The bustling streets of Karachi roared with life, as cars honked incessantly and people moved in every direction, lost in their own chaotic world. It was a typical Karachi evening, where the city seemed to come alive in a way that made it feel both overwhelming and exhilarating at the same time.
At the heart of this chaos sat Meerub, her fingers absentmindedly tapping her notebook as she stared out of the café window. The gentle buzz of students around her, all buried in their textbooks, should’ve kept her grounded in her task — preparing for her next semester exams. But her thoughts were elsewhere, far from the legal doctrines and case laws that filled her textbooks.
She looked down at her phone, her heart skipping a beat as a message appeared on the screen.
*MK: Be there in 5 minutes.*
Meerub couldn’t help but smirk. Murtasim Khan, the man who infuriated her more than anyone else in the world, was also the one who made her heart race like no other. Their relationship was fiery, passionate, and full of constant bickering — but it was also a secret. No one knew they were dating, and that was exactly how they both liked it. Their relationship had started out with both of them trying to resist the pull they felt towards each other, but the attraction had only grown stronger over time.
Not even her best friends knew about the late-night rendezvous or the secret meetings they had whenever Murtasim visited Karachi on business. To the outside world, they were still the same — constantly bickering, unable to stand each other for more than five minutes without arguing. But behind closed doors, it was a different story.
Meerub quickly gathered her things, her mind no longer on studying. She left the café, the cool evening breeze hitting her face as she walked towards the parking lot where Murtasim usually waited for her.
And there he was — leaning against his sleek black SUV, arms crossed, his jaw set in that familiar stubborn way that both annoyed and attracted her at the same time. His dark eyes scanned the area, always cautious, always on alert.
As soon as he saw her, his expression softened just slightly, but the intensity in his gaze never wavered.
"You're late," Murtasim said as soon as she was close enough to hear.
Meerub rolled her eyes, adjusting the strap of her backpack on her shoulder. "I told you I had to finish studying. Not everything revolves around your schedule, Murtasim."
"Right, because you were studying so diligently while waiting for my message," he teased, his lips curling into a smirk.
She shot him a glare but couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at her lips. "Shut up."
Murtasim chuckled and pushed himself off the SUV, opening the passenger door for her. "Get in before someone sees us."
Meerub raised an eyebrow, stepping closer to him. "You worried about someone catching us together, *Khan*? Afraid your perfect reputation will be ruined?"
Murtasim’s smirk widened, and without warning, he leaned down, his lips brushing her ear as he whispered, "I’m more worried about what’ll happen when I kiss you and you forget where we are."
Her breath hitched, and her heart raced as his words sent a shiver down her spine. But she quickly recovered, stepping back and giving him a playful shove. "Get in the car, you idiot."
Murtasim laughed, a deep, rich sound that she would never admit to loving. He got into the driver’s seat, and Meerub followed suit, closing the door behind her. As soon as they were both inside, Murtasim sped off, weaving through Karachi’s chaotic traffic with ease.
They drove in comfortable silence for a while, the city lights blurring past them. Meerub glanced over at him, admiring the way his strong hands gripped the steering wheel, his sharp profile illuminated by the faint glow of the dashboard.
He was so different from anyone she had ever met — a mix of arrogance, charm, and intensity that both drew her in and drove her crazy. But there was also a side to him that no one else got to see, a softer, more protective side that made her heart ache in ways she didn’t fully understand.
"So, where are we going this time?" Meerub asked, breaking the silence.
Murtasim shrugged, his eyes still on the road. "I thought I’d take you to that spot you like by the beach. It’s quiet, away from all this chaos."
Meerub’s heart warmed at the thought. He always knew how to make her feel special, even in the simplest of ways. "You’re just trying to get me alone."
"Is it working?" he shot back, his lips twitching into a grin.
"Maybe," she teased, leaning back in her seat as she looked out the window, a small smile playing on her lips.
---
Twenty minutes later, they pulled up at a secluded spot by the beach, far away from the crowds. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the waves as they gently lapped against the shore. It was quiet here, the only sound being the distant roar of the ocean.
Meerub stepped out of the car, breathing in the cool, salty air. Murtasim joined her, leaning against the hood of the SUV, his eyes fixed on her.
"Do you ever wonder why we’re doing this?" Meerub asked suddenly, turning to face him. "Why we’re keeping this a secret?"
Murtasim tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "What do you mean?"
"I mean… we could just tell people. It’s not like we’re doing anything wrong."
He paused for a moment, his eyes studying her carefully. "Are you saying you want to tell everyone?"
Meerub shrugged, her arms crossing over her chest. "I don’t know. Sometimes I think it would be easier. But then again…" She smirked, meeting his gaze with a challenging look. "I think you like the thrill of sneaking around."
Murtasim’s lips curved into a slow smile, his eyes darkening with amusement. "Maybe I do. Or maybe I just like having you all to myself."
Her heart skipped a beat at his words, but she quickly masked it with a playful roll of her eyes. "You’re impossible, you know that?"
"That’s what you love about me," he said smugly.
Meerub laughed, shaking her head. "I never said I love you."
Murtasim’s gaze softened, and for a moment, the teasing dropped from his voice. "No. But you feel it. I know you do."
The air between them grew thick with unspoken words, with the tension that always seemed to hang between them, ready to snap at any moment. Meerub looked away, her heart racing as she tried to compose herself.
"You’re so full of yourself," she muttered, trying to deflect.
Murtasim took a step closer, his fingers brushing her arm as he pulled her towards him. "And you love that too."
She bit her lip, trying to suppress the smile threatening to break free. "Maybe."
He leaned down, his lips hovering just inches from hers, his breath warm against her skin. "Then stop fighting it."
And just like that, all her resolve crumbled. Meerub closed the distance between them, her lips crashing into his in a kiss that was equal parts fierce and tender. Murtasim’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her close as the world around them seemed to disappear.
It was always like this with him — intense, passionate, like they were both trying to prove something to each other, to themselves. But in these moments, when they were alone, it was easier to admit the truth they both knew but refused to say out loud.
They were hopelessly, irrevocably in love.
When they finally pulled apart, breathless and slightly dazed, Murtasim rested his forehead against hers, his eyes closed as he whispered, "I’m not letting you go."
Meerub smiled, her hands resting on his chest. "Who said I wanted you to?"
---
For a long while, they stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms, the sound of the ocean and the cool breeze the only witnesses to their secret.
It didn’t matter that they bickered constantly, or that they kept their relationship hidden from the world. In these stolen moments, they were exactly where they wanted to be — together.
And that was all that mattered.
