Dhaagey: The Ties that Bind Us

10. right the wrongs

Murtasim's gaze was fixated on Meerab, his eyes tracing every contour of her face with an intensity that bordered on obsession. The walls he had meticulously built around his heart, the barriers that once held his desires at bay, had crumbled into oblivion when Meerab had awoken in his room.

In the wake of their conversation earlier that morning, he found himself unable to think of anything else but her, going in circles with his thoughts about her and about them.

It was why he had tried to stay away and forced himself to not think of her, because if his thoughts had been this consumed by her presence, her essence permeating every corner of his mind, then he would have not been able to keep her out of his sight for even a day, much less the time she needed to spend in Karachi to finish school.

The mere prospect of her returning after five long years and being in her company had ignited a fire within him, an all-encompassing longing that refused to be extinguished because he no longer had to force himself to stay away. No one had been happier about her finishing her LLB than he had.

Since the moment he had learned that Meerab was making her way back home, anticipation had mounted, his heart had raced with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. The thought of finally being able to gaze into her eyes, to feel the warmth of her touch, and to bask in the radiance of her presence had stirred a whirlwind of emotions within him.

It was as if the world around him had faded into the background, and all that mattered was Meerab.

To his utter displeasure, it had also been a time of disarray, with the Maliks wreaking havoc on the village, unusual disappearances, and ten other pressing problems calling his name just around the time of her arrival back in Hyderabad. Everything required his utmost attention at the worst time.

Despite knowing he'd only see Meerab briefly, he had made the trip back home from the village just to catch a glimpse of the woman he was in love with. It had derailed his whole day but it didn't matter when it came to her.

Murtasim's heart had pounded in his chest as he stood at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for Meerab to descend, for the house staff had told him she had been called down for lunch. Every nerve in his body had tingled with anticipation, and his eyes had not left the staircase for even a moment, yearning to catch the first glimpse of her.

It had been too long since he had last seen her, and the void her absence had created in his life was immeasurable.

When Meerab had finally appeared, Murtasim's breath had hitched in his throat, and his gaze had locked onto her figure. She was a vision of ethereal beauty, her steps cautious yet graceful.

The sight of her had taken his breath away, and for a moment, time had stood still.

Her eyes had met his, and a rush of emotions had flooded through him. It was as if the world around them had faded into insignificance, leaving only the two of them in that suspended moment. Murtasim had admired the way she looked at him, her gaze filled with a mixture of affection and longing.

It was a gaze that he had missed, a gaze that stirred something deep within his soul.

As his eyes had roamed over Meerab's features, he had noticed subtle changes in her since they had last been together. Her beauty had only intensified with time, something pictures did not do justice, and it had felt like a bittersweet torture to take in every detail of her face that he had deprived himself of —the curve of her lips, the sparkle in her eyes, and the way her silky hair framed her delicate features.

She was a masterpiece that had been etched in his heart, and the mere sight of her stirred a familiar ache within him.

He had understood the surge of desire that coursed through his veins then, watching the love of his life clad in a pink suit that made her glow, reminiscent of when he had last seen her up close. He had always fought against his own yearnings, striving to be respectful and honorable. But then, as he stood before her, it had been difficult to not bridge the distance between them, and to not take her in his arms.