Meri Meerab *Discontinued*

1 Daawat, 2 Izhaar and 3 Humraaz

This is the original version of Meri Meerab — it's the first fic I ever wrote so it's raw and sweet. The full 61 chapters are available to read but it will not be updated or completed.

—————————————

Maa Begum had arranged for a celebratory dinner at the Hyderabad haveli for Meerab's return. She was a business graduate now, and the first girl in their family to be. For this reason, Maa Begum had decided that a formal event would be a good idea to re-introduce her to everyone.

It was spectacular set up, including live entertainment, endless candles toilluminate the outdoor setting and flower garlands hanging from surface. Fresh naanswere being fired in the tandoor and barbecued meats were being prepared too, the toasty smell wafted between the plethora of guests in attendance causing an appetite for their impending dinner.

Their entire family was in attendance, along with Anas, Murtasim's best friend. It wasent so strange for Anas to tease and boss around the girls, that being Haya, Mariam and Meerab. They had all grown up together, and saw Anas as their brother. More so than Murtasim even, as Anas was more cheery and playful. He would bring their favourite kulfi's when he came over to the haveli for meetings with Murtasim, which would be savoured whilst bickering and quipping endlessly with Haya andMariyum. As a result of his kindness and ability to assimilate into their family, he was always invited for eid and birthday parties.

Haya had begun to develop a habit of wandering into Murtasim's office to serve tea, along with homemade sweet treats, just for an extra glance at Anas. The truthis that the

girls knew between themselves that Haya had a crush on Anas, but this was because she was very vocal about the topic. A form of verbal manifestation, one could say.

Of course, she never proclaimed this infront of Ma Begum or Murtasim. Neither did Meerab or Mariyum discourage Haya as they agreed the two would make a cutepairing. But the issue was that the haveli had quite a traditional mindset and wouldn't take fondly of her feelings for the boy.

Meerab was all for a traditional mindset when it came to receiving gifts from the families elders and wearing her embroidered kurtis and matching kussas, but less so when Murtasims would glare when she spoke out against his authoritative tone and when Maa Begum would only allow her out of the house with a trusted driver, a planned route and a strict curfew.

Meerab's mother passed away during childbirth and her distraught father had never been the same since. Her father was there physically but failed to provide the father love and support she deserved. He was often away in the Goan, attending to the panchaayat and Meerab learnt quickly not to wait for his return, soon being sentoff to boarding school so she was able to have some time away from the haveli, before returning for the school holidays.

Other than that, she had grown up surrounded by Haya and Mariyum. She considered them her entire world, closer than sisters. Maa Begum and Murtasim were never far and never allowed her to feel any shortcomings in her life.

All 3 were dolled up for the daawat and were busy welcoming guests into theoutdoor seating area. There were trees wrapped in fairy lights and a red carpet drawn out for guests to enter onto, leading out the seating area. The garden housed several long banquet tables, decked out in floral arrangements with a name card on each dinner plate, handwritten in cursive by Meerab.

It was a lovley summer evening, as the waiters were bringing ice cold mock tailsout to the guests. There was

gossip and giggles amongst them, lulled by the soft background qawalli singers.

In the corner of her eye, Meerab caught Maa Begum gesturing, beckoning for herto come closer. The was a great sense of pride and fulfilment which seemed to beemanating from her face, as though her lifelong efforts in nurturing and caring for thegirl had finally come into fruitation. It was also evidence from her regal outfit, heavilyembroidered emerald shalwar kameez outfit and a loose scarf draped over her head, thinly veiling her chunky diamond necklace which effortlessly twinkled through.