Meri Meerab *Discontinued*

45 - Arzoo

Recap.....

Maa Begum thankfully hadent bought up her findings to Meerab. But she had been eyeing up her son for his sneeky antics, after she had told him to stay away from her till the rukhsati.

As a way save Meerab from the whispers, and peace of mind for herself, she assigned all the village duties to Murtasim and allowed Anwar to take charge in Hyderabad. So next couple of days passed uneventfully. Murtasims had work to catch up on and spent his time between Karachi and their village.  Busying himself in the panchayat, making sure his lands were on track for harvest, managing his livestock and rental properties.

Maa Begum had kept the girls occupied in preparations for the week long wedding event, including: the dholki, mehndi , baraat and walimah. They had been busy in designing and mood-boarding their ideas- it was to be a spectacular event set in the grounds of the mahal- after all it was their Khan Murtasim Khan's weddings.

Meerab had insisted for the events to take place at the mahal so she could feel a piece of her mother was involved in the wedding too. So their labourers had been ordered to start work on its renovations- to restore the structural integrity of the palace, ready for their upcoming wedding.

Safdar had sent through the paperwork and he had informed them that he was re-locating to London to be with his children- his ex-wife had arranged to provide a property to live in and they would be more supportive of his addictions. Safdar would finally he debt free and without the responsibility of the mahal- he was born again in a strange way. He htripped away of a burden that had made him become desperate . It wad this desperation that showed itself at the Khan haveli, when he bought Rohails marriage proposal- without a hint of feeling from Meerabs side.

It seemed that his debt was far deeper than he had initially let on. He wasent even so disappointed as the mahal had slipped away from him as Saba had helped him understand the way he had caused his own decay. She had taken it upon herself to guide her father back to the straight path of sobriety.

Murtasim would obviously call his wife to be relentlessly from the goan, whilst he was away.

Meerab had been pondering on the change that had taken place within Murtasim, compared to the one when Meerab had newly returned from univeristy.

He now wanted to talk with her, listen to her ramblings and share his day. Most certainly, Meerab was right when she said burdens where lightened when shared.

Murtasim didnt really regret that first kiss at the mahal anymore. In hindsight, he appreicated that because of that beautiful mess, his feelings spiralled out of control. Once respressed glances and surpressed emotions had come to the light- bubbling over like the lava of a volcano- encompassing everything it touched.

The way he had cared for her in the night at the mahal was the point of pivotal change in his tenderness. This is what spurred Meerab to initiate that cuddle on the balcony, to make the villagers believe that she was his wife and for then to have spent that night together at the hotel.

The time spent away from each other definaltey made the heart grow fonder. Meerab had been informed of his impending return today. As his wife, she had personally taken it upon herself to prepare a feast for him. Much to Maa Begums displeasure, Meerab had spent the better part of the afternoon slaving away in the kitchen.

There was only one confrontation left and tjat was with Anas. It seemed the the Khans that he had gone into hiding... they hadent heard a peep from him since his engagement was broken off.

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Meerabs kameez'a sleeves wede rolled up to her elbows and her bodice covered in her apron, tied around her waist.