Kaabil

34. The Past

Murtasim

I never knew kissing my wife would be intoxicating.

The woman of my dreams was lying under me, responding to my every stroke and nibble.

Her moans became my heartbeat.

Her every breath intake was breathtaking.

Meerab's eyes softened and closed every time her body trembled because of my touch.

We sat under the night sky outside our room, making out and wrapping ourselves in blankets. Earlier today, we won the case against the Malik family, and now my wife has presented herself as a gift for me to do as I please. By God, that's the best present I've ever received.

"There is something I've meant to share with you," I whispered against her lips. I felt her stiff momentarily until she nudged my lips, silently waiting for me to say more. "I... I knew about your birth secret."

Her eyes crumbled, "What does that mean?"

"That... the day I came to your house eight years ago. I knew you were Anwar Chacha's daughter, and we were promised to each other."

***

19 years old.

Finally, I am going home.

How much have I missed everyone? Mom, Dad, and Chacha Jaan. Of course, my annoying little sister, Maryam, too.

She is 14 now. A fucking teenager. Her demands have been raised. That cunning woman. Although she is my sister, her attitude has been reaching the skies.

"Murtasim!" My best friend Ahmed yelled from across the hall. This man has been by my side as far as I can remember—my partner in crime and everything else.

He gave me a bone-crushing hug, patting my back.

"Congratulations, we did it." He exclaimed.

"That we did. Come on, Baba is waiting."

After the summer, we are both moving to London to pursue higher education. Once we come back, we plan on starting our business. Whereas I am passionate about opening a restaurant, Ahmed wants to design and construct the building.

Ahmed's family owns a construction company, and he will develop the site. I'll bring in investments and equipment at the same time.

That was our plan.

Perfect.

Until I reached home, Bakhtu greeted me as I entered the Haveli. Mom was already standing there with a few staff members behind her. She did her ritual of Nazar.

I moved past the crowd to meet my role model. My Dad.

"I missed you, Champ!" His never faltering voice.

I chuckled, "I missed you too, Baba."

He patted my shoulders and turned to Mama. "Salma, look at our son, making me the proudest Father."

Mama's smile reached her ears. Beaming, she kissed my head, "I'm so happy you are home. Maryam wanted to skip her school to meet you, but she knew you wouldn't like it."

No wonder no one annoyed me so far.

Chacha Jaan was next. As always, he gave me a bone-crushing hug. "I'm so proud of you, Champ."

I took his blessing, too.

Later that night, after meeting with Maryam, Baba called me in his office. I knocked on the door, and Bakhtu opened it. "Bade Khan Sab is waiting for you." After patting my shoulders, he left us alone.