Yours Truly, KMK (Tere Bin AU)

Chapter 3. The Glasshouse

6 Months ago.

She heard a crunch on the ground from behind, she turned around, her eyes on the ground, all she saw was brown leather shoes, with dew on top of it because of all the moist from the grass under it. The sharp grass, making crunching sound as the pair of shoes stepped on it. She dared not raise her eyes to the owner. She knew who the 'specific someone' was. But she dared not. Closing her eyes, gulping. "Meerab, what are doing here?"

"I was just out for a walk" Meerab shrugged, still not wanting to look at him. Murtasim's eyes were intimidating to say the least. There were times when he would want to retort to his absurd sense of authority but she would not meet his eyes. She could never.

"Its dark Meerab, go inside at once" Murtasim ordered. His word was the last, the ultimate. But at that moment Meerab felt annoyed, her eyes shot up, her annoyance clearly visible. "I will do as I please. And I wanted to enter this glass house, but its locked" Her arm stretched towards the main door of the glass house. "But I'll come later, only because I want to, not because you're asking me to go inside" Turning back, she had only taken a few steps, when she heard him call out to one of the guards. "Aye Chabi lao" A man dressed in all black T-shirt and trouser ran towards him with a bunch of keys. Meerab, who was on her way to the Haveli, was now fully interested in the exchange taking place between the two men. One of them obviously with a high and mighty attitude. But, what happened next surprised her.

Murtasim turned towards the door of the glasshouse, fiddling with the eyes, and unlocking the door, with a little resistance, he opened it and looked back, eyeing Meerab. "Didn't you want to see the glasshouse?" a little smirk forming at the end of his lips. Meerab waited for a moment, before deciding to walk towards the glass house. Murtasim kept standing at the entrance, either of his legs both inside and out of the glasshouse waiting for Meerab to enter. Not budging even a bit as Meerab tried to shuffle in through the entrance, their bodies brushing each other, while scowling at him. What an annoying man.

Entering inside the glasshouse, it seemed like a lot had changed. Over previous visits to the Haveli around 2 years back, everything seemed very solemn. It was the death anniversary of Shahnawaz Khan and Maa Begum had ensured that everyone in the house remain sad. She could swear, not a single pigeon could be seen around the Haveli. The forced sadness had gotten to her and she swore to herself that she was not coming back to his mad house. But prior to that last visit and every other visit, since the time she could remember when she was a kid and had realised the presence of the glasshouse. She would find her way here, bringing baby Mariam here first and then Faiyaz. A faint remembrance of their giggles played. Those carefree days. Not a faint idea about how ruthless the world is.

She walked through the lanes of plants kept. The daffodils placed in the front, the orchids a lane behind. They were in bloom and looked beautiful. The greenhouse was huge and comprised of just lanes of flowers and plants placed properly, not a single tub out of its place. The workers taking care of the greenhouse were surely hard at work.

She continued her slow walk through the lane, the house only being lighted by the automated lighting on the floor, which only illuminated as she walked. Murtasim was a few steps behind her, he couldn't help but observe her acutely. She would stop mid way, mesmerised by a flower, her finger tips grazing a petal delicately. Charming he thought. Beautiful may be. He was trying to confirm. The sway of her hips and her curls bouncing at the back at every step, had him transfixed.

Meerab continued her survey of the glass house that had become a part of her fond memories, the only good thing about the Haveli. A line of chrysanthemum flowers placed to the left of the glass house drew her attention she walked over and began admiring them. "Its surprising how anything that wants to bloom in the Haveli is suppressed but flowers here are nurtured, watered, taken care of and allowed to bloom to all their glory" Meerab eyed the glasshouse, her head tilting up to admire the roof of glass, thinking out loud, clearly ensuring that Murtasim also heard her, "Watch it Meerab" Murtasim responded sternly.