Kaabil

33. Unveil

Murtasim

"How did you know?" Meerab said as she walked around the island.

I turned and met her halfway, tucking her loose strand, which I am becoming very fond of.

"There is nothing hidden from me." She slowly rolled her eyes. "Also, There are motion sensors in this house. As soon as you entered the kitchen, the light above the door lit up." I motioned to the tiny bulb near the kitchen door.

She sighed, "And here I thought you would say something romantic."

I chuckled. "Like?"

She made a hmm sound. "Like? I can feel your presence."

I narrowed my gaze. "You want me to say those things."

Her hand bounced.

"My dear wife, you are the moon in my dark sky. Those tiny stars remind me of your smile, happiness, family, and brownies. My heart, mind, and soul wish to speak only of your name. You capture my thoughts even when I am working. I want to share myself with you like never before. Do I have permission?"

She blinked a few times before nodding. "That was genuinely romantic."

"Of course. I said so."

She let out a small laugh. "Cocky Much." I shifted my attention back to the meal I was preparing. Meerab stood beside me. "I have never seen you cook."

"Because I didn't need to."

"Right! I didn't know you knew how to cook."

"No one does."

She glanced at me again. Her expression saying I want to ask you why, but I won't bug you. I took a deep inhale.

"When I graduated college, I was famous for cooking on campus. It was merely a hobby at first; later, I made friends from the Home Economics department and often hung out with them. During the years I studied management, I also took courses about nutrition, processed foods, and food systems. It was to feed my curiosity until I cooked for my Baba. I had never seen him so calm and happy before; that made my heart race. He appreciated me a lot, and It became a ritual; I would cook for him once a month, and he would let me run my side business- my restaurant. Quiet Nepo, right?"

When I finished my monologue, Meerab had plopped herself on the high chair by the island, her elbows cupping her chin and resting on the marble shelf. She had been keenly listening to me. She slowly exhaled, sitting up. "I don't consider this nepotism."

I gave her a look.

"What you are doing now would have been nepotistic if you couldn't do it. But, Murtasim, you were born as a leader. How you have run the whole village at a very young age is remarkable. You are talented, and I love you are not wasting it. However, this cooking thing is something I'm not talking about. Why don't you cook often?"

I shrugged, turning the stove off, "Maybe After Baba passed away, I couldn't bear myself entering a kitchen. Plus, only Baba and Maryam approved of me working as a Chef."

"What about Maa Begum? Dad?"

I tapped on the shelf opposite Meerab. "Mama thought, since I am the heir, it wouldn't look acceptable to choose something other than handling my father's business. Anwar Chacha had the same idea. They both wanted me to know my destiny. I was okay with it."

I saw her standing up and wrapping her arms around me. "I'm here. Even if you burn the food, I'll still eat it. Plus, It will be better than my half, no cooked meal."