Unveiling Meerab [Tere Bin FF]

13. a choice

A/N: Hi! I was missing MeeraSim a lot today so I decided to fire up the laptop and type quietly while my newborn slept, so here you are -- the next chapter of this story which currently lives in my head rent free. Thank you to everyone for all the warm wishes - I gave birth to a healthy and adorable baby girl shortly after posting Chapter 12! 

-------------------------------------------

The setting sun painted the sky with hues of pink and orange as Murtasim made his way home after a long day, his mind had been on the papers he had hidden away in the drawer of their room all day, ones that would finally see the light of the day. He had been rather nervous about it all day.

Murtasim fell onto the sofa in their room that had been his bed for weeks, one that would remain only for a couple more days before the interior designer kicked them out of their room to swap out all the furniture and redo the room in its entirety. Meerab was immensely excited about all of it, and he was too, he had seen all the little things separately and wanted to see how they all came together in a room.

The door opened just a while later to reveal Meerab, her face lighting up with a genuine warmth he had grown to cherish, one that he had always hoped would grace her face but feared he would never see. It settled his nerves immensely.

"Hi." Her greeting flowed easily, her voice like a gentle melody. It was a simple word, but it was a far cry from the silence and glare that had usually met him upon his return, the small hi felt like a whole sentence. It told him that she perhaps missed him in his absence, waited for his return, and was now happy to see him.

"Hi." He replied as she stepped inside, he noticed she was wheeling in a serving cart ladened with snacks and a teapot. He got up to grab it from her, wheeling it front of the settee she preferred to sit on by the sofa. The aroma of freshly brewed chai filled the air, a scent that was both comforting and inviting.

"Chai?" She asked as she sat to the side.

He nodded, watching as she poured a cup.

"You changed?" He asked, noticing she was wearing a different suit then rather than the pink one.

She cleared her throat. "I got something on the other one."

He watched as her eyes flickered to the middle tier of the serving cart, his gaze followed hers and he smiled when he saw the slightly burnt pakoras.

"Chai and snacks, this is new." He teased.

"I can take it all back." She muttered as she mixed in half a spoon of sugar before handing the cup to him.

"Don't." He said as he took the cup of tea. "Unless you mixed something in it?" He teased.

She rolled her eyes as he took a sip, and the warmth of the brew coupled with the perfect blend of spices made him close his eyes in appreciation.

"This," he began, setting the cup down for a moment and grabbing her hand, squeezing it gently, "is better than anyone else's tea."

She smiled softly, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

The gentle steam from the cups of chai curled upwards in the room, the aroma wrapping them in a comforting embrace. Murtasim sat across from Meerab, the soft clink of their cups the only sound breaking their companionable silence. Yet, his mind was far from quiet.

The yellow embroidered suit she wore highlighted her graceful figure. It clung to her in all the right places, the fabric moving fluidly with her every gesture. The intricate patterns danced on the material, reflecting the ambient light in shimmering motions. The color complemented her complexion perfectly, making her skin glow with a golden hue. But it wasn't just the suit. It was how she wore it, with a quiet confidence that made her even more stunning.