When Rivals Collide (Tere Bin AU)

Chapter 11: Lingering Doubts

The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the estate as the evening descended into a quiet, contemplative hush. Meerab sat by the large window in her room, the dim light from a nearby lamp illuminating her face. She was lost in thought, her mind still swirling with the events of the day. Waqas’s visit had left her on edge, but it was her growing feelings for Murtasim that occupied her thoughts the most.

Meerab had never imagined she would find herself in this position—caught between the unexpected stirrings of her heart and the unsettling reappearance of Waqas. The way Waqas had smiled at her, the subtle insinuations in his voice, had left her feeling more than just uncomfortable. She could sense something lurking behind his seemingly polite demeanor, something dark and calculating. It made her skin crawl to think about it.

The memory of Waqas’s visit was like a shadow, hovering over her and tainting the solace she usually found in her quiet moments. His sudden interest in the school and the vague mention of “collaborations” left her feeling uneasy. It was as if he had plans that extended beyond what he was letting on, and Meerab couldn’t shake the feeling that those plans could disrupt everything she had worked so hard to achieve.

She stood and walked over to the window, pushing it open to let in the cool night air. The scent of jasmine wafted in from the garden below, calming her racing thoughts. She leaned against the windowsill, staring out into the darkness. The moon was high, casting a silvery glow over the estate, but the shadows seemed to stretch further, as if they were hiding something just out of sight.

Meerab’s thoughts returned to Murtasim, though she tried to push them aside. The way he had spoken to her earlier, with such sincerity and warmth, had stirred something deep within her—a feeling she wasn’t ready to confront. The growing attraction she felt for him was both thrilling and terrifying, leaving her torn between emotions she couldn’t quite understand.

But even as her feelings for Murtasim grew, a part of her remained cautious. She knew that their relationship was far from simple. There were too many unknowns, too many secrets lurking in the shadows, and she wasn’t sure where this path would lead.

Meerab sighed, closing her eyes for a moment to center herself. She needed to focus, to remain vigilant. There was too much at stake, and she couldn’t afford to be distracted by emotions that were still too raw, too new. Waqas’s presence was a reminder of the dangers that lay ahead, and she needed to be prepared for whatever might come.

A soft knock on the door broke her reverie. Meerab turned, expecting to see a servant, but the knock was hesitant, as if the person on the other side wasn’t sure whether to enter. With a furrowed brow, she crossed the room and opened the door.

To her surprise, it was her father, Anwar, standing there. His expression was calm, but Meerab could see the concern in his eyes.

"Abbu," she said, stepping aside to let him in. "I wasn’t expecting you."

Anwar smiled gently, though his eyes were still clouded with worry. "I wanted to see how you were doing, beta," he said, his voice warm but laced with an underlying tension. "You’ve been through a lot today."

Meerab nodded, closing the door behind him. "It’s been… a challenging day," she admitted, feeling the weight of everything that had happened settle back onto her shoulders.

Anwar walked over to the window and glanced outside before turning back to his daughter. "I heard Waqas paid you a visit," he said carefully, watching her reaction.

Meerab’s face tensed slightly, but she nodded. "Yes, he did. He was… vague about his intentions, but I could tell there’s something more going on. He mentioned possible collaborations, but it felt like there was an ulterior motive."