Meri Musibat [Tere Bin FF]

22. 22, 25 - Part 9

A/N: Oh hi! I am glad so many of you enjoyed the last chapter! I always love writing Murtasimbakri's POV so much, and your reactions are hilarious. But now we're back to Meerab's POV for some revelations and tons of fluff! See you on the other side!

------------------------------------------

Meerab's awakening was gentle, the sound of the door unlocking and Murtasimbakri's little hooves clicking against the floor softly breaking the silence of the early morning. Her eyelids fluttered open, and for a moment, she needed to gather her bearings. As her gaze settled on Murtasim, her breath hitched, her heart suddenly quickening with the rush of memories from the previous night.

Despite the short hours of sleep, a profound sense of peace enveloped her despite her racing heart, a rarity in her often-tumultuous thoughts. She lay there, absorbing the tranquility, her mind unusually quiet, almost serene. The room, bathed in the soft light of dawn, seemed to echo her inner calm.

Her eyes lingered on Murtasim, the man who had finally bared his soul to her, uncovering every thought and feeling she had yearned to hear. He loved her. That much resonated in the silent space between them. He had stayed by her side through the night, just as she had requested, choosing the hard floor over the comfort of her bed.

His proximity, a tender balance of closeness and respect, was strangely comforting, yet it stirred a mix of emotions within her. She remembered their past closeness, how natural it had felt to wake up entwined with him, even though handcuffs had been the reason. Now, in their newfound freedom, Murtasim's self-imposed boundary was both reassuring and puzzling.

Meerab's mind drifted back to the kiss that had haunted her for so long, a moment that had once made her question the nature of his affection. After he had labeled that kiss a mistake, she had grappled with the fear that his attraction to her, the one that had led to the kiss, might have been purely physical, devoid of the deeper emotional roots tht had characterized her own feelings.

It had been one of the thoughts that gnawed at her, creating a chasm of uncertainty and pain. Now, as she observed his careful distance, she saw it as a deliberate choice, a testament to his genuine feelings that went beyond mere physical attraction.

This man, who had access to every luxury and convenience, had deliberately chosen discomfort for her sake. His decision to respect the boundaries of their evolving relationship, to be there but not overstep, resonated with her in a way that healed the doubts and misunderstandings of their past. It was as though Murtasim was showing her, in the most humble and genuine way, the depth and sincerity of his love – a love she had always hoped for but never dared to believe could be.

A newfound boldness took hold of Meerab as she reached out, her fingers brushing his face gently. She swept his hair away from his forehead, her touch more confident than ever before. The hesitancy that once clouded her actions, especially when she had found him sleeping beside her in the hospital, had vanished. There was a new rightness in the gesture, a permission granted silently through his vulnerabilities laid bare the night before.

Her touch lingered, tracing the contours of his cheeks with a delicate caress. As she did, he stirred, a soft sigh escaping him as he slowly opened his eyes, moving his head so his chin rested against the mattress rather than his cheek. The sight that greeted her was endearingly vulnerable—a sleepy Murtasim, his eyes half-lidded, exuding an almost childlike innocence. A smile slowly crept across his face, a simple, heartfelt expression that made Meerab's heart flutter.

"Good morning," he murmured, his voice a whisper that held the warmth of a thousand sunrises.

"Good morning," she replied, her voice equally soft, a smile playing on her lips. In that quiet morning hour, with sunlight filtering through the curtains, everything felt right.