Tere Bin

Chapter 14

Haya stood there, reveling in the emotional chaos that surrounded her. The dim light of the room barely illuminated Meerab's broken figure, hunched over like a shattered doll. She felt alive, invigorated by the sight of Meerab’s despair. It was a twisted satisfaction that filled her; she had waited for this moment, and now that it was here, it felt almost euphoric.

"Tch tch tch, Meerab dekho na kya haal bana liya hai tumne apna," Haya taunted, leaning slightly forward, her voice dripping with cruel delight. "Tumhe dekh kar mujhe bahut takleef ho rahi hai..."

Meerab buried her face deeper into her knees, as if trying to block out Haya’s voice, the mocking inflection making her heart race with shame. She could feel the heat of humiliation wash over her, feeding off the memories of that night—Murtasim's forceful presence, the violation of trust, the crumbling of her very essence. The fact that Haya reveled in her misery, that she knew the truth, made every breath painful.

Haya's dark eyes sparkled with a sadistic glee as she continued her assault with words, manipulating Meerab’s broken state further. "Maine kaha tha na tumse Meerab... Murtasim tumse pyaar nahi karta. Woh bas apni zidd poori karna chahta tha...tumhe haasil karna chahta tha .....aur lo kar liya usne" Forced calculations and twisted this supposed love—Haya’s heart broke for no one, but she took solace in the destruction of others.

Meerab’s soul writhed, an invisible pain shredding at her heart. Each mockery from Haya was like a blade cutting deeper into her wounds. She refused to look up, but the betrayal burned against the inside of her eyelids. Haya leaned closer, desperation clinging to her words like a haunting melody. "Bada itarati thi na mere saamne Ab kya hua? Giri na muh ke bal tum..."

The fingers that caressed Meerab's chin felt like ice, a reminder of the warmth and safety she yearned for but had been stripped away. "Bahut karti thi na, Meerab ki marzi... Meerab ki marzi?....Ab kahan gayi tumhari marzi? Tum toh mujhse bhi gayi guzari nikli apne shohar ke haathon hi...khair..."

The venom of Haya's words twisted within her like a serpent, her heart shattering in sync with the realization of her reality. In that moment, Meerab wanted to scream, to lash out at her tormentor, but she found herself paralyzed by a mix of vulnerability and furious shame.

“Ab aage kya karogi Meerab? Tum toh apni marzi se mar bhi nahi paayi...” Haya chuckled, enjoying the heartbreaking spectacle before her. “Main bataun? Ab tum wapas ussi ghar main jaogi—Murtasim ke saath... bilkul jaise kuch hua hi na ho.”

Each word felt like a new scar being etched into her skin. Meerab’s pulse quickened at the thought of returning to Murtasim, a man who had assaulted her very being, who had twisted love into a weapon against her. But the truth Haya offered was like unrelenting thorns; their sharpness pressed painfully against her thoughts.

“Usne kuch galat nahi kiya, bas shohar hone ka haq jataya hai tumpar!” The laughter in Haya's tone was filled with revelry, evidence of a sickening satisfaction that only darkness could cultivate. “Firse jatayega... jab chahe, jahan chahe, jaise chahe aur tum kuch nahi kar paaogi...aur usse koi kuch nahi bol sakega”

Meerab couldn't hold back the tears any longer. Fresh streams of sorrow cascaded down her cheeks as she fought against the tide of despair creeping into her mind. Every crude word Haya spoke was another reminder of her perceived powerlessness.

“Meerab agar tum main sach main izzazt-e-nafs baaki hai toh Murtasim se khula lelo…” Haya proposed, eyes glinting wickedly in the half-light. “Kabhi maaf na karna... kabhi uske paas wapas mat aana... yehi uski saza hogi.”

With those final words, a cold shiver clawed up Meerab's spine. She lifted her gaze, locking eyes with Haya, fury igniting a spark of defiance deep within her. Her eyes, puffy and swollen from crying, shimmered with a newfound anger that she hadn't fully recognized until now.

Feeling overwhelmed by conflicting emotions—hatred for Haya and hatred for her own weakness—Meerab longed to lash out, to claw back the dignity that felt so irreparably lost. Haya’s words may have reached deep within her, but Meerab knew they were orchestrated lies, designed to break her.

Meanwhile, outside the room, a figure stood shrouded in shadows, listening intently. The revelation of Haya's cruel intentions filled them with a sense of clarity. They understood the torment of two souls now intertwined in a web of bitterness—one seeking to destroy and the other fighting to survive.

As the conversation continued, the listener drew closer, resolved to enter the fray when the time was right. Because beneath the echoing cries of despair, the quiet undercurrent of strength simmered, ready to rise and counter Haya's darkness with unwavering light. And when that moment came, it would change everything for Meerab.