Dhaagey: The Ties that Bind Us

56. everything and more

A/N: Hello everyone, apologies for the delay, it's wedding season where I am and among all the weddings, I (along with my husband and baby) got sick, so it's been a wild few weeks! Plus, I re-wrote this chapter like ten times, I think I lost my writing mojo for a bit, but hoping it's back now!

Anyways, since it is wedding season, I present to you, their wedding. FINALLY. Hehe. See y'all on the other side. 

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Murtasim wandered through the brightly lit corridors of the haveli with the kind of purpose he tried very hard to disguise. His steps were measured, casual enough not to draw suspicion, but his mind was anything but calm. Beneath the surface, he was humming with the want of her. Every turn of the corner, every passing whisper of fabric or scent made him ache with the need to see her. Meerab.

The night before had been long. Too long. First, there had been the exhausting fallout of Shabana catching Maryam and Armaan together. And just as he thought the night might find its peace, Arsalan had chosen that exact moment to declare, with more emotion than necessary, that he was in love with Ajiya and wanted to marry her.

Hours had slipped by in a blur of questions, reassurances, and emotional landmines. It had been close to 3am when he finally made it upstairs. His feet had automatically followed Meerab to her door, the way they always did, but Maa Begum had been waiting. Sharp-eyed and purposeful. With a soft reprimand and an even firmer hand on his shoulder, she had steered him away toward the other side of the hall.

"You'll see her tomorrow."

But it was tomorrow. And he hadn't seen her yet.

The haveli was already blooming with activity. The staff bustled past, balancing platters and fabrics and fresh flowers. The scent of roses and sandalwood drifted through the hallways. Someone laughed in the courtyard below. Music was starting to rise faintly from the far wing. Mehendi preparations, in full swing.

And still, he hadn't seen his Meerab. He hated it.

He tried to be patient. He really did. But every step he took seemed to take him away from her. Every room had someone else in it, every hallway a set of eyes that tracked his movements. As if the world had decided, for these few days, that he wasn't allowed to simply... have her.

"Bhai."

He looked up.

Maryam stood with one brow arched, arms crossed, the smugness on her face unmistakable.

"You couldn't be more obvious if you tried."

He straightened, feigning innocence. "I'm not doing anything."

"Exactly," she said with a laugh. "You're doing nothing, while staring longingly in the direction of her room like some sad little hero from a drama."

Murtasim rolled his eyes. "Shut up, Maryam."

"She'll be all yours in a day," Maryam teased, leaning in. "Can't you just wait...or call her phone?"

"I tried calling," he muttered. "She didn't pick up."

Her grin widened, insufferable. "I see. So now you must see her?"

He didn't deny it. "I have to run an errand. I wanted to see her before I left."

True. But not the whole truth. The whole truth was that mornings felt wrong without her. His day felt incomplete without the sight of her face, without the sleepy smile she gave him when she wasn't quite awake yet, without her voice saying his name like it belonged to her.