Khaani ka Khan - Tere Bin FF

Chapter 13 - Ephemeral Ecstasy (2)

Laying her down on the bed, he settled her with care, his gaze never leaving her form as if ensuring her comfort was his sole priority. Her damp hair formed a dark halo on the pillow, a stark contrast to the paleness of the linen beneath her. As he stood there, a towel securely draped around his waist, his expression radiated a blend of adoration and protection.

Gently, he leaned down to press a lingering kiss to her forehead, his touch a promise of his unwavering devotion. Meerab, wrapped in the cocoon of a towel, turned away and nestled beneath the duvet, drawing its warmth around her shoulders. The atmosphere was tinged with an undercurrent of tension, and Murtasim's smile held an awkward acknowledgment of her muted anger. Slipping into bed beside her, he approached with a cautious tenderness, as if respecting the delicate balance of her emotions.

His arm encircled her, pulling her gently into the shelter of his embrace. With his chin resting atop her head and his hand wrapped securely around her waist, he sought a connection that transcended words. His voice, a soft murmur amidst the cascade of her hair, carried a hint of both concern and longing.

"You won't even speak to me now, is it?" he inquired, his words a delicate touch against her senses. The vulnerability in his question hung in the air, a reflection of his yearning to bridge the distance that had momentarily emerged between them.

Tears pricked at Meerab's eyes, her inner turmoil threatening to manifest in a whimper that she valiantly suppressed by biting her lip. Her heart ached, a tempest of emotions raging within her, torn between her desire to express her feelings and her fear of further misunderstandings. In that moment, her silence spoke volumes, a poignant echo of the inner battle she waged.

"What's the point?" Her voice trembled with a mixture of frustration and heartache, her words a candid confession of the turmoil that raged within her. "You don't trust me. No matter what I say... you won't be able to trust me." The weight of her realization hung heavily in the air; a painful truth that had been etched into her heart.

The vulnerability in her statement pierced Murtasim's own heart, his expression flickering with a complex blend of regret and longing. He had caused this chasm to form between them, his own insecurities clouding his judgment and overshadowing the love they shared.

"I won't ever... ev...ever be able to win you back...." As she whispered her next words more to herself in an extremely low voice, a fragile thread of sound that hung between them, he strained to catch her words. His heart clenched at her state, and he realized the gravity of his actions.

"I trust you, Meerab," Murtasim began, his voice a gentle reassurance that carried the weight of his sincerity. "I trust you more than anyone in this world, more than myself. I... I have full faith that you would never lead me astray, that you'd never allow me to take a wrong step." His words resonated with unwavering confidence in her.

"But it's me I don't trust," he admitted, a raw vulnerability in his tone. "I fear my own inability to protect you, to shield you from any harm that might come your way. The thought of any danger touching you or Meesam, it fills me with a desperate need to shield you both from the world's adversities. If...if anything happens to either of you, I'll burn everything to the ground."

Meerab listened, her heart softening as Murtasim's words laid bare the depth of his concerns and fears. In that vulnerable admission, she recognized the complexity of his emotions, the tangled web of love, possessiveness, and his unyielding need to protect what he held dear. Her anger began to ebb away, replaced by a growing empathy for his struggles.

She turned toward him, her gaze a reflection of tenderness and understanding. Her touch, as gentle as a whispered promise, graced his cheek, her fingers conveying comfort and reassurance in a single stroke. The glistening of her eyes bore witness to the emotions that had swelled within her, emotions that sought to bridge the gaps that had arisen between them.