Dhaagey: The Ties that Bind Us

6. distress

Rumi rarely screamed but when Meerab had cried on the phone and told her what happened, Rumi had screamed.

Not at Zara.

Not at Murtasim.

But at her for sitting around and wallowing in her misery when it was clear that it was all a misunderstanding.

Meerab didn't understand why she had such a hard time believing the words of the people closest to her when they said that Murtasim loved her. Somewhere along the way, Murtasim's indifference towards her had made her an insecure woman, and she hated it.

Rumi groaned on the other side of the phone. "That's it, I am coming down there, or you'll do something stupid and ruin a perfect relationship!"

"We don't have a relationship."

"Listen, Meerab, I even have the songs I am going to dance to at your wedding picked out along with the outfits. I even know what your and Murtasim bhai's children will look like - "

"Children?"

"Three, two boys and a little girl that Murtasim bhai will dote on because she looks like you." Rumi said dreamily.

Meerab hated how her heart fluttered at the thought despite all the turmoil of the past hour, it was only something Rumi could do.

When she had returned to her room, her first thought had been to call her friend, knowing that she needed something to ground her. Because Rumi was the kind of person who made the world a brighter place just by being in it. She was silly and childish, yet wise beyond her years, her contagious energy and infectious personality had the power to lift anyone's spirit.

"You're crazy." She told Rumi.

"I am right. He loves you."

"Everyone says that, but then why doesn't he say anything?" She asked, the confusion and pain apparent in her voice. She felt like a tennis ball, being hit from one side of the court to the other. Zara and what she had said hit her across the court with force, but Rumi tried to catch her, rather than hit her back.

Rumi paused for a moment before responding, "Sometimes, the things that matter the most are the hardest to say. And just because he hasn't said anything doesn't mean he doesn't love you. You know Murtasim better than anyone, he's not one for words."

"He always talked to me before."

"That doesn't mean that he doesn't love you, Meerab."

"Then explain Zara."

"I don't know, she's...on drugs? Hallucinating? Who knows? All I know is that Murtasim Khan is in love with you."

"He might not be."

"ARE YOU DUMB? HE DROVE 400KM JUST TO SEE YOU FOR AN HOUR."

"Maybe he had something else - "

"Maryam said you two were eye-fucking the whole time!"

Meerab gasped at the words. "Rumi!"

"What?! The point is that he loves you. He even brought you candles, you squealed about it for an hour on the phone after waking me up in the middle of the night."

"Maybe he cares for me, that's it."

"Hay Allah, this girl! SHUT UP MEERAB AND BE THE WOMAN YOU ARE! Get up, pack a bag, and go down to the village and demand an answer. Or you're going to spiral until Murtasim comes back and convince yourself that he's not in love with you – also wear something cute when you go down, it's going to be an epic love confession so you have to be dressed for it."