Veiled Harmonies (Tere Bin AU)

Chapter 12

Murtasim watched the performance of Meerab and Rizwaan's song on one of the music shows on his phone. The video, showcasing their behind-the-scenes moments, played in the background. Despite the respectful nature of the performance and the apparent friendly acquaintance between Meerab and Rizwaan, Murtasim found himself engulfed in a tumultuous internal battle.

Murtasim's turbulent emotions continued to swirl within him- jealously and intense feeling of betrayal and being left behind. Murtasim found himself at a crossroads where rationality seemed out of reach. With a weariness settling over him, he lacked the energy and motivation to understand his complicated feelings.

Unable to bear witnessing the sweet moment any longer, Murtasim turned away throwing away his phone on the table, his throat burning with unspoken words, his hands yearning for a cigarette. 

A pang of regret washed over him, reminding him of why he had quit smoking. 

It used to be his solace, a way to calm his nerves and clear his head. But now, Meerab was the reason he had given it up. Her disdain for his smoking habits had been clear, and she had made it a non-negotiable part of their relationship. The memory of her ultimatum—no smoking or no kissing.

Murtasim reflected on the changes he had undergone, how he had adapted his habits and lifestyle for Meerab. It was a realization that left a bitter taste in his mouth. He prided himself on being unyielding and steadfast in his ways, yet somehow, Meerab had managed to reshape him without him even realizing it. The reward for quitting smoking was undoubtedly significant, but the cost seemed to weigh heavier on him now.

Feeling a surge of frustration, Murtasim chastised himself for playing along with the game for so long. 

He was not one to be manipulated or controlled, and the thought of being a pawn in Meerab's game incensed him. If he saw someone else in a similar situation, he would have mocked them, labeled them as foolish for succumbing to such manipulation. Yet here he was, entangled in a web of his own making.

As Murtasim grappled with the sudden wave of emotions, questions flooded his mind like a relentless storm. 

What could he have done differently? Were there signs he had missed, subtle clues that now seemed glaringly obvious in hindsight? The uncertainty gnawed at him, gnawed at the very core of his being.

Every thought, every memory, felt like shards of glass under his skin, each one a sharp jolt of agony. 

How could he move forward when every step seemed to lead him back to her, to the echoes of her voice saying those fateful words? 

The future he had envisioned, now fractured and blurred, taunted him with what could have been.

The love he had hoped for so fervently now lay in ruins around him, a shattered mirror reflecting back the fractured pieces of his shattered self.

Hold off, echoed in his mind. Why couldn't she just say that she wanted to break up if that was what she truly felt? This was her way of saying she was done with him. 

It stung deeply.

Murtasim's mind raced at a hundred miles an hour. His chest felt heavy, as if a weight was pressing down on him, making it hard to breathe. The love he felt for her was still there, raw and real, but it was now tinged with a sharp pang of betrayal and confusion.

Lost in his thoughts, Murtasim was pulled back to reality by a voice beside him. "Murtasim?"

"What?" he replied, absentmindedly rolling a paper weight.