Meri Meerab *Discontinued*

41 - Chaukat

After a while of feeding and being fed cake, Meerab had tied her hair up and wrapped a ribbon around it to hold it in place. That was despite the look of displeasure in Murtasims face, proofed by the uncurl of his moustache.

The A.C's were on full blast and the glass doors had been closed, but there was just so many people. So much energy in the room. The heat had won.

After cake, there were photos, and chit-chat, followed by a feast.

It seemed to Meerab that perhaps she hadent quite anticipated the change that two words would bring about in Murtasim.

Throughout their dinner, he had firmly kept his hand ontop of her thigh, ever-so-slightly pulling it towards him. She had tried to hold it in place, but the two opposing forces had caused her to be ever focused on his grip there, only covered only by the drape of an excessivley large table cover.

At one point, she even dropped her metal cutlery when he had tugged her leg closer to him, it took her back to that night when he had draped her leg over him to at the hotel and then, the entire hall heard the clang of metal on her fine china plate. It was a sharp noise and everyone turned to see her, and she felt like a deer caught in headlights.

The table were distracted only by Murtasim's cough and him reaching out for a glass of water- which is when a server rushed forwards and poured him a glass. He then began to talk about Meerab's haveli and its history, and everyones attention had suddenly turned to him and she was thankful. Meesna.

The need to touch her also has not been lessened by the sight of Meerab with children at their party- just as he had envisioned the previous day as she was sitting ontop of his desk.

They were stood infront of a decorated wall, a simple sort of backdrop for photography.

Meerab had picked up up a child. One of Murtasim's family friend had stepped forward at that point to click a few photographs. So she had gotten hold and was resting a three year old boy on the curve of her hip, and he played with the bangles on her arm, focusing on the shimmering and clinking of the glass upon one another. Thats when he thought... Meerab would be a lovley mother.

Meerab titled her head towards the child and displayed a soft smile- they were posing as the camera clicked before them but Murtasim failed to look at the photographer.

Meerab knew she was the centre of attention today, but she was ever aware of his constant gaze upon her- not that she was complaining.

It was only when the camera flashed and Meerab whispered 'aagay dekho,' he realise where he stood and he placed his arm around the bride, resting on her lower back and perfecting his stern glare, looking straight ahead.

Then they were done, Murtasim turned to firmly shake the mans hand, and his eldest sons hand- Naurez, and to thank them for being in attendance.

Meerab wanted to place the little boy down by bending till his feet reached the ground and he stood stabley. Well thats what she attempted - but she couldnt bend over in this heavy dress without anything pulling her veil out of hair, as it had been secured into her hair and dress with countless pins, so her eyes looked up to find Murtasim's and then he understood.

Her knight in shining armour.

Without any further prompt, Murtasim extended his arms to get hold of the child from under his arms said and he was passed from Meerab to Murtasim to the ground. 'Jao khelo.'

It just when he had let go of the child, did he see her skirt tugging along with his arm, clinging on to the sleeve of his blazer. Some of her zardoori work had unravelled and had twusted itself between the fibers of his clothes and had decided to follow the groom.