Unveiling Meerab [Tere Bin FF]

2. the distance between us

Murtasim found himself immersed in a world of longing and confusion after the rooftop confrontation with Meerab.

He hadn't understood the depth of pain his avoidance must have inflicted upon her until he experienced it himself, the overwhelming yearning for just a glimpse of her over the days that followed their first real fight, a fight about them, rather than the things around them.

The absence of Meerab's presence became an ache that consumed his thoughts and filled his days with a sense of loss. He missed her greatly—her radiant smile, her bickering, the adorable faces she made as she scrolled through her phone, and the warmth of her presence by his side. He had become so used to her that his life felt empty without all of it, as if a vital part of his being was missing.

It pained him to realize that she had started to avoid him, to retreat into a space where he couldn't reach her, because despite everything, she had never done that before. She had fought with him at every turn, followed him, yelled at him, and driven him absolutely mad, but she had never pretended that he didn't exist.

Each morning, he would wake up, only to find that she had already left the room, the smell of her lingering body wash and perfume barely lingering in the room. The woman who detested waking up early had willingly left their shared space at an ungodly hour to avoid him.

Throughout the day, regardless of his attempts to search for her, she remained elusive, like the ghosts he teased her about. It was as if she had vanished into thin air, leaving him to wonder where she hid herself away. Meerab's presence was one that was hard to hide, for as small as she was, her aura was magnificent, yet she had found a place to disappear to.

Murtasim tried working from home, hoping to catch sight of her as he moved his office around the house to be close to wherever he suspected her to be. Yet, she remained hidden, intentionally avoiding any contact with him. He yearned to catch a glimpse of her, to have a moment of connection amidst the growing distance between them as he felt her slip away.

In the vast expanse of their home, he saw her only three times a day if he was fortunate—at breakfast, at dinner, and when she slept. Even then, she maintained a certain aloofness, never allowing their gazes to meet for more than a fleeting moment. Murtasim found himself longing for the sight of Meerab's mesmerizing eyes, the captivating windows to her soul.

He loved her eyes. They were deep brown in color, brimming with emotions that could speak volumes even in her moments of silence. Those eyes had always been a source of fascination for him, revealing the depth of her thoughts and desires with an effortless grace even when she refused to voice it, they had given him hope many times.

However, she deliberately avoided meeting his gaze, denying him the chance to delve into the depths of her being as he so yearned to. It pained him to see those beautiful eyes turned away from him, for they had once held an unspoken reassurance, telling him that things would be okay one day. The absence of that connection left him feeling adrift, unable to decipher the unspoken messages that had once flowed effortlessly between them.

The silence between them became deafening, and he yearned for the sound of her voice. The absence of Meerab's melodic voice weighed heavily on Murtasim's heart. Her words had once been like a symphony, resonating within him and soothing his soul, even when her words were sharp. He longed for the sound of her voice, even if it meant enduring her anger and accusations. Her voice had held a certain enchantment, drawing him in and making him feel alive. But now, the silence between them only intensified his longing. He missed the way her voice would rise and fall, the gentle cadence that carried her emotions and thoughts. The echoes of their past conversations haunted him, and he yearned to hear her voice once more, even if she yelled and hurled accusations at him, most of them, he admitted, were warranted.