hand trying to calm himself. He clenched his fist and hits hard on the wall but he was feeling so numb that even physical pain didn't affected him.

After waiting for an hour or so, doctor came up with a form which had words 'if something happens to the patient while surgery, doctors and hospital is not responsible for it'. For the first time Murtasim's hand was shaking before signing,it was tuff for him. After signing he hands it over to doctor and said in his stern voice, kuch nhi hona chahiye use..... murtasim khan ki biwi hai vo, agar kuch hua use toh acha nhi hoga! Doctor got startled and frightened by his words, as his eyes was blood shot, his facial expressions were rigid when he stomped towards the doctor, his voice grew louder which was more like a warning for them.

Doctor informed him that they gonna operate on her soon and made a way towards operation theatre.

Bakhtu and other people also arrived, looking at khan.

Murtasim said to bakhtu in his stern voice- bakhtu aap hospital aur haweli ki security badha de, iss hospital me koi mere ijaazat ke bager aana nhi chahiye!

Bakhtu replied ji malik. He ordered gaurds to take their position outside of ICU and made some calls for increasing security.

Murtasim was walking restlessly back and forth comes near the small window from where Meerab's face was visible. He looked at her, she was lying lifelessly on the bed. He closed his eyes to gulp the pain he is feeling for her, when Anwar arrived. He came to village for the work but as soon as he got to know about this incident he rushed towards hospital. He come towards murtasim and asked 'Murtasim Maine suna MZ ne tum par goli chalai hai , tum thik toh ho' his voice was deep yet concerned one.

Murtasim looked towards him and replied ji chacha sahab mai thik hu.

Anwar then looks at the blood and Murtasim's face which was telling a louder story.....he asked again ye khoon, aur tum hospital me kya kar rahe ho?? Murtasim steps towards him his eyes gets softer, he replied while holding his shoulder vo...vo Meerab ko....

Anwar interrupts murtasim and asked Meerabb! Meerab ko kya aur kaha hai vo? Mai haweli gaya tha vaha toh vo nhi thi....Anwar's face was turning into frightened one as the environment around was sighing towards the misfortune.

Murtasim said chacha sahab, Meerab ko goli lagi hai. Anwar gets shocked and looses his balance while murtasim holds him and told him everything.

Answers sits down on the bench, tear rushed from his eyes asked....kaisi hai Meerab ab? Aajtak uspar ek aach bhi nhi aane di hamne par aaj....he stammered.... couldn't able to complete his words.

Murtasim sits down side Anwar and said hosla rakhe, sab thik ho jayega. Murtasim holds his hand and said in assuring voice , he then stands up holding his hand behind his back wiping the lone tear that left from his eyes. Now his eyes had determination, agony was still visible but he knows he had to stand strong in this storm.

He makes his way towards the small window, from where Meerab's face was visible and looked at her for a moment emotionlessly, clenching his fist to calm himself whenever his emotions was getting out of control.

In the operation room,

doctors had to remove the bullet as it can harm the blood vessels more. The tissues were damaged near Meerab's chest but fortunately it didn't harmed her heart. It was a 3-4 hour long surgery as she has lost a lot of blood and doctors were trying to stop it. They then stitched the wound and bandaged it. There was drip and blood transfusion channels in Meerab's hand. After doctors completed with the treatment they came out, murtasim was desperately waiting for them to come. He asked kaisi hai Meerab ab?

Doctor: we have operated, but we can say about her condition after she gains conscious.

Murtasim then asked mil sakte hai usse? For which doc replied ok, but stay at a distance as she is very prone to infection.... murtasim noded.

Anwar was standing behind murtasim, but he let murtasim go inside.

Murtasim rushed inside only to take glimpse of Meerab who was surrounded by multiple machines and oxygen tubes in her nostrils. He took slow steps which seems heavier as went close to her. He stayed at a distance from her as instructed by the doc. He stood near the bed and looked at Meerab from head to toe wanting to inform his heart of her well being as his mind is still stuck on the moment where Meerab falls in his arm after getting bullet.

His eyes was soft, his posture was loose contradicting his strong and uplifted body he always carries. He holds slightly touches her hand on which IV channel was inserted and closes his eyes just to feel her till his soul.

After a moment, nurse comes to take Meerab's vital and told murtasim to leave and he went out.

Outside, Anwar was informing Maa begum about the incident. Murtasim looked around and sighed bakhtu to come.....

Bakhtu- ji malik?

Murtasim in his deep stern voice- mallick ka kya hua?

Bakhtu- Malik abhi police ne use giraftar kar liya hai.

Murtasim nodded with expression and asked security ka kya hua? Ji mallick maine saare bando ko chaukkanna rehne ke liye kaha hai.

Murtasim noded and bakhtu went way, he then pulls out his phone and call someone asking kaha ho tum?

The person on the phone- cabin me hu, tumhara intezaar kar Raha hu.

Murtasim keeps his phone in the pocket and went in the cabin of doctor,he had called his friend who was a senior doctor there.

Murtasim went inside and sit on the chair. his friend was checking the x rays and reports of Meerab. He said- murtasim mai toh tumhe yahi suggest karunga ki she will be better taken care off in hospital.

Murtasim- tumhe pata hai I want Meerab to be safe aur yaha security issues ho sakte hai.

Murtasim stands and walks near the window continuing, mai chahta hu tum achi nurse and aur medical set up karo haweli me! He voice was firm yet concerning one.

Doc- thik hai jaisa tum chaho.

Murtasim- ek aur chij, mujhe kisi bhi chij ki lawarvahi nhi chahiye! I want a doc to be there 24 hours near Meerab so make sure u do that.

Doc- ye sab toh mai dekh lunga, but Murtasim bullet's wound is more life threatening than hit by the bullet. You have to take extra precautions, changing of bandage on time, not giving her stress, keeping an eye on her health and the most importantly not letting wound to become infectious. Are u sure u will able to handle it by yourself?

Murtasim turned towards him and said Meerab Zindagi hai meri aur apni zindagi ko sambhal lunga Mai. Bas tum make sure Karo kisi chij ki Kami na reh jaye.

Doc- ok, I will set things in your room but we can take any call after she gains conscious and it's been 4 hours she still didn't woke up. I am bit concerned about it.

Murtasim raises his brows and furiously said toh kuch karo, tum baithe kyu ko!

Doc- we can't, we have to wait....we have given her best treatment.

Murtasim looked at him bangs his hand on the desk and leaves the cabin without uttering a word.

He went towards Meerab's room where Anwar was waiting for him.

Anwar looked at Murtasim, he was looking furious - kya hua murtasim?

Murtasim calmed himself down and said chacha sahab aap ghar jaye mai Meerab ko lekar aa jaunga.

Anwar- itni jaldi, use toh abhi hospital me rehna chahiye.

Murtasim- maine haweli me intezaam kar diya hai aap tension na le.

Anwar didn't said anything and asked doc ne kya kaha?

Murtasim- Meerab thik hai, ko dekh rahe hai use....fikar na kare ghar jaye and calls bakhtu, inhe ghar le jaye.

Anwar didn't wanted to leave went after murtasim's assurance.

Murtasim then turned, towards the room looked at Meerab which was making him more restless with each passing time.

Few hours passed, it's almost morning. Murtasim was sitting on bench, sometimes walking and sometimes looking through the window. Bakhtu came to him and said Malik aap kab tak is tarah intezar karenge, aap ghar ho aaye he said while looking at the kurta which had the blood stain on it.

Murtasim aggressively said nhi, mai kahi nhi jaunga!

When he saw nurse entering to Meerab's room calling for doctor.

Murtasim hurriedly went near the window, for a moment he felt numb thinking about the worse but as he reached there he find out that Meerab had opened her eyes. He went inside without doc approval and went close to Meerab she had opened her eyes groggily, he hold her hand calling Meerab....Meerab! In a relieving voice like a man who finds Oasis in desert.

Doc checked her, she closes her eyes after few moments.

Murtasim asked why she is not conscious for which doc replied she is still has effects of sedatives which take few hours to go off and it's good she is sleeping as she needs rest, her body is too weak right now. She will require painkillers after she wakes up to bear the pain of the wound.

Doctors then went out and murtasim followed him out. Doc who was his friend said, murtasim take care of her very mindfully. If you finds something unusual in her then do call me immediately.

Murtasim nodded.

He then takes Meerab to the haweli with the help of hospital staff.

She is now sleeping on her bed, with machines all around her.

Murtasim has already told all the maids of the house to take extra care of Meerab after which he entered in the room.

Nurse was near Meerab, she was checking the wound when Murtasim asked what are u doing? For which she replied mai inki bandage change kr rahi hu....for which murtasim noded.

She continued and opens few buttons of Meerab's night gown and opens the bandage, murtasim was looking at her more like keeping check on her so that she doesn't harm Meerab.

While removing the cotten kept on her wound, Meerab subconsciously groaned in pain 'aah', moving her head on other side. Murtasim said aaram se, nurse replied thora pain toh hoga.....

That scene was very heart wrecking for him, he was looking away just to look at Meerab back as he can't see her in pain. Till the time nurse was cleaning her wound, she was groaning in pain.

Murtasim clenched his fist everytime he heard 'aah'. He was standing beside her looking at her. After sometime nurse leaves.

Murtasim was alone with Meerab, she had furrows on her forehead because of pain, he touches her forehead and gently strokes her cheeks trying to give her comfort, saying mai yahi hu.... everything is ok!

Meerab was looking calmer after his touch when she subconsciously moves her left hand, straightening it up which was again causing her discomfort...she lowered her brows and squeezed her eyes, he didn't understand why she is feeling pain.

He observed her consciously when he looked at her left hand and moves it slowly on her stomach placing it in a right angle, she felt comfortable. Her left arm would be paining because of recoiled effect of bullet which he understood.

He then pulls her hair strand away from her face and caresses her hairs, she was still unconscious but her face had serene look which was telling murtasim that she can feel him around her.

Somebody knocked on the, murtasim turned his face asks kon? It was bakhtu.....

Murtasim then slowly touches Meerab's cheek and puts a forehead kiss and leaves.

He went out, one of the maid was dusting near table. Murtasim was crossing from there when a sound of some object falling on the floor comes....he turned around, it was a photo frame that the maid has by mistake dropped. It has photo of them being together, maid started picking it up in hurry but murtasim shouted aap ye kya kar rahi hai?....ye photo frame mujhe de aur ainda ya Nazar na aaye!

Listening to his voice the maid gets frightened and left from there .

Murtasim Touches the photo, it was there wedding pic. It had bring little smile on his face but quickly turns into longing gesture, Meerab being unwell is turning Murtasim hostile.

He looked at the photo for a moment after which bakhtu comes there and he left with him keeping it on the side table.

The police had arrived there waiting to talk to Murtasim.

Murtasim folded his hand behind his back and asked ji kahe!

Officer- khan sahab hame aapka aur aapki biwi ka statement chaiye.

Murtasim- meri Biwi ki tabiyat abhi thik nhi hai, aap mujhse puche said in a cold voice....

Officer- thik hai, kal kya hua tha aap detail me bataye.

Murtasim told everything after which he takes a step and takes the senior officer out with him in the lawn as other junior constables was also there.

He said thanedaar sahab, meri biwi ko goli lagi hai kisi bhi haal me mallick Zuber chutna nhi chaiye. His eyes was big, his stare was deadly while speaking in his stern voice.
He then puts his hand on the officer's shoulder and said ' mere lafzon par aap gor kare aur dhayan rakhe mallick Zuber kisi bhi haal me jail se chutna nhi chaiye' ye aapke aur mere dono ke liye behtar hai, varna aap toh jaante hi hai mai kya kar sakta hu.

Officer said ji....ji....pata hai mujhe.
Par aapki biwi ka statement jald lena jaruri hai nhi toh unhe bail mil jayegi.

Murtasim said uski fikar aap na kare kal aapke pas saboot aur gawah dono pauch jaayenge, aur rahi baat Meerab ki....uska bayan milne me abhi vakt lagega tab tak aap ek strong case banaye, mai kal aapse Milne aata hu.

Khuda Hafiz.....

Murtasim walked inside, it's almost 4pm he went in his room to look at Meerab, nurse was changing her drip. He gazed Meerab for few moments and went outside.

He was walking restlessly, he then sits on the sofa leaning his head at the back looking towards ceiling, takes the long breath, his eyes looks weary, his hairs was messy he hadn't slept for even a second from last night and looks stressed out. It seems he will only get peace after Meerab wakes up.

After few moments, nurse comes and informs murtasim that Meerab has gained consciousness he run towards his room.

_By SR

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