Filmon ki Tarah| Completed ✔️

Chapter 15. Part 1 (Maryam ki Kahani)

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In a small village of Pakistan, a magical romance played between two people, Malik Zubair and Maryam Khan. Maryam was the daughter of Shahnawaz Khan, her role and status in the society was of a Princess. Young girls looked up to her, in Salma Begum's court Maryam's presence inspired young girls, she was the definition of an educated aspiring women who didn't went against their cultural norms, in a way she was the ideal. She was religious, studious and gracious in her every moment, holding up to the reputation of her background. One look at her and people could say, she was a royalty, and being all this Maryam was also a kind hearted girl.

Belonging to a well respected family, for outsiders that seemed like a fairytale, but the truth was Maryam was lonely. Her mother, Khan Begum seemed to care more about family's reputation and the women that came to her court, than her own kid. Maryam as a teenager, would gaze out of the window with a book in her hand that she used to distract her mind with. Salma Begum wouldn't let her cry, if she did then she would be sent back to her room. Maa Begum gave her tough love all her life, when all she had craved for was affection.

She didn't remember much about her father's death, but she had memories with her father. Him playing hide and seek with her, reading her fairytales and stories of his youth, he wanted Maryam to be a highly educated woman. He introduced her to literature, world history and archaeology at the mere age of seven. That's what made studies, her solace, if she ever felt lonely Maryam would open her book and get lost in the ancient or fictional stories.

Just like Maryam, Murtasim was going though his own issues, he was seven years elder to her making him eighteen and he got all the rights of the property, the moment his father died, he was declared as the owner of all the land. And that responsibility being headed by a eighteen year old who had never been introduced to this world changed him. Before his father's death, his father had requested him to take care of his family and handed him the pagdi- the weight of his responsibility crushed all the dreams and aspirations he had. And slowly Maryam lost her joyful brother, as he slowly became emotionless hardly smiling and his anger issues scared Maryam to a great extent.

When Haya and Hasan were brought to the haveli, Maryam saw her brother's exterior crack for the first time. She remembered Maa Begum had sent her to their room, to call the two of them, but she heard sound of muffled crying. She peeked in and saw her brother shedding tears, breaking down as he described their father's death.

"Bhai mai unke baazu hi baitha tha, pata nahi kab meri aankh lagi magar jab mai utha toh, Maa ne bola .... Ke Abbu ka inteqaal hogya hai", Murtasim was crying on Hasan's shoulder, Maryam remembered he hadn't shed a single tear at their father's funeral but now his emotions were all bursting out of him. Hasan too broke down, burdened by the accidents and responsibility, he never got the time to cry for his parents death. The two brother's bled out through their eyes, and comforted each other that night.

As months passed Hasan and Murtasim became inseparable, the same was the case for her and Haya. Finally Maryam had a person who played with her, whose hair she combed and whom she passed on the fairytales to. She was no longer lonely, until Maa Begum broke Haya's heart and the siblings departed.

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One fateful day, when the world seemed to shimmer with possibilities, Maryam found herself in a predicament. Her driver had failed to arrive, leaving her stranded amidst a sea of unfamiliar faces outside her college campus. A sense of helplessness threatened to consume her until a figure emerged from the crowd, like a knight in shining armor. It was Malik Zubair, his eyes reflecting kindness and warmth.

"Kya aapko madad chahiye?" Malik Zubair's voice resonated like a gentle melody, capturing Maryam's attention. He was a tall man, wearing a traditional suit and a gentle smile on his face.