You and Me (Tere Bin FF)

3. The Bed

Meerab woke up disoriented and glanced at the time 5 am...ugh! What a weird time to wake up! She turned in the dark and grabbed the spare pillow to put over her head when she was hit with his smell. She sat up with a gasp, realizing that she was in Murtasim's room. The room had a light hint of the warm woody smell, but his pillow held a distinct smell, woodsy with a slight hint of leather and tobacco. It was...pleasant, she guessed. The man did smell good. She had noticed it when he had held her close earlier. The memory brought a flush to her skin. The way he had pulled her close and said with confidence that she would want him one day, crave him even.

She huffed. He could keep dreaming about that. She was old enough to know what she wanted, and she wasn't attracted to Muratsim. Through untouched, she was well read and had watched enough stuff online to know what desire was, and that's not something she felt for him. However, that didn't mean he could come and go as he pleased. Not that she wanted him around or asserted her rights as a wife, but being away from your newly wedded bride on their wedding night was strange. Even for them. He had walked out, giving her space to change, and then hadn't come back. His side of the bed was undisturbed, barring the pillow she had grabbed.

Where was he? It would look weird if the family or staff found out that he had spent the night away from her. Just one more thing they would blame her over because their dear Murtasim can't do anything wrong. She got up and checked the sitting area outside their room. He wasn't there either. She sighed in frustration. This is stupid and insulting to her. She wouldn't stoop down and call him. She absolutely wouldn't!

She was pacing the room, talking her way out of calling him when he strolled in. His clothes wrinkled, and his hair disheveled. What had he been up to?

She opened her mouth to ask him, but he walked straight to the washroom without sparing her a glance. She glared at his back. How dare he? First, he had the audacity to act all strange and confused her, then he spent the night God knows where, and now he had the gall to ignore her?

He came back from the washroom, kept his watch on the bedside table, and lay down on the bed. Without saying a word to her! "Murtasim!" She tried to wake him up, but he just ignored her, so she tried again .

"Murtasim!"

He didn't respond. he just wrapped the blanket tighter around him. The infuriating man!

She grabbed the blanket and completely took it off him. Aha! That got his attention. He took a deep breath and looked at her. "kya hai Meerab?"

"Tum yaha kya rahe ho Murtasim?"

"Andhi ho? Dikhai nahi deta? Sone ki koshish kar raha hoon."

"Tum bed pe nahi so sakte," she said firmly. Holding the blanket behind her.

"Kyu?"

"Wo...I am not comfortable sharing a bed with you" she said, temper and embarrassment adding a red flush to her skin.

"Kyu? Khud pe aitbaar Nahi hai, or you find me so attractive that you won't be able to control yourself and get close to me while sleeping?" He asked with a smirk.

"In your dreams. I am not attracted to you!" she replied.

"Then sleep on the bed. I, for one, am not going to try anything. Give me the blanket!" He said, extending his hand.

"Nahin! Tum couch pe shift hoge, " she said, her chin tilted up.

He laughed. "You have me confused with some drama actor. This is my bed, and I am not moving from here. If you have a problem, then you can sleep on the couch. You are small enough to fit on it."

Oh, the audacity of this man. "Are you calling me short? I'll have you know I have perfect height!"

"Not at all, wife. You are the perfect height so that if you were to step close to me, our lips would align just right, " he said with a wink.

She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. The baigairat insaan!

"Meerab, give me the blanket. Mujhe neend aa rahi hai. Tum jaha chahe waha so jana phir."

"Nahi," she said, holding it behind her.

He sighed and sat up on the bed. Meerab lowered her hand, assuming she had won this round, but she was shocked when Murtasim suddenly grabbed her hand with the blanket and pulled her close to him. Her free hand landed on his thigh, trying to balance herself.

"Murtasim!" She gasped.

"See, I told you...if you were to stand close, our lips would align perfectly," he said, eyes on her lips.

Though her heartbeat quickend at his look, Meerab tried to free her hand from his grasp. "Eyes up here, Murtasim"

He took his own time, raising his eyes to hers. "Akhri baar keh raha hoon, blanket chodo. Warna blanket ke saath tumhe bhi pass le sakta hoon." He said with wink.

Meerab rolled her eyes and dropped the blanket. She lowered her eyes to her hand and looked up at him, indicating to leave her hand.

Murtasim smirked and ran a thumb over her pulse point slowly before releasing her hand. He grabbed the blanket and lay down on the bed "so jao yaar...kha nahi jaunga tumhe" he said, closing his eyes.

"Nahi...raho tum apne bed pe. Main jaa rahi hoon. Pagal insaan!" She huffed

"Light to band karte jao" he called after her.

She stopped near the table, contemplating throwing the vase and the flower at him, but realized the family drama at that would be beyond annoying. Instead, she walked back in and switched on all lights in the room, opening the curtains wide.

"There...have a good sleep, Murtasim," she said with a smile. feeling proud of herself at the small win and walked in the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

She could hear him laughing as she closed the door. "Over insaan," she murmured angrily.

On the other side of the door, Murtasim grabbed a remote from his bedside drawer, switching off the lights, including the one in the bathroom.

"Murtasim! You idiot!" Meerab yelled from the bathroom.

He switched on the bathroom light and fell asleep with a smile on his face. All frustration with Haya's stupid acts wiped clear from his mind.

**************

First of all, let me apologize for delayed updates on this story. I will be more regular from now on.

This is all fun and games. I refuse to believe that two people who were constantly at loggerheads would fall in love in one day. So them annoying each other should be part of the story. This is a super short chapter but the next one would be better and longer.

Let me know what parts you liked best and vote if you like the story.

Feedback is appreciated.

Happy Reading!