LET ME IN

9. Whispers of Courage

"Murtasim."

As he heard her sweet and gentle voice, his heart skipped a beat and a sudden calmness filled the air around him. He basked in the gentle lullaby of her voice, and tranquility descended upon the surroundings like a soft veil. The sound of her voice seemed to stop the world from revolving, and the quiet library fell even quieter. The grip on her hand, which he held tightly, slowly loosened as his other hand which was cupping his cheek initially, slid towards the crook of her neck. A jolt of surprise ran through him as he realized that she had finally spoken to him. Her voice was like a melodious tune, a symphony, washing over him like a gentle breeze through an open window, leaving him feeling renewed. As the initial shock transformed into a warmth that bloomed in his heart, he hungered for more of her precious voice, eager to hear its sweet melody once more.

His eyes flitted from one eye to the other. She was smiling- such a beautiful smile. There was a sense of calm on her face. Her eyes were filled with tears but her smile indicated how light and peaceful she was feeling after finally saying his name at least. Both of her hands engulfed his hand which was lying in her lap and the hold tightened. He saw how her smile grew wider with every passing moment. She must have noticed the shock on his face as she brought his hand up and slowly entwined it with hers, the other hand resting on the top of their entwined fingers and she again slowly spoke, "Murtasim" and a sob escaped her lips. He found his eyes filling with tears too and his lips slowly turning into a smile.

As he lowered his head, his forehead gently touched their entwined hands, and his body shook with emotion. A deep sense of tenderness and love overwhelmed him, and he let out a single sob as he felt her trembling too. Though her tears were flowing freely, there was a bright smile on her face that told him these tears were not of sadness but of overwhelming joy.

As he slowly lifted his head, his eyes met hers and he wiped away a lone tear that had escaped his eyes. Then, his hand went to her face, cupping her cheek tenderly as he wiped away her tears. Her smile widened in response, and at that moment, Murtasim knew that Meerab held an incredible influence over his life.

He tried to recollect the passage of time. Could it really have only been a few days? In the short span of time since they first crossed paths and in just a few days, he found himself completely captivated by her. Just a few days. The number of days he could count on his fingers and there he was. 

Just hearing her say his name felt like the sun had finally broken through after days of unrelenting rain, or like the first drops of rain falling on parched earth after a long drought. It was as if his heart had finally bloomed after a long, cold winter, and he felt light and carefree as if he was floating on air. This overwhelming feeling of contentment and joy made him realize just how much Meerab meant to him, and how much he was willing to do to make her happy.

Was he truly the Murtasim Khan who had arrived in London just a few days ago, burdened and weary? It seemed impossible. The Murtasim who had arrived was exhausted by the world, by the weight of expectations placed upon him, and by everything in general. However, the Murtasim now sitting across from Meerab appeared to be someone entirely different. Something had changed. Something had shifted profoundly. This Murtasim was determined to do everything in his power for Meerab. He was eager to assume her responsibilities and assure her that he was there for her, ready to support her and help her move forward.

As he looked into her eyes, he spoke her name with a hushed tone and a tenderness that was palpable. "Meerab, you sound so beautiful," he whispered, his eyes filled with an indescribable emotion. It was as though he had just heard the most enchanting melody, and his heart was overflowing with pride and joy. Meerab's gaze flickered from one eye to the other, her eyes still teary and her lips trembling.