The golden rays of the afternoon sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the bedroom. Meerab lay sprawled comfortably on the plush bed, propped up by a pile of pillows, her eyes glued to the small screen in her hands. She was watching Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge for perhaps the hundredth time, completely entranced as Raj, the ever-charming Shah Rukh Khan, worked his magic on Simran.
"Oh my God," she whispered, her voice barely containing her excitement. "He's so handsome! Look at him with that smile!"
Murtasim, who had been passing by the room, stopped in his tracks at the door. He raised an eyebrow, not quite used to this side of his otherwise poised wife. She was giggling, her eyes sparkling, and there was a softness in her smile that he couldn't quite place. Curiosity got the better of him as he walked in quietly and leaned against the doorframe, observing her.
"He's just... too good," Meerab sighed, lost in the moment. "How is it even possible to be that handsome and charming at the same time?"
Murtasim frowned, feeling an unexpected pang of jealousy. Clearing his throat, he stepped forward, folding his arms across his chest. "Who is 'he' exactly?"
Meerab looked up, her trance momentarily broken as she saw him standing there. She quickly glanced back at the screen, dismissing him with a wave of her hand. "Oh, no one you'd understand. Just Shah Rukh Khan. Look at him in that leather jacket... isn't he just... perfect?"
"Perfect?" Murtasim's eyes narrowed as he moved closer, taking a seat on the edge of the bed. "He's wearing a leather jacket in broad daylight. What's perfect about that?"
Meerab rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed with his lack of appreciation for the DDLJ magic. "You wouldn't get it. Shah Rukh has this... this charm, this... jadoo."
Murtasim scoffed, trying not to show how irked he was. "Jadoo?" he repeated, raising an eyebrow. "It's just a jacket and a bike. I could do that, too, you know."
Meerab's laughter was instant and loud. "You? Really? Murtasim, do you even know how to ride a bike?"
"I can learn," he shot back defensively, not wanting to lose face. "What's so special about him anyway?"
Meerab tilted her head thoughtfully, tapping her finger on her chin. "Well... everything. The way he stares, the way he smiles, the way he makes you feel like he's only looking at you... it's like he knows exactly what to say to make your heart race."
Murtasim huffed, crossing his arms again. "Sounds like you're very... familiar with this."
"Who isn't?" Meerab laughed, eyes sparkling. "Every girl dreams of a guy like Raj-someone who would chase her across Europe, fight for her, win over her family, and then look at her like she's the only girl in the world."
"Across Europe?" Murtasim raised his eyebrows. "Do you want me to chase you across Europe, Meerab?"
Meerab smirked, clearly enjoying this little game. "If you could, maybe. But then again, that requires a certain class. You're a little too... serious, Murtasim. Raj has this carefree, charming attitude."
"Carefree?" He scoffed, clearly offended. "I can be carefree. I don't need to be in a leather jacket to show that I'm... cool." The word sounded awkward in his mouth, as if he wasn't entirely sure it suited him.
Meerab held back a chuckle, barely succeeding. "Alright, Mr. Cool, how about you try to win me over? Come on, impress me."
He stared at her, the challenge gleaming in her eyes as she set her phone aside, ready to be entertained.
Murtasim cleared his throat, a mischievous glint replacing the initial irritation. He leaned toward her, his gaze intense as he mimicked Shah Rukh's classic pose-hands outstretched, eyebrows raised, lips twisted in what he thought was a charming smirk.
"Murtasim... naam toh suna hoga," he said, trying to imitate SRK's voice. But his deep, authoritative tone didn't quite match the playful charm of Raj.
Meerab burst out laughing, clutching her stomach. "Oh my God, Murtasim! No, no, please, stop! That's... that's not working at all!"
Murtasim dropped his hands, looking offended. "What? Why? I thought that was good."
"You sound like you're about to interrogate someone, not win over their heart," she teased, trying to catch her breath. "Raj is... gentle, soft, romantic. You're too... intense."
"Intense?" Murtasim bristled, still trying to wrap his head around her fascination. "Fine, tell me. What would he do if you were here?"
Meerab grinned, playing along. "Well, he'd look at me with that dreamy gaze, lean in close, and probably say something so sweet it'd make my heart melt."
Murtasim rolled his eyes but leaned in close anyway, their faces just inches apart. He softened his gaze, trying his best to imitate SRK's iconic charm. "Meerab... you're not the only one with jadoo."
She raised an eyebrow, barely holding back a smile. "Really? And what's your jadoo?"
Without warning, he reached out and tickled her sides, making her squeal with laughter. "See? Now I have you right where I want you!"
"Murtasim!" she gasped, wriggling away, breathless from laughter. "This isn't... this isn't romantic at all!"
"But it worked, didn't it?" He grinned, watching her laugh. There was something about seeing her so happy that made his heart swell, and he couldn't help but feel a little victorious, even if he didn't have Shah Rukh's charm.
"Fine," Meerab admitted between giggles. "But you have to admit, you're no Shah Rukh Khan."
He sighed dramatically, leaning back on the pillows, his hand over his heart. "Alright, I surrender. Maybe I'm not SRK. But tell me, Meerab, would he do this?"
Before she could answer, he grabbed her hand and pulled her close, his arm wrapping around her as he planted a firm, possessive kiss on her forehead.
Meerab's cheeks flushed, and for a moment, she was caught off guard. "Murtasim..."
"Yes?" He smirked, clearly pleased with himself.
"You... you're unbelievable," she mumbled, feeling her face heat up.
"See?" he said smugly, leaning back with a self-satisfied grin. "I may not be your 'Raj,' but I'm the one who gets to do that."
She glared at him, trying to hide the smile tugging at her lips. "Fine. You win. But don't think you can just walk in here and interrupt my movie whenever you want. I was having a very special moment with SRK."
"Special moment, huh?" he shot back, still a little jealous. "Well, don't forget who you're actually married to."
Meerab laughed, her laughter like a soft melody that filled the room. "Don't worry, Mr. Khan. I know exactly who I'm married to." She reached out, taking his hand with a playful smile. "But a little SRK in my life never hurt anyone, right?"
Murtasim grumbled, but deep down, he was smiling. She may have a soft spot for that Bollywood hero, but he knew he was her real-life hero-the one who got to see her laugh, who got to hold her close, who got to make her blush. And that was more than enough for him.
As he reached over and picked up her phone, he hit pause on the movie, his smirk returning. "Now, enough of this SRK nonsense. Let's watch something better."
Meerab gasped, reaching for her phone. "Murtasim! Give it back!"
He laughed, holding it just out of her reach as she struggled to grab it. "Not until you admit that I'm better than Shah Rukh Khan."
"In your dreams!" she retorted, determined not to back down.
But as they wrestled playfully on the bed, her laughter filling the room and his heart, he couldn't help but think that he didn't need any leather jacket or bike to make this moment perfect. He had Meerab, her laughter, her happiness-and in that moment, that was all the magic he'd ever need.
