DARBAAR دربار

Mahafaz-۳

" She said she can't marry me" Murtuza said in a heartbroken voice as his friends gave him sympathetic looks.

" I love her and I love that little girl as my own. I can't even imagine a life without them now and she said she can't marry me" he whispered softly.

Altaaf and Maryam both felt their friend's agony, his pain but they also respected the woman in question. They respected her no.

As did Murtuza.

"  It's hardly been a few days since she has come here Murtuza Bhai. Her life has been pretty difficult up until now and maybe she finds it hard to believe you" Maryam consoled him, thinking from Hareem's point of view.

" I want to give her all the happiness that she deserves. That they both deserve but she won't let me" he laid his head back on the couch and willed his tears to stop falling.

But they didn't oblige.

" Chachu, don't cry" Ammar had been playing by his feet, climbed up in his lap and wiped his tears away.

Not liking his big bad Chachu being so melancholic.

Murtuza smiled sadly at the boy and kissed his head that he had laid against his shoulder. He maybe a rambunctious kid but Ammar was a total sweetheart.

" Give her time Murtuza. It might feel all rushed to her. Maybe show her that your affections are genuine. Woo her maybe?" Altaaf put in his two cents worth, not knowing what to say.

Murtuza thought over his words and contemplated it for a few minutes before sitting back up with a determined face. Determination to win his girl over.

He'll show her what their life together could be. How happy they can be with each other and their Little Bug.

" Maybe I'll do just that" he soliloquized.

" I'll take your leave now. My girls are alone at home" he nodded his head at his friends, his face almost unreadable now.

Just like it is when he's planning something.

Murtuza frowned seeing his front door open and his heart was in his throat when he saw signs of struggle.

" Hareem?" He yelled loudly as he searched each room but came up empty handed.

" Aa'idah?" His voice held the fear that he felt in his very being.

He rushed out while calling Altaaf, his eyes darting all over the compound. He should have come after her! He shouldn't have left them alone!

His eyes filled up even imagining the danger they are in and the determination to bring them back was much stronger now. Altaaf finally picked up on the fifth ring and was equally perplexed at what he heard.

It hadn't even been an hour since she left his house and the Haweli grounds were secure. Where could the girls be?

Murtuza was now pulling his hair out in frustration when he couldn't find them even after searching the entire compound. And then the back gate caught his attention.

The gate that was hidden under a rich foliage of Bougainville and was almost inaccessible. Except that it was recently accessed and was left open by someone on their way out.

And he knew it in his heart that his girls were there.

Out there alone in the wilderness that surrounds the Dehwaar Haweli.

" Why is she crying so much! Shut her mouth or I will" Siraaj sneered at Hareem who was weeping too while shielding her baby away from him.

Her crying baby girl away from him.