Dhaagey: The Ties that Bind Us

8. lost and found

"Bhai! Is she okay?" Maryam asked as Murtasim carried an unconscious Meerab into the house.

Maryam's heart was pounding in her chest as she saw the woman who was no less than a sister, unconscious in her brother's arms. The brown shawl Murtasim had been wearing was wrapped around her tightly, her yellow suit she wore peeked out in places, covered with dirt.

Seeing Meerab so affected Maryam more than anyone else would have, for Meerab was the strongest woman that Maryam knew, and her state told her that she had gone through hell. Maryam couldn't even begin to imagine the horror that Meerab must have gone through in the hours that had passed between Maryam seeing her being taken and right then.

She had been missing for over seven hours, the scariest hours of all of their lives.

"The doctor should be here soon, bring her to my room." Murtasim's voice was low and rough with emotion, deep lines were etched into his forehead, and his jaw was clenched with tension. He did not even look away from Meerab for a moment, even as he spoke, as if something horrible would happen if he did.

Maryam nodded, pointing to one of the maids and motioning that she wait at the door. Her eyes remained on her brother as he rushed through the hallway, his movements deliberate but careful.

"Khan, let us help..." One of the maids said as she and her father stepped towards Murtasim. But as they reached out to take Meerab, his demeanor changed.

His eyes darted up, and his jaw tightened as he stepped back, shielding Meerab from their grasp.

Maryam could feel the tension radiating off him, his body seeming to vibrate with anger.

"Don't touch her." His voice low and dangerous as he clutched Meerab closer to his chest, as if he was afraid she'd slip away forever if he let her go. Like he didn't trust anyone else to touch her.

The raw, visceral display of protectiveness made Maryam's heart ache. She knew how much Murtasim cared for Meerab, even if he didn't say it out loud, but seeing him like this, so vulnerable and desperate, made her wonder how he had coped with the hours he had been searching for her...and how he had lived without her for so long.

Murtasim walked her swiftly to his room, like he didn't even trust her to be anywhere but the safety of his space, with him. For once, he didn't seem to care about how it would look or what people would say.

Maryam let out a shuddering breath as she followed Murtasim to his room, remembering the man her brother had become when she had told him that Meerab had been taken.

He hadn't picked up his phone when she frantically tried to call him so she had rushed to the house to tell him. Anger and fear had burned in his eye, and Maryam had dreaded that he would burn the whole village down in his search for Meerab.

The anger had barely hidden the turmoil on his face though. Maryam only knew Murtasim to be strong and capable, a protector, so to see him being so vulnerable and overcome with emotion had shaken her to the core. She had never seen her brother cry since their father had died, but his eyes had swum with tears as he took in a trembling breath, whispering Meerab like it was a plea to the heavens to send her back. It had sent a shiver down her spine, the whisper was so low, so fragile, and yet in that one word she had heard all the pain and fear he felt.

And then the yelling had started, and her brother's face had contorted with rage

Maryam had watched helplessly as her brother's eyes burned with a fierce intensity, like a wildfire that threatened to consume everything in its path. He barked orders at the servants and guards, his voice laced with venom and urgency, demanding that they find Meerab at all costs.