Murtasim was restless his soul wanted to feel Meerab's presence not physically lieing on the bed but in his arms. He reached running in the room only to find doctor who was checking Meerab. He rushed over her side and holds the bed's pillar to stops himself, his eyes was anxious constantly moving between doctor's hand and at Meerab's face.

Doctor checked her pulses and removes the oxygen tube from her nostrils asking Meerab are you feeling ok? Meerab faintly noded yes. Murtasim gulped and closed his eyes for a moment to give himself a assurance that he can finally breath normally. Meerab's faint gaze then meets with murtasim and she called 'murtasim' meekly, her voice was not audible but enough for the Murtasim's ear to rush and sit around her. The Doctor was explaining something to  nurse standing beside the side table while murtasim sit down keeps his hand across her and asked tum thik ho na Meerab? His eyes was squeezed, his lips was only able to utter this word as he was still in shock. Meerab blinked looking at him wanting to say I am ok, when nurse comes and murtasim gets up she brought an arm sling and let Meerab wear it on her left hand. The doctor called murtasim and said aap inhe kuch light khana ya soup pila de, as her doze of medicine is heavy murtasim noded and doctor left.

Murtasim went out ,asked mai to bring soup for her  and went inside the room nurse was just leaving from there leaving both of them alone. Meerab's gaze was now strong on Murtasim. He came and sit beside her, she tried to lift herself up when murtasim stops her in the middle saying Meerab tum ye kya kar rahi ho! His voice was firm but was filled with concern. He continued tum mujhe bolo jis chij bhi ki tumhe jarurat ho. She looked at him, said I'm not feeling comfortable and murtasim understood she wants to sits. He goes closer to her and puts his hand under her back pulling her towards his chest while her hair falls over his hand, Meerab was looking at him constantly he then takes the pillow kept under her head and straightens it up and slowly makes her lean on it before pulling his hand back. He keeps more pillow on the side just to make her feel more comfortable after which he sits and asked ab thik hai ? And Meerab nodded her head on yes.

(Meerab was wearing black night suit, the bandage was visible from the neck area while murtasim was wearing his white kurta)

After some time mayi comes with the tray of soup breaking the silence of the room both of them looked at her, murtasim told her to leave the trolley  behind and asked angrily itna vakt lagta hai ek soup laane me? She looked down in guilt and said maafi khan, murtasim looked at her and said jaaye ab! Meerab was looking at him silently, if it was another day she would surely get up and fight with him for talking like this. But she remained silent as she knows murtasim is a storm in silence and now his silence has many words which once touched will bring
Havoc.

Murtasim picked the bowl and started feeding it to Meerab, he was still silent. She observed him for a while and asked tum thik ho?

Murtasim- goli tumhe lagi hai mujhe nhi he said his voice had hint of bitterness which Meerab had already senced from him.

Meerab engulping the soup said murtasim mai thik hu ,meri taraf dekho putting her hand having drip channel on his lap and ensured him with a little smile on her face.

Murtasim looked at her, his eyes moving on her face gets softens and for a moment they both shared a gaze.

(Both of them was wounded, Meerab just had a bullet injury but murtasim  was bearing the pain of it, his heart was heavy with the guilt for whatever happened with her wife.The only thing he was trying to do while being in this system is to protect his family which he failed in. He believes that he  is responsible for everything  happening, firstly with maryam and now it's Meerab.)

After sharing a constant fulfilling gaze he suddenly breaks it and looks away as if something is distressing him. He stands up and keeps the empty bowl of soup, Meerab gets little amazed with his sudden move as her eyes flickers around him.

Meerab asked kya hua, while holding her injured side of hand with her other one providing it support. He replied kuch nhi ek jaroori kaam hai mujhe and turns around looking towards her continued tum aaram Karo aur yaha se hilna mat mai jaldi vapis aaunga. Meerab didn't understand what happened suddenly as she looked at him dazely.

Murtasim was leaving when maa begum entered she has come hurriedly after listening about the incident. She looked at Murtasim and asked ye kya ho gaya achanak se! Her brows were narrowed while looking towards him in concern, murtasim didn't replied and she moved towards Meerab asking tum thik toh ho? Ya Allah mere bacho ko hamesha salamat rakhna!

Murtasim was standing at a distance, while maa begum was near Meerab's side she replied in her low voice mai thik hu maa begum.

Maa begum- kaise thik ho, goli lagi hai tumhe Anwar ne bataya tha! She then puts her hand on meerab's face saying beta mai toh dar hi gayi thi, shukar hai Allah ka ki tum khairyat se ho, tum aaram Karo. She looked at Murtasim saying tum kaha Jaa rahe ho as he had picked shawl from the sofa, tumhe toh Meerab ka khayal rakhna chahiye....he replied in his husky voice maa bahut jaruri kaam hai, mai jald vapis aa jaunga and leaves. Maa begum also got little amazed but she didn't reacted much.
Meerab was looking silently while maa begum sat there for a while with her.

Murtasim was in the hall, telling nurse jab tak mai vapis nhi aa jata Meerab ko ek minute ke liye bhi akele mat chorhna. It was more like a warning for her. Nurse nodded while looking down and she leaves.

After the incident Murtasim's behaviour has become aggressive, turning his tone harsh.

There was maryam standing in the entrance of the hall looking murtasim warning nurse and after she leaves murtasim looked at her ,it was first time she is visiting after marriage. Murtasim looked at her while she entered and went inside without talking but their scilence gaze that had little awkwardness as if they wanted to say something to each other but couldn't able to say.

She went inside towards Meerab's room. Murtasim then called bakhtu to bring car as they are going somewhere.

Murtasim sit in the car and after a drive of few minutes they stopped, it was police station. He went inside, there was mallick mukhtaar already sitting with SHO saying kab tak bail milegi mere bete ko, when murtasim enters from behind and said kuch gunaahon ki maafi kabhi nhi milti mallick.

Mallick mukhtaar( MM)- looks at him in amazement.

Murtasim's attitude was on point he comes and sits beside him, pulls his kurta to remove crease and folds his one leg up while looking towards him.

MM- murtasim khan tum yaha?

Murtasim- mai hamesha sahi vakt par sahi jagah pauch jata hu mallick he said in his firm voice

MM's voices gets soft he said murtasim khan mujhe pata hai Zuber ne ye thik nhi kiya par Mai apne bete ko iss kadar Jail me nhi dekh sakta...tum mujhe batao tumhe kya chaiye aur chorh do mere bete ko....

Murtasim chuckled and said while raising his voice koi bhi chij tumhare bete ko maafi nhi dila sakti mallick.

He then sighs bakhtu to hand him the file they had brought and slams on SHO's table saying inme iss case se related saare sabut hai aap dekh le aur baki aapko behter pata hai kya karna hai.

Mallick mukhtaar was looking at his action helplessly. Murtasim gets up and pushes end of the shawl on his shoulder and keeps his hand on mallick mukhtaar's shoulder saying agar mallick Zuber ko zinda dekhna chahte ho toh use jail me rehne do varna tum behter jaante ko ki usne meri bhen aur ab meri biwi ke saath jo kiya hai uske baad Mai uske saath kya kar sakta hu! He said in his loud aggressive voice, his brows  furrowed reflecting the fire he was holding within.

After some time, he reached haweli. He called mayi and asked Meerab in khana khaya? Mayi ji mai unke kamre me lekar gayi thi par unhone khaya nhi. Murtasim folded his hand behind and started walking towards his room.

Meerab was sitting leaning on the head board trying to adjust her arm sling, furrows appeared on her face she was feeling pain when murtasim entered and looked at her, he quickly went towards her and taking seat beside her holds her hand and adjusted the band. She looked at him, her face still had pain but after murtasim done with it he looked down towards her. The room was dim lighted, her face was shining under it's light but her painful expression made him worried he said tumne khana kyu nhi khaya, fir dawai bhi khani hai , isiliye tumhara dard bhadh gaya hai said in little firm voice  continuing aur nurse kaha hai, maine bola tha tumhe akela na chorhe! Nurse! He shouted when Meerab replied maine bheja hai use bahut raat ho gayi thi, mere kehne par gayi hai vo! Murtasim gets silent and looks away from her.

Meerab supports her other hand and asked kaha Gaye the tum? Murtasim ignored and picks up the plate full of food which was kept aside. Meerab looked towards him and asked again raising her voice a little maine kuch pucha hai tumse.

Murtasim's voice gets softer as he didn't wanted to make Meerab worried not wanted to argue with her. Meerab mujhe jaruri kaam tha isiliye aane me late ho gaya par tum khana kha lo you need medicines now,I can see your pain as he looks towards Meerab's left hand which Meerab was holding with other one.

Meerab's eyes traces his look which was concerning after which she gets silent, moreover she was feeling pain. Murtasim offered her the bite of roti, Meerab looked at him making innocent face and eats it without a word. Murtasim was taking care of Meerab like a mother does to her child. He patiently made her eat while she didn't wanted to, after few bites she said bas!
Murtasim- Meerabbb! Tumhe ye khana padega, you are weak already!

Meerab didn't protested much and eat it, after she was done he kept the plate aside and give Meerab medicine .He then slowly made her lie down putting  enough pillows around her, opens the arm sling placing her hand on the other pillow comfortably and gives her a forehead kiss. Meerab closed her eyes to feel his lips gently brushing her skin.

Murtasim takes the pillow from the other side of the bed and keeps it on the sofa, Meerab asked tum vaha soge?
Murtasim replied mujhe kuch files check karna hai isiliye mai yahi so jaunga, tum so jao good night and closes night lamp kept on the side table.

Meerab looked at him blankly but she was contemplating  him. As Murtasim was trying to keep distance from Meerab, he was behaving weird As if something he was feeling guilty about Meerab could sense, the way his eyes were not holding her gaze looking away from her. He didn't even satisfy his soul taking meerab in his embrace which he was craving for whole night waiting outside the operation room. His words has got very harsh while talking to other people which depicts the wounded murtasim who can kill anyone who touches his scar.

After some time Meerab sleeps, murtasim looked at her for a while and pulls his hand to do prayer.

'Ya Allah, zindagi me  kabhi maine tujhse jayada nhi manga par meerab mere liye keemati hai uska saath hamesha mere zindagi isi tarah muqaddas bana rahe' Ameen....

He runs his palm on his face and leans on the chaise of the sofa. He was constantly looking towards her which was like peace for him and her presence was like a Lullaby which filled his eyes with sleep.

The room was dark with peace making it comfortable for them, it was almost 12 pm in night. Murtasim's face had furrows, he moved his head on the other side, gulping down his uneasiness....after which he wakes up calling Meerabbb!, taking deep breath..A nightmare has haunted him shaking his soul, he wakes up and looks at Meerab, goes near her. He sat on the space beside her, gazing her trying to find peace. He was afraid of losing her so much that even a blink of thought about it was horrifying him, he closed his eyes to calm himself while he was sitting beside her. He keeps his hand on his forehead, as if he wants to shut his mind, the voice of bullet fired was egoing in his mind loudly making him restless. He opens his eyes and again looked at her wanting to assure himself, Meerab was in deep sleep under the effect of pain killers.

He sat there for a while after which Meerab tried to change her side towards left which catches murtasim's attention and he stops her, as doctor had clearly mentioned not to let her change side towards the  wounded part.

Even the little things was stressing murtasim, he then looks at her now he was feeling little better as he was close to her. He then caresses meerab's hair slowly and puts his hand on meerab's cheek, she subconsciously tried to bury herself in his hand which brought a little fading smile on Murtasim's face. He stays there for a while looking her, carressing her hairs, and gently strokes her cheeks after which he pulls her night suit a little and looks at the bandage wanting to check that it didn't bleed anyhow.

He then gets up and went outside the room in the balcony, lighted a cigarette and started sucking it in,to blow his tension, fear, stress in the harmful smoke of tabacco.He was taking puffs of cigarettes calming himself but it was more like that he wants himself to stifle getting rids of multiple thoughts that was making him mad. Meerab risking her life was something beyond his thought which had happened making him difficult to accept it, he could even loose her. The thought of not being able to see her again was making him anxious, the sound of bullet was catastrophic for him, devastating him from within. He wants to distance himself from her, to safeguard her but he can't and even she can't be away from him anymore. The word he said to maa begum before  marriage 'use bacha Raha hu khud se'
was the fear he predicted as now he wanted to be away from her but he knows she won't be able to live without him.

The puff got invisible in air hiding the pain of Murtasim's heart from the people around him, but maryam saw him as she was crossing from the hallway. She didn't went to talk to him  because after what she has done, she don't know how to look in his brother's eyes. She went in her room back.

The night changed into the sunshine of the morning, birds chirping was breaking the scilence in the air. Murtasim got up and sits looking towards Meerab, scanning her from his eyes. He had bearly slept all  night as he was taking care of her, checking the saline, making sure its flowing in her veins. He gets up and covers Meerab with one more blanket as he felt coldness is increased.

He then went in the washroom to get changed and walks in the hall, where he saw maa begum giving away Meerab's Jaan ka sadqa to the maid. He looked at her, maa begum told his to stop. He was waiting for her to get free. Few minutes after, she asked Meerab ki tabiyat kaisi hai?

He replied in his deep voice thik hai maa sahab...

Maa begum- beta tum raat bhar soye nhi? Asked in concern.

He keeping his hand on the forehead said soya tha par....maa begum interrupts him and said aao mere saath chai piyo, tumhe acha lagega.

Murtasim sits on sofa while maa begum pours a cup of tea for him and passes it. He takes the sip and the furrows gets lighter on his fore head, she said murtasim mujhe pata hai tum Meerab ko lekar pareshan ho par beta agar tumhe uska khayal rakhna hai toh khud bhi toh khariyat se Rehna padega....

Murtasim looked at her and nodded slightly, she continued....aur agr tum mallick Zuber ka soch rahe ho toh Mai janti hu tum use sambhal loge! said in her authorative voice and keeps her hand on his lap tapping it to give him assurance.

Murtasim nodded again and maa begum said mujhe kuch jaruri kaam se Hyderabad vapis jana padh Raha hai, maryam yahi hai kuch dino ke liye ,mai 2 din me vapis aa jaungi.

Murtasim- ji thik hai maa sahab and leaves.

Here Meerab wakes up, murtasim was not there in the room but nurse was checking her, she removed the drip from her hand and put the bandage on it. Meerab's eyes was looking for murtasim, she asked murtasim ko bulaye! Nurse replied ji aap ye dawai kha le, Mai unhe bulati hu and hands her the medicine. Meerab eat it when she heard murtasim's loud voice from outside saying 'aap sab yaha kya karte hai! '

In Meerab's mind...
Murtasim subah subah kispar gussa kar raha hai aur kyu!

She was lost in her thought when nurse said mujhe aapki bandage change karni hai.... Meerab hands her the glass of water she was holding and said aap ye baad me karle not wanting to feel the pain that incurs in this process. Also she was worried about unusual  behaviour of Murtasim and now she has decided to talk to him.

Nurse insisted Meerab to do it now but Meerab denied for it and told her to call murtasim. Nurse went out.

Outside in the hall, murtasim was shouting on the guards which always there in haweli asking them where they were when Meerab went alone in the car, why they didn't followed her.

Murtasim- ye aapki zimmedari banti hai ki aap log Ghar ke member ko akele naa jaane de , toh aap sab kaha se? He asked in his loud voice.

All the gaurds were standing keeping their heads down knowing their mistake, murtasim scratched his head when nobody replied as he was feeling more furious. He immediately called bakhtu who came briskly and said samjha de inhe ki aainda agar lawarvahi Hui toh Inka hisab mai khud karunga... The words egoed in air, scaring everyone standing there.

When nurse entered and informed murtasim about Meerab denied to change bandage and was calling him.

                                    _ by SR

For now I end the story here, thank you everyone for loving my story it's my first time penning down my imagination.

There is lot of it on the way other part will be 'A Confrontation' stay tuned for it.

And you know it like it if u love it and do leave a comment about how u felt after reading it! ❣️

Also guys I am little busy now a days, but I will try to update next part as I get time.