Ittefaq Say (MeeraSim FF)

12 - Safr

Then she turned to Murtasim. 'Kar do ga, sherr?,' she asked, hoping he would oblige her. After all, he had found it for her so could have easily pocketed it whilst she was out having an altercation with Farukh over a theft that he hadn't commit. ( Will you do it for me, lion?)

'Dey do,' he confirmed whilst reaching towards her to retrieve it- always eager to help. It felt impossibly small in his hands, and he wasn't experienced in such delicacies. ( Give it.)

Meerab twisted in her seat, and he sat behind her as she pushed her hair to the side and then lifted it for him, creating a safe tunnel for the necklace to pass through.

His fingers tips pinched either end of the chain and pulled it back at either side of her neck, leaving a cool path of goosebumps in it's trail over her décolletage.

Murtasim tried hard to inhale softly, only as much as necessary, wondering how she smelt so sweet, floral yet zesty like gardenia. It was all encompassing, overwhelming on his senses and he decided in that moment that he would willing be held ransom to it. Was it intrinsic, or had she smuggled a bottle of perfume in that measly bag of her's, he questioned himself.

It was a careful performance, ensuring that he didn't graze her, not even accidentally. She had entrusted him and he wouldn't take advantage- such was not a possibility. A couple seconds passed in doing the fiddly clasp, entwining it and pushing the malleable metal shut. It felt like a victory, like the balance of the train had been restored.

Meerab knew he didnt touch her, but the proximity was intoxicating enough. It was like like he had eclipsed the fear in her, soothing the storm inside. It was peaceful, and that was dangerously alluring.

She snapped out of, sitting back up staight at the first opportunity and she raised her guard again.

So they could distance themselves, Murtasim slipped on his jacket on and immeditley stood facing the door, evening his breathing. He reached into his pocked - hand grasping around the carton as he opened the door and took a stroll outwards without another word.

The latch of the door clicking behind him signalled his departure from their cabin, and her body flushed, her cheeks washed scarlet at his obvious ploy to remove himself from her. Meerab wiped her face with the back of her hands, providing a a slight chill.

He was taking a smoking break- every passenger was wide awake now and the rattle from opening a door wouldn't be so alarming, Meerab figured. She was left alone with only her thoughts, her heavy thumping heart and uncomfortable tingling chain as it slowly acclimatised to the warmth of her skin.

Then she remembered who she was- a girl, alone under the vast sky. She needed to plan ahead, to be prepared so that she could act on the offensive rather than the defensive.

Meerab took the luxury of privacy to peak open the door into the hallway which was clad in wooden pannels, and the same short-pile mucky carpet rolled out there too. A couple people passed with lowerd gazes, indistinguishable features.

Outside of their cocoon seemed busier, it possessed a sense of direction, motion which instantly dissipated at the door closed- transporting them to a far away portal where only each other mattered. Seemingly as though the stranger that  their path had coincided with, ittefaq say, transformed into the entire word. Distorting reason and time.

Then she spotted a man in white, in a plain uniform. He appeared almost angelic as their eyes met and he assumed his role as the train's staff. The man wasent Farukh, and Meerab was greatful for that fact, as she not sure how her concious would allow her to face the man after she hadent hesitated to accuse him of a crime.

The man stood by the door, curtly awaiting instruction.

'Agla station kaunsa hai?' Meerab asked, wanting to know how far along they were. She had always engrossed herself in books- although she didnt posses many practical skills, she was book smart and stellar in geography. (Which is the next station?)