Dhaagey: The Ties that Bind Us

15. the terrace

Murtasim's heart swelled with pride as he stood in the foyer, silently observing Meerab who walked around the living room. He had always admired the way she carried herself, but now, with the anklets adorning her feet, he found himself drawn to her even more. The melodious tinkling of the anklets served as a beacon, guiding him to her presence wherever she went.

The sound was distracting, drawing his attention irresistibly towards her. It was as if the anklets possessed a magnetic pull. Whether she walked, ran, or simply stood still, the tinkling sound served as a constant judge of her proximity, a reminder that she was near and that he could easily follow her like a shadow.

Lost in his admiration, Murtasim marveled at how effortlessly Meerab moved about the living room, her eyes trained on what he guessed was Maryam's assignment. She somehow managed to read it through while piping up randomly to speak with Rumi and Maryam, who were engaged in conversation about a movie they wanted to watch.

Her eyes occasionally glanced in the direction of the foyer. It was as if she knew he was there, watching her, even though he was out of sight. He wondered what gave him away, she always seemed to look up towards a door before he even entered, somehow knowing he was around.

Caught up in his thoughts, Murtasim was oblivious to the world around him until a familiar clearing of a throat interrupted his reverie. He turned to find his mother standing behind him, a knowing smile dancing on her lips.

A hint of embarrassment tinged his cheeks as he realized he had been caught in his silent adoration of Meerab.

With a playful twinkle in her eyes, his mother spoke, her voice laced with amusement. "If you're done staring at Meerab, your uncle is waiting for you... and your phone has been ringing in your pocket for a while." Her words held a gentle teasing, a reminder that his enchantment hadn't gone unnoticed.

The sound of Rumi's voice chimed in from the living room, echoing his mother's sentiment. "WE ALL HEARD IT TOO!" Rumi's playful declaration further accentuated Murtasim's momentary embarrassment.

It seemed that his infatuation with Meerab had been transparent to everyone present.

Attempting to conceal his embarrassment, Murtasim offered a nod of acknowledgment to his mother before making his way towards the door, the original purpose of his presence in the foyer resurfacing in his mind – he was heading out the door but the sound of her anklets had drawn him in like a moth to the flame.

As he walked away, he couldn't help but overhear his mother's words. "We'll have to start thinking about setting dates for their wedding now."

----------------------

"Shhhh!" Rumi hissed, her voice filled with urgency, as the three of them leaned against the wall closest to the door, their curiosity piqued by the conversation they had just overheard.

Meerab's heart soared with joy at the mention of a wedding from Maa Begum. The desire to be wed to Murtasim was like a fire burning within her, fueling her eagerness to start their life together. However, she knew that it was customary for the topic of marriage to be brought up by the elders, not by her. So, while her heart had begged for a quick union, she suppressed her own desires and had waited for someone to bring it up.

But just as quickly as her heart had swelled with joy, it deflated with a pang of disappointment when she heard Murtasim's quiet utterance. "Not yet."

Her mind raced, desperately trying to process the weight of those two simple words.

The rest of his sentence got lost in the chaos of her thoughts, leaving her hanging on the precipice of uncertainty.

Not yet.