Unveiling Meerab [Tere Bin FF]

57. rituals

Author's Note: Hello everyone! We jump in time a little bit in this chapter, so Meesam is now as old as/older than when we met her in the show! I haven't obsessively edited this chapter, so excuse any mistakes - if I started doing that, this chapter wouldn't be up until next Sunday (*cries*). I hope y'all enjoy the chapter! Just three more after this one and then we're done!

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If Murtasim Khan had to pick his favorite sounds in the world, the joyous chaos created by his choti shehzaadi running, squealing, and laughing would easily top the list. Her laughter was something magical—a bright, musical giggle that bubbled up from her tiny belly and spilled into the air, sometimes breaking into little hiccups when she got too excited. It was the kind of sound that made everything in the world feel right, as though all his worries had been washed away in the pure, infectious joy of her giggles.

"Baba is going to get youuuuuuuuuuu! RAWRRRR!" Murtasim called out, pretending to be a ferocious lion. He made sure to stomp his feet dramatically as he moved, his hands curved into mock claws, eyes wide as he roared again. The lion act never failed to thrill Meesam, who loved "wions", as she called them.

"WION! Daadi, bhaago!" Meesam screamed, her little legs pumping as she ran full speed towards Maa Begum, who was just exiting the kitchen. Her chubby toddler feet made soft thuds against the marble floor, and she wobbled slightly with each hurried step, her arms flailing to keep balance. At 19 months, Meesam had just perfected the art of running, but she still had that adorable toddler gait, where her entire body seemed to follow the momentum of her legs.

Maa Begum laughed, bending slightly to watch as her diaper-clad granddaughter circled around her legs, seeking refuge from the "lion" chasing her. "Tum dono late nahi ho rahe?" she asked, amusement dancing in her eyes as she looked from her giggling granddaughter to her overly playful son.

"Nahi," Murtasim replied with a grin, his focus still on his target, the little lion-loving whirlwind.

"NAANU! WION!" Meesam shouted, running straight into Chacha-Saab, who was holding a few files in his hand, heading towards the door. Her breath came in little gasps, cheeks flushed, hair bouncing with each step. Her chubby hands grabbed onto his pant leg as if he were her last line of defense.

Instead of helping her, Chacha-Saab put the files down and joined in, letting out his own playful roar. "Hum bhi lion hai!" he declared, making his voice deep and gravelly.

Meesam's eyes widened, and she let out an ear-piercing scream of laughter, throwing her head back and nearly tipping over from the force of it. She then spun around, wobbling slightly before running off again, her laughter echoing through the haveli, pure and unfiltered. It made Murtasim's chest ache with happiness.

Chacha-Saab chuckled, picking up the files again and heading out towards the door to his meeting, shooting Murtsaim a smile as he walked by.

Murtasim picked up his pace and finally scooped his daughter up in his arms, lifting her off the ground as she shrieked louder, her squeals nearly deafening but so, so sweet. He immediately started tickling her sides, earning more of those heart-melting giggles that made his chest feel like it might burst from sheer joy.

"THOP! THOP!" she squealed, her little hands flailing as she tried to wriggle free from his tickle attack.

He relented, chuckling as he pressed a soft kiss to her chubby, flushed cheek. Her laughter slowly turned into breathless giggles, and she squirmed around to get comfortable in his arms. He looked at her, marveling at how much she looked like Meerab. The wide, curious brown eyes, the little button nose, the way her cheeks turned rosy from laughing too hard. It was like holding a tiny version of his wife, and it filled him with a sense of wonder every time.