I've Got My Eyes On You

Chapter 36 - The first strike on his being

Meerab stepped through the door, her heart racing with a mix of fear and determination. The room she entered was dimly lit, the air thick with an unidentifiable tension. Her eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, and that’s when she saw him. The man standing in the center of the room looked hauntingly familiar.

"Tum?" Meerab's voice trembled with disbelief as she took a cautious step forward. Her mind raced back to the dinner months ago. She couldn't recall his name, but his face and voice were unforgettable. The memory of that night flooded back – the way Murtasim's grip had tightened protectively around her waist when this man had approached them.

That day the room had been filled with the warmth of laughter and conversation. Murtasim's hand had been a comforting anchor on her waist, his presence a shield against any threat. She could still feel the strength of his fingers pressing into her side, a silent promise of protection. Even in his absence. His name with her name was giving her a strange sense of protection. She had felt safe then, even as a sense of unease crept in. Now, standing in this unfamiliar place, that same unease returned, magnified. The man stepped forward, his devilish grin growing wider as he recognized the fear in her eyes. "Ah, Meerab," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "So nice to see you again."

Her mind raced, trying to piece together everything she knew about him. The name finally surfaced in her mind – Akram. The name felt like a knife twisting in her gut. She tried to mask her fear with bravado, straightening her spine and lifting her chin. "What do you want?" she demanded, her voice stronger than she felt.

Akram chuckled, a sound that sent shivers down her spine. "It's not about what I want, Meerab. It's about what you want. Or rather, what you don't want." He took a step closer, his eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure. "And I know you don't want anything to happen to your beloved Murtasim."

“Murtasim” She repeated under her breath, her hand reaching up to her chest covering her heart, “Murtasim” She sobbed, her breath caught in her throat.

Meerab's heart pounded in her chest, each beat a reminder of the danger she was in. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Who are you? W-What are you talking about?" she asked, her voice wavering slightly.

Akram smirked, clearly enjoying the game he was playing. “Who am I? Arey Mein hi toh hun jisko apki or Mutasim ki shadi ki Sabsayyy Zada khushi hui thi” He paused as he moved closer, “Bhul gyin ap? Mubarakbaad?”

“Akram, Akram Malik” an evil grin appeared on his lips

Meerab turned her head to look at Ilyas. That's when it all clicked into place. The strange tension, the cryptic conversations, the sense of something sinister lurking beneath the surface. It was Ilyas. He had been the one orchestrating everything, pulling the strings from the shadows. Her heart pounded in her chest as the realization settled over her like a dark cloud.

"Ilyas..." she whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear. "It was- It was you all along?."

Ilyas's expression didn't change; if anything, his grin grew wider, more malevolent. "Ah, Meerab. You finally figured it out. I must admit, I expected you to catch on sooner. Afterall You’re Murtasim Khan’s wife and he’s anything but not intelligent" Akram muttered from the other side.

Her mind raced, piecing together the puzzle. Dadi’s accident, Book press, The articles. Everything flashed infront of her eyes. Murtasim’s charming smile, his dreadful glare, his words, “Moonbeam you’re my everything” echoed all over her senses. She had been faaling into the trap and here she was. Ilyas had been the one manipulating events, pushing her into this dangerous situation. He had been in league with Akram, working against Murtasim from the very beginning. The thought made her stomach churn with a sickening mix of betrayal and rage.