The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow that filtered through the intricately carved windows of Khan Haveli. The evening air was thick with the scent of jasmine, a stark contrast to the charged atmosphere brewing within. In the lavishly decorated drawing room, Meerab paced back and forth, her heart racing with a mix of anger and frustration. Across the room, Murtasim sat rigidly on the sofa, his jaw clenched, eyes steely and unyielding.
“Why can’t you understand that I’m not a child?” Meerab’s voice broke the heavy silence, her tone sharp and cutting. “You can’t keep controlling every aspect of my life like I’m some delicate porcelain doll!”
Murtasim’s gaze remained fixed on the wall, refusing to meet her eyes. “I’m not controlling you, Meerab. I’m trying to protect you,” he replied, his voice low and strained.
“Protect me? Or suffocate me?” Meerab shot back, her anger bubbling to the surface. “You think you know what’s best for me, but you don’t! You have no idea what it feels like to be trapped in a gilded cage!”
Murtasim finally turned to face her, his expression a mix of hurt and indignation. “I do what I do out of love! You should be grateful that someone cares enough to look after you!”
“Grateful? For what? For treating me like I’m incapable of making my own decisions?” Her eyes blazed with fury. “You think love is about control? It’s about trust, Murtasim! But you—”
Before she could finish, Murtasim’s voice erupted like thunder. “Trust? Trust is not what I feel when you go against my wishes at every turn! You think your rebellious spirit is charming? It’s infuriating!”
Meerab felt her heart drop at the accusation. “Infuriating? You think I enjoy this? You think I want to fight with you every single day?” She stepped closer, her voice shaking with emotion. “You don’t even see me, Murtasim! You only see the image of what you want me to be!”
“Then what do you want me to see?” Murtasim stood up, anger radiating off him. “You’re not the only one struggling here, Meerab! I’m trying to keep our family safe and united while you—”
“While I what?” she interrupted, tears brimming in her eyes. “While I dare to be my own person? Maybe you’re too afraid to let me go because you know I’m stronger than you give me credit for!”
A beat of silence passed between them, thick with unspoken words and rising tensions. Then, in a moment of sheer frustration, Meerab yelled, “Maybe I should just leave! Is that what you want? For me to disappear so you can play the perfect husband without the messy parts?”
The words hung heavily in the air, and she saw the flicker of hurt in Murtasim’s eyes before he quickly masked it with anger. “If that’s how you feel, then maybe you should!” His voice was cold, and he turned his back on her, his expression hardening into a mask of indifference.
Meerab’s heart sank. She felt a deep ache in her chest, a mixture of regret and disbelief at her own words. “Murtasim…” she began softly, but he didn’t turn around. “I didn’t mean it…”
But he remained silent, his back a fortress against her emotions.
---
**Three Days Later**
The echoes of their fight lingered like a ghost in the halls of Khan Haveli. Meerab spent the past few days in a restless haze, guilt gnawing at her. She couldn’t shake off the memory of Murtasim’s hurt expression or the chilling silence that had enveloped their home since the argument.
She knew she had crossed a line, her hurtful words haunting her every moment. The laughter that once filled their rooms had been replaced by a heavy stillness. Murtasim had been distant, ignoring her attempts to engage him in conversation or share a meal. He retreated into the confines of his office, his sanctuary, where she knew he was deep in thought, possibly contemplating their fractured relationship.
