Meri Meerab *Discontinued*

56 - Naimat

They continued in their wedding preparations for a few days like this. Consumed in the bustle and constant evolving to-do list of tasks to be completed for the big day.

Until a week later, when Meerab woke up extra early becuase a sense of uniness washed over her. She gulped but couldnt get rid of the tightness in her throat, the feeling of nausea filling her. She sat up straight, and pushed the duvet off of her. That didnt help- if anything the over whelming feeling to gag only worsened. Meerab got up and ran to the bath room, just in time to vomit into the sink.

At the patter of her footsteps and the flush of the toilet, the other two woke up. They were concerned for the bride-to-be.

'Kya hoya Meerab?' 'Kuch bura kah liya tha?'  Meerab heard behind her- too sleepy and disoriented to make out whose voice was whose.

Meerab gargled from the running water and felt a towel being placed into her hand. She used it to freshen up and turned to see the two sets of eyes scanning her face. Theyre hands coming to check her temperature and to guide her back to bed.

'Main bas teek hou. Thori si ulti thi.' She reassured them.

'Tumne shaadi ke stress lay li hai. Beshak isse liye pait karab hai.' Mariyum commented. They ahd spent alot of time outdoors, overseeing the tent construction. Overworked would perhaps be an understatement.

'Nahi. Mujhay lagta hai paani zyada pee liya tha, garmi kay wajah say,' Haya reasoned. The summer heat had been particularly scorching. The AC was always turned on but the doors never remained shut- there was always someone wandering from somewhere, to somewhere.

They hummed. That was a probable reason too.

The three of them were too wide awake now. Sleep had escaped them over the concern of Meerabs health- it wasent usual for her to be so sensitive. But then again, their days at the mahal haden't been usual either.

No one thought much of it much of it until she declined her usual breakfast and saw Maa Begum's looks of surprise. French toast was her favourite. Maa Begum questioned, 'Kyun? Pehle kehti the, mitti bread na ho toi main nashtha bhe nahi karoungey. Kahin tumhari tabiyet tou nahi kharaab?'

Their entire family was seated at thw breakfast table- it was a long oval table with more empty seats than filled one. Breakfast still hot, waiting to be eaten. But Meerab had no appetite, still recoving from her uneasy tummy. Her plate was empty, unlike her husband's besides her.

Their househelp had arrived now and had lifted the burden of catering for themselves. They took in the peace of the morning together, before the rush of the day.

'Nahi, Maa Begum. Sara din chalti firti rahoungi tiyaariyoun mei, tou socha aaj light breakfast karleti houn.' Meerab made up- she was having only tea. She adjusted the baby pink scarf around her neck, try to diffuse the attention.

'Jhoot kyun bhol rahee hou Meerab?' Haya asked as shes reached out for some slices of fruit.

Murtasim ears perked up, 'Kaisa jhoot?'

'Ulti aaye the isse. Issi liye nashta nahi kar rahee.' Haya explained.

'Meerab?' Murtasim turned to her to scan her face- trying to gauge if Haya's statement is true. 'Utli aaye the?'

Meerab saw the look of concern on her husbands face- his eyebrows furrowed and eyes concentrating on her with the concentraion of someone trying to decipher her face. His black shalwar kameez set was constrating with the tan of his skin- which only added to the intensity of his presence.

They were all looking at her like that.

She couldnt lie to him- he would see straight through it. As though he had the ability to read her mind.  So knew refuting it would be futile, so she said, 'Mainay isse liye nahi bataya kyun kay tum loag aisay pareshaan hogay.'