Dhaagey: The Ties that Bind Us

9. this is my confession

Meerab woke up feeling warm and a little disoriented.

She couldn't move.

Her body ached, all over, like it had been subjected to hours of torture.

It took her a moment to realize that weight rested on her stomach above the blankets that covered her. And that her fingers were wrapped up in something soft and silky.

Her eyelids fluttered opened slowly, adjusting to the gentle rays of sunlight that filtered in through the windows. The warmth of the morning sun danced upon her skin, casting a soft glow that filled the space with a tranquil ambiance.

Her gaze shifted downwards to investigate what rested on her stomach, a smile overcame her face despite the pain as she realized it was a slumbering Murtasim, his face serenely peaceful as his head rested on her stomach.

She could see the rise and fall of his head with each breath she took.

Despite the lingering traces of pain that echoed within her body, the sight of Murtasim sleeping soundly beside her filled her heart with an overwhelming sense of contentment and gratitude. Meerab's heart swelled as she gazed at him, her eyes tracing the contours of his handsome features. His dark lashes cast delicate shadows on his cheekbones, and a lock of his thick, raven hair had fallen over his forehead.

Her fingers were buried in his hair, and she couldn't help but run them through his locks, feeling the silky strands slip through her fingers. She hadn't done that since he had sought comfort in her after his father passed. She remembered standing for what felt like hours, just playing with this hair, scratching his scalp like she was then.

As sleep gave away, she remembered how she had gotten there.

Murtasim had come for her.

Like she knew he would.

But she didn't know he would stay by her side like he had, she had slipped in and out of consciousness throughout the night, but every time she was conscious, she felt his presence by her side. In those fleeting moments of lucidity, Meerab's gaze would instinctively seek out Murtasim's form, nestled in a chair beside her, his watchful eyes never straying from her face. The dim light cast a gentle halo around him, illuminating the lines of concern etched upon his face.

It had soothed her troubled soul like nothing else could have.

She hadn't reacted well when she first awakened, to the feel of an unfamiliar hand touching her, she had found herself momentarily disoriented, caught in the lingering remnants of what had happened to her. Even though her mind registered that the hand belonged to a kind-looking woman, she had still panicked, recalling the men that had leered at her.

But just as panic threatened to consume her, Murtasim's presence, like an anchor in the storm, enveloped her in a cocoon of safety. He swiftly reached out, his strong hands cradling her face with tenderness, his touch a soothing balm to her wounded spirit.

Gazing into her eyes, Murtasim's voice had resonated in her ears, cutting through the clamor of her anxieties. "Meerab, you're safe. I won't let anything harm you." He had whispered, his words a heartfelt vow that reverberated within the depths of her being.

His words of comfort were like a lifeline, pulling her back from the brink of panic each time her body jumped  at the unfamiliar hands assessing her.

Murtasim was like a fortress standing tall and shielding her against raging storms, enveloping her in a sense of security that no darkness could penetrate. With every wince and moan of pain that escaped her lips, Murtasim's jaw had clenched. She had sensed the tumultuous storm brewing within him, she knew he would have left to kill anyone involved if he hadn't been so worried about her.