Dhaagey: The Ties that Bind Us

26. a contract

As night descended on the Khan Mansion that night, it brought with it an unexpected darkness as the lights went out, plunging Meerab's room into a haunting landscape of uncertain shadows and unfamiliar silhouettes. An unexpected wave of dread swept over her, as the cheerful murmur of her own heart echoed eerily in the hollow darkness.

In the midst of the suffocating obscurity, Meerab found herself yearning for the comforting company of Maryam and Rumi, who she had impulsively kicked out earlier. Their teasing had been a tad too much, overwhelming her senses and pushing her to crave solitude, but now, their absence created a cavernous void around her in the dark.

Her pulse quickened, beating a frantic tempo in her chest as the darkness enveloped her, fuelling her latent fear of the dark. The irrational yet overpowering fear seemed to loom around her, seeping into the corners of the room, stubbornly refusing to dissipate, as if it were an uninvited guest refusing to leave her in peace.

In the midst of her mounting anxiety, the sudden creaking of her door sent her heart leaping into her throat. A surprised gasp slipped past her lips, reverberating in the silent expanse of the room. But before the shroud of panic could tighten its grip on her, a soothing masculine hush echoed through the room. It was a sound intimately familiar, a calming balm to her rapidly beating heart, a beacon of comfort in the engulfing darkness.

Murtasim's silhouette materialized in the doorway, his entrance as discreet as the whisper of the wind, transforming the formerly haunting entry into a portal of solace. His flashlight cut through the darkness like a scorching ray of hope, illuminating the room in a warm glow, causing the gloom to recede, and soothing Meerab's frayed nerves. The darkness that once threatened her sanity, suddenly felt less oppressive, her fear melting away in the soft, comforting light that Murtasim brought into her life.

As the fear of the dark relinquished its cold grip on her heart, a new apprehension seeped in, subtly tinting the edges of her joy with a shadow of uncertainty. They were well aware of the repercussions if they were caught together in her room at such a late hour, the scandal it would inevitably stir. Yet, in the comforting cocoon of Murtasim's presence, the looming threat of scrutiny seemed strangely distant and insignificant.

"Your mother." Meerab whispered a warning, but the tremble in her voice spoke more of relief than admonishment.

"I don't care right now." Murtasim responded with a dismissive nonchalance, his actions underscoring his words as he secured the door behind him, locking it this time. In his hand, he held the flashlight, an artifact from their shared childhood, a beacon that had once guided her back to her room during the untimely power outages that punctuated their younger years.

A gentle hum of contentment fluttered from Meerab's chest, echoing in the quiet room as Murtasim settled onto her bed, like he used to when they were children. But this time, rather than sleeping on the opposite side of the bed, he gently drew her into his welcoming lap. His arms circled around her like a protective fortress, radiating warmth and assurance, his lips bestowing tender kisses on her forehead.

Meerab allowed her eyes to close, her breath hitching momentarily before she drew in a deep, calming breath. The scent of Murtasim's cologne wafted over her, a fragrance he consistently wore, one that had woven itself into the fabric of her memories. It was a scent that was no longer just his, but one that had subtly become a part of her identity, as recognizable and soothing as her own.

The texture of his kurta under her fingers, the gentle rhythm of his breathing, the warmth radiating from his body, the steady beat of his heart against her - all combined to offer her an unspoken assurance. The fear of the dark receded, replaced by a sense of security and comfort that only Murtasim's presence could bring.