Tere Bin - A Parallel Universe

Chapter Two

Dono Jahan teri mohabbat main har ke

Wo jar aha hai koi shab-e-gham guzar ke

Viran hai maikada, kham-o-sagar udaas hain

Tum kya gaye ke rooth gaye din bahaar se

(Faiz Ahmed Faiz)

Murtasim entered the corridor that led to his quarters and came to a halt when his cousin abruptly came to stand in front of him. He cursed her inwardly and started moving forward when she called from behind "Murtasim, Khana lagwaon tumhare liye?"

He literally wanted to move around and say something to her, but he stopped himself from saying anything and just moved towards his room. Upon entering the living room he turned around to close the door when he came face to face with Haya who had followed him and was about to enter his living room but took a step back when Murtasim stood in the door.

He saw her with venom in his eyes, threw his shawl, that went flying, and landed on the single-seat sofa. He held the doors and closed them on her face, followed by a loud bang that echoed through the room.

If there were one thing Murtasim Khan could change in his life, then it would be to go back in time and stop his parents from welcoming Haya into their home. He was not against taking her responsibility financially but this woman right behind this door was majorly responsible for the chaos in his life.

Yes, he could have thrown her out, but he had abstained from doing so as he had no evidence that she had anything to do with Meerab leaving. 

That morning when he had come home and not found Meerab, he had asked all the house help, security, and family members if they had seen Meerab leave. But no family member or house help had seen him. Murtasim had specifically questioned the security guard who had told Bakhtu about Meerab leaving the house and why he didn't inform anyone in the house and to his utter surprise the guard had responded to something he was not expecting.

"Maine phone kiya tha Khan, kisi ne intercom uthaya tha. Maine bataya tha Khan ke Meerab bibi ghar chor ke chali gai hai. Na un ke sath driver hai na hi koi mulazma magar kisi ne jawab diye baghair phone rakh diya tha Khan."

The guard said pleadingly.

Murtasim had summoned the whole staff again and questioned them, but no one admitted to attending the call. He had specifically called Haya and asked her again because of her history with Meerab.

"Jis din Meerab yahan se gai, tum vahan thi?"

"Agar main vahan hoti to Meerab aj yahan hoti" She had said quite confidently.

He had not believed her completely but never questioned her again or talked to her. He had no evidence that she was involved in Meerab leaving that night. All the cameras were present outside of the Khan Haveli and Meerab had left alone.

What if Meerab had regretted coming back on Marium's rukhsati and hated him?

What if Haya had nothing to do with Meerab's absence?

These thoughts often kept him occupied and he just prayed that Meerab would return home safely.

He had distanced himself from his family members.

He would come home late at night and would often leave home as soon as he woke up.

Maa Begum was quite upset as both her children had drifted apart from her.

Murtasim walked towards his bedroom and his steps became even heavier. The room that once offered him tranquillity no longer felt like home. He looked at the comforting bed and memories flooded his mind.