I've Got My Eyes On You

Chapter 16 - Beautiful

"Mubarak ho bhae," Farid teased him

"Baqwas mat ker," Murtasim dismissed him with a firm tone.

"Acha, listen, you have to announce the wedding now. Abhi ke liye nikkah ki pictures dedun? And baad mein we can just throw a simple dinner or anything like that, " Farid suggested

"Do whatever seems right.. I'm tired." Murtasim's voice held a disinterested tone.

"Yeah, yeah, i know! Dulhan ke paas jana hai Murtasim khan sahab ne - jayen jayen, ab humen kahan kerwani hai lift"

Murtasim glared at him, and he got the signal that he should shut up now. "Okay, I'm leaving. There's no need to attend the office tomorrow.  ENJOY" Farid piped in again

"Say one more word, and I'll murder you,"

"Okay, one last thing - what should I do with that jerk? Kya naam tha? Ha- haider, haan haider, " Farid asked

"Janay do usko ab," he uttered

The night was growing dark, Farid bid a goodbye to Murtasim and left the place.With a mix of formality and newfound determination, Murtasim entered his room. Meerab sat at the edge of the bed, her head turned to the door closed behind him. He smiled at her softly, and she mirrored it.

Murtasim hesitated at the edge of his bed, his fingers brushing against the soft pillow. The atmosphere was thick with a mix of anticipation and nervousness. After all, the day had been filled with unexpected turns, and now, with the formalities done, they were left in the intimate quietude of his room. He glanced over at Meerab, who was seated delicately on the edge of the bed, her eyes darting around the room as if taking in every detail. Her cheeks held a faint blush, perhaps from the evening's events or maybe from the unfamiliarity of the situation. She looked beautiful.. hadn't he noticed before, but she was always beautiful.

His eyes never left the woman beside him. The way the soft light illuminated her features, casting delicate shadows across her face, left him momentarily breathless. He had always known Meerab was attractive, but in that moment, he was struck by her beauty in a way he had never been before. Her hair cascaded down her back in waves, framing her face like a halo. Her eyes, deep pools of mystery, reflected the ambient light, making them appear even more enchanting. The bit of dark circles a reminder of her struggle to deal with her toxic family. The curve of her lips, the delicate line of her jaw, every feature seemed to him like a masterpiece, meticulously crafted by the hands of a divine artist. A feeling of awe washed over him, leaving him awestruck. How had he not noticed this before? How had he been blind to the undeniable allure of the woman sitting beside him? It was as if he was seeing her for the first time, truly seeing her, and he was captivated.

Meerab, sensing his gaze, looked up from her lap, meeting his eyes. The intensity of his stare took her by surprise, causing a faint blush to rise to her cheeks. For a moment, they simply stared at each other, the air between them charged with an unspoken tension.

Finally, Murtasim broke the silence, his voice barely above a whisper. "Beautiful," he muttered under his breath, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Uh- do you need anything? Water?" He corrected his sentence

"No, thank you for asking," she replied softly.

"I can move to the couch, you rest," Murtasim began, attempting to ease the tension, "It's quite comfortable, really. And you can sleep here."
Murtasim stood up, grabbing a pillow from the bed.

Before he could move any further, Meerab's hand shot out, gently gripping his wrist. "No, it's okay," she said, her voice soft yet firm. "You don't have to. There's plenty of space."