Where Shadows Reach

The Seed

During dinner time that day, Ma Begum not so subtly asked Murtasim

"Beta, where have you been all day? When we returned no one was home. Bakhtu said you had taken Mariyam to college and took Meerab with you." 

"Yes I dropped Mariyam off to college and went to collect some documents from Akram's office."

"And that took all day?" Ma Begum asked with raised eyebrows. 

"You should have taken Meerab out for lunch."  Anwar chimed in.

Murtasim chose to simply nod and continued eating, making the wise choice not to say anything more.

Mariyam looked between her brother and Meerab before giggling, which quickly turned into a cough as the food in her mouth went down the wrong way.

Meerab kept gently tapping her on the back while Murtasim quickly handed her a glass of water.

Once Mariyam's cough subsided Ma Begum tsked saying "What was the need to talk or even laugh with food in your mouth? See what happens!"

With that she turned to Aneela and Waqas asking them about the next day's plans.

This was how their holidays at the Haveli usually went, all the older ones took off daily on their visiting rounds while Meerab and Mari made their own plans.

Sometimes they went shopping, other times choosing to stay in to watch movies and gossip in their rooms.

Murtasim rarely joined either group, choosing to stay at the Haveli with work, only occasionally joining in during meal times.

                    ___________

"Did you have fun on your date?" 

Looking at Meerab's upside down form, Mari asked as she lay spread eagled on the bed with her head hanging off the edge. 

Looking at Mari's dark hair flowing down to the floor, Meerab commented "We need to get a trim at the saloon before I leave."

"Hmmm.
About the date, what did you do?" Mari said coming back to her initial question.

"It was not a DATE!" Meerab insisted "He just took me to get coffee with ice cream and a sandwich."

"Oooh ice cream date" Mari said in a sing song voice "Wah Bhai! First date ice cream, where will you go for a second date? Movie? Or another car ride?"

Meerab threw a cushion at Mari with a frown. "Not a date! Mari! Why are you teasing me so much about this!"

"Achcha Baba I won't tease but I would love to have you as my sister then you wont have to leave from here ever." Mari came over and hugged Meerab. Sitting down on the floor crossing her legs, Mari leaned against Meerab's shoulder insisting "I swear to be the best S.I.L ever."

"But I havent made a decision yet Mari, let me think about this."

"If your answer is not an outright no, then I have hope.

For you to even consider the proposal, you must like Murtasim Bhai a lot?" Mari wiggled her eyebrows at Meerab suggestively.

"Shut up Mari! You know Shahnawaz uncle is my favourite and I cannot reject his wish without thinking about it. Nothing to do with my feelings for Murtasim." Meerab explained.