Meri Musibat [Tere Bin FF]

25. 22, 25 - Part 12

A/N: Reading your comments from the last chapter made me giggle so much, I am so glad y'all liked the chapter and how cute Meerab and Murtasim are being! Thank you for all the love and support, I truly appreciate it! Here's the last chapter at 22, 25 (it's almost 30 pages), the next chapter will be in MBK's POV and then we'll see them at 23, 26! See you on the other side!

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Meerab's green monster reared its ugly head, watching the gajre on Asma's hand. She felt it coil around her insides, tightening with each flutter of the white jasmine against Asma's skin. Despite knowing deep down that Murtasim hadn't bought them specifically for Asma, the petty voice in her head argued that since he had paid for them, in a way, they were indeed from him. Her heart twisted with the unfamiliar sting that had first come about because of Asma —jealousy was an ugly feeling.

Maryam sent a knowing glance Meerab's way, as if she could see right through the façade of calmness Meerab was desperately trying to maintain. Meerab walked behind her and Asma, feeling petulant but determined to set her feelings aside to deal with the current situation.

Even though she was miffed with Murtasim, she still had to muster up a lot of strength to utter the bitter words that left her. "I am surprised anyone is marrying Murtasim," Meerab sighed.

Asma turned to her, a look of confusion etching her features.

Sorry Murtasim.

"He's an absolute tyrant and so controlling," Meerab continued, the words spilling out with a venom that surprised even her.

"I see," was all Asma managed to reply, her voice tinged with a hint of doubt.

Meerab, fueled by a mix of jealousy and the need to protect what was hers, pressed on. "I can't believe he told you to find something else to wear!" she exclaimed, her voice rising with feigned indignation. "I would have whacked him!" That was the truth, she would have whacked him.

Asma just shrugged, a casual gesture that made Meerab's insides coil tighter. "He gave in after," she said simply.

The response made Meerab want to groan out loud. Why did he have to give in? She masked her frustration with a forced chuckle. "For now, watch—he'll make a big deal out of it. You don't know him like I do," she warned, the guilt gnawing at her for painting Murtasim in such a false light.

"He's not that bad," Maryam chimed in, playing the good cop to her bad.

"Please, he's the exact type of man a woman shouldn't want," Meerab retorted, the bitterness in her voice a stark contrast to the irony of her own situation - he was the only man she had ever wanted, and the only one she needed.

She couldn't help but feel a twinge of relief that Murtasim was nowhere near to hear her disparage him like this. Her heart ached with the guilt of her deception, even as she continued to spin her web of lies.

"How so?" Asma inquired, her brows knitting together in curiosity.

Meerab took a breath, steadying the emotional whirlwind inside her before she spoke more lies. "He's not capable of love, you know how these feudal lords are. I could never marry someone who couldn't fall in love with me," she said with emphasis, her heart clenching at the irony.

She was referring to a man who epitomized the very essence of love she had once thought was just a fairytale, a man who had put her happiness above his own, even though he had been a right idiot.

Asma retorted with a simple belief, "Everyone is capable of love."

Meerab's response was quick. "Sadly, you'll learn the hard way," she muttered, the guilt creeping into her conscience for misleading Asma, who was innocent in all this.