Tere Bin - A Parallel Universe

Chapter Eight

Kitni gaur se dekha hoga meri ankhon ne ke

Tumhare bad koi or chehra haseen hi nahi laga

(Unknown)

Tabassum yun hi nahi rehta honton pe hamare

Tabasre chalte hain dil ki dhadkano pe tumhare

(Unknown)

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The room was softly illuminated by the bedside lamp, casting a warm glow over the scattered textbooks and notes that Meerab had meticulously arranged on the bed. The air was slightly chilly, prompting Meerab to wrap a cozy shawl around her shoulders as she sat on the bed.

Meerab was engrossed in her studies, the soft rustling of pages turning and the occasional noise of keypad filling the room. The night was calm, and outside, the lights twinkled through the partially drawn curtains. The clock on the wall ticked away, marking the passing minutes.

The door was slightly ajar, and Meerab occasionally glanced towards it, listening for any sign of Murtasim's footsteps. The subdued lighting in the room created a sense of coziness, contrasting with the coolness of the night outside. The fragrance of a scented candle wafted through the air, adding a touch of warmth to the room.

She had excused herself and came to the room after they had dinner with Marium. Naurez had gone to Karachi for some urgent work and was unable to join them today but having Mariam back in the house had changed the environment. She saw how Murtasim looked content. She had not seen him smile that much when he was around his family, but his beautiful smile was back in place after having Marium in front of his eyes.

She wanted to get some study in as her papers were approaching fast so she had excused herself to study. She had constantly felt that Maa Begum wanted to say thank you, so she just smiled at her and assured her that it was nothing. She would do anything for her family if they gave her the respect that she deserved.

It had been two hours since she had returned to their room, but Murtasim had not come back. She understood that he needed time to unwind with his sister and mother. The maid had come to ask her for tea, but she had politely declined. She was almost done with her today's goal, so she got up to go look for her husband.

She came down to the main family hall, where Maa Begum and Mariam were sitting talking about the old days. Anwar Khan had already retired to his room and Murtasim was nowhere to be seen.

"Ajao baite" Maa Begum said, and she smiled making her way to sit beside Mariam.

"Murtasim kahan hai", she asked curiously, and Mariam smiled as she spoke,

"Bhai ke ilawa or bhi log hain is ghar main Bhabhi, un se bhi bat ki ja sakti hai," She whacked Mariam whereas Maa Begum smiled at her daughters.

"Apni study main hai baita, kuch kam karne gaya hai, main bhi ab aram karoon gi" Maa Begum said and made her way to her room.

Mariam also excused herself after some time, so Meerab stood up in search of her husband. She stopped by the kitchen to make them coffee and headed towards his office. As she opened the door, she was greeted by Murtasim sitting in his chair, his gaze fixed on the screen, it looked as if he was in a meeting.

The office exuded an air of sophistication and warmth, with its spacious layout and carefully curated design. The focal point of the room was a large mahogany desk, its polished surface gleaming under the soft glow of a modern pendant light that hung above. The chair on which Murtasim sat was an imposing leather chair, providing both comfort and an authoritative presence. On one side of the room, an entire wall was dedicated to a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf, elegantly crafted from dark wood, showcasing an extensive collection of books and neatly organized files.