PROTECTOR OF KHAN- AU Tere Bin universe where Murtasim is Meerab's bodyguard.
The Khan family established its reign over Hyderabad as land owners, whilst keeping an iron grip on their rivals to maintain political control. Anwar Khan is the embodimen...
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After a 6-hour flight, they were promised just a few hours to kill within the commotion of Doha before setting off again. The knowledge that each minute passed was closer to returning to a war zone cast a ghost of a frown upon Meerab's face. As the glass capsule finished soaring upon train tracks, its doors glided open and Murtasim's hand came out behind Meerab to guide her through Hammad International Airport's bustle, resuming his bodyguard duty as he was innately fine-tuned to do.
Irtaza ventured off to the premium lounge on the top deck and Murtasim nudged his wife. ''Kya lou gye?'' (What will you buy?)
They passed down to a hub of glitzy shops, finding interactive screens and a menagerie of jewels, a gold vault and a wonderland of perfumes of every combination possible. They were in an eden with everything within touch, glossy hand bags and accesories winking at Meerab to be bought. But instead, she admitted, ''Sach mei kahun tou meetha kaane ka barra man karr raha hai.'' (If in being honest, i'm craving something sweet.)
The simpleness was endearing. ''There's a really nice bakery that I know of, Meerab. They do kunafa and baklwava; freshly hot and still crunchy — Mariyum loves it.''
''Nahi, chocolate. Milk chocolate, please,'' she requested.
''Aur nakhre bhi hai, or will any type of choclate do?'' Murtasim led her to a storefront illuminated in vibrant gold, eager to delight her. (Any other preferences?)
Beneath the Laderach sign was a counter teeming with nuggets of chocolate, expertly glossy, each one in a new flavour of praline. Meerab's face lit up, biting her lips at the exotic selection of chocolate slabs laced with every variety of nuts and dried fruits.
Her mind flittered back to the plate of zarda shared in childhood, her enjoying just the sugar-soaked rice, whereas he picked out the adornments, popping them in his mouth and eliciting infectious, harmonious giggles of glee from her — Meerab was happier still, her doe eyes glinting in amazement as she saw a tray of smooth chocolate truffles. ''Yeh wale ley lun?'' (Shall I get these?)
Contently, Murtasim nodded.
She pivoted to a tray, a mixed selection of chocolate encrusted with caramel shards and full, vivid green pistachios perched upon spheres of dark chocolate. There were white chocolate cubes speckled in freeze-dried strawberries. ''Yeh wala tumhare liye?'' (And these ones for you?)
''But I'm not craving any chocolate, nawabzaadi.'' As was habitual whilst in observation, Murtasim stroked his sharp jaw, lined in a neat stubble that she could practically it feel sand-papering his fingertips.
''Mairyum ke liye ley lete hai?'' She suggested, head titling to sway him. The curls had fallen out of her hair, gently undone. (I'll buy it for Mariyum?)
''You don't need an excuse to buy anything. Jo marzi hai ley lo — in fact, tum jis cheez pe haath rakhou gye, main khareed dunga.'' (Buy whatever you want — in fact, i'll buy whatever you lay your hand on.)
