Unveiling Meerab [Tere Bin FF]

45. maryam

Author's Note: Oh hiiiiiiiiii! Thank you for all the love for the last chapter, glad y'all enjoyed it. I've been writing less these days so this chapter was more delayed than I thought it would be. But the next chapter is almost done so it should be up in less than a week from this update! I hope y'all enjoy this chapter, this one is lots of fluff, hehehe. See you on the other side!

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"Maa! Stop yelling, please!" Murtasim groaned, they all sat around the table at iftar, the aroma of freshly made food permeating the air, Meerab beside him was chomping down on samosas like she hadn't eaten for days much less two hours earlier.

The tension in the room was palpable despite his wife's cuteness, thick enough to cut with a knife.

Meerab grabbed his hand, squeezing it tightly. The emerald green bangles he had bought her once were on her wrist, clinking softly with the movement. He turned to her, noticing her eyes darting back and forth between Maa Begum, whose face was flushed with anger, and Maryam, who was crying quietly, her tears shimmering like pearls. The sight of Maryam's tears tugged at his heartstrings.

"You have to get married, there's nothing wrong with Naurez!" His mother continued to scream, her voice piercing the air like a dagger.

Murtasim sighed, his patience wearing thin. "Maa, calm down," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. He hated the yelling, what if it scared his choti shehzadi? His eyes flickered to Meerab's gently rounded belly, worry and protectiveness washing over him.

His mother turned to him, her glare sharp enough to send anyone cowering. "You did this last time too, Murtasim! We rejected a perfect rishta. What's the reason now? She's graduating in two months!" she snapped, her nostrils flaring – he held back a chuckle because he hadn't noticed her nostrils flared when she was angry until Meerab had brought it up in conversation randomly while laughing.

Meerab squeezed his hand again, grounding him. Her touch was a soothing balm, her fingers soft and warm against his skin.

"I know, calm down. Let's give her some time if she wants it," he said softly, hoping to calm his mother down.

Maryam shot him a look, her eyes silently screaming, "My decision is not going to change with time," before she got up and marched away from the table towards her room, her footsteps echoing in the tense silence.

"MARYAM! I was still talking!" Her mother yelled after her, but Maryam didn't stop, her dupatta trailing behind her like a defiant flag.

"Maa, all this yelling isn't good for Meerab or the baby!" Murtasim finally said, his voice firm but gentle. He couldn't help but worry about the stress affecting Meerab and their unborn child.

His mother glared but then sighed, sitting down, the fight seemingly drained out of her at the mention of her grandchild. She kept muttering under her breath, "Shaadi nahi karni, iska kya matlab hai? Sab shaadi karte hain. Iski umar ki sab ladkiyon ki shaadi hogayi hai."

Anwar cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. He glanced at Meerab before he spoke, seeming to now watch his words around her. "Bhabhi, we still have time. We shouldn't force her into anything," he said cautiously, his voice a rare blend of firmness and gentleness.

Murtasim rolled his eyes, marveling at how quickly things changed – no one would have said anything like that months ago.

His mother got up, likely feeling outnumbered, and marched out of the room, her footsteps heavy with frustration.

He turned back to Meerab, she looked radiant in her emerald green suit, the color accentuating her glowing skin and the swell of her pregnant belly. "Aap bhi jaana chahti hai?" he asked, remembering a similar scene where she had marched out too—months ago.