"Muntazir" is a heart-wrenching tale of a family torn apart by the trials of life. At first, Murtaza and Mehrul were the best of friends, but when they were forced to marry, their relationship took a turn for the worse. Murtaza, struggling to deal w...
❛ I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love. – Mother Teresa ❜
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Over the years, the prayers had been answered, love was restored and mistakes were forgiven. Mehrul continued to love her husband against all discouragements that could ever be and Murtaza learned that loving someone back is like filling a hole he never knew was there. It was redamancy. It was heaven. It was peaceful.
The dawn came with a musical silence, the souls hearing the melody that the ears could not. A new day had come, new possibilities, a fresh page yet to be written.
Mehrul's woke from her slumber to an alluring faint voice of her husband reciting Quran. Awakening to this view everyday was more than she could have ever hoped for or wanted.
Rolling over and resting her head on her palm, Mehrul went on gazing at him with admiration. Soon enough it caught Murtaza's attention and he returned the smile that took her breath away.
After a while, Murtaza closed the Quran and placed it on the side tables. When he turned to his wife this time, she was asleep. He gingerly tucked those sneaky hair strands behind her ear and pecked her forehead. A smile spread on his face as he felt a haze of peace and tranquility in her companionship.
"Good Morning beautiful" He whispered as he noticed her coming out of her slumber again.
"Morning, you annoyingly handsome man" Mehrul mumbled in her pillow while resisting the urge to groan at how fine he was looking this morning.
Murtaza laughed a merry laugh and joined her in the sheets. "You really make me laugh anytime of the day"
After a few moments, Murtaza spoke while stroking her hair as she snuggled in his chest, "I didn't want to wake you but you've been asleep for hours. Are you okay Mehrul?" His voice was laced with worry.
"I'm good Murtaza, I was just exhausted yesterday. Don't worry" Mehrul gently patted his chest in affirmation.
"I knew you'd work yourself to the point of exhaustion. That's it. I can't wait for BeeJi to come back from her village. I'm calling the househelp agency today. We can hire someone until she comes. I'm not listening to you any more. Now go back to sleep, I'll get Mehrul ready for the school and maybe order some breakfast" Murtaza said with conviction to which Mehrul mumbled a 'fine whatever' and went out like a light in no time.
****
A usual board meeting at work but Murtaza couldn't concentrate to save his life. His wife wasn't responding to any of his texts or calls for a while. She seemed just fine when he left for work but her sudden absence surprised him. It wasn't like Mehrul but then he thought she might be sleeping, just like the time something similar happened the previous week. But the constant worry made him fretful.
A couple of minutes later, when he was pitching his ideas to the potential investors, his phone buzzed with a text from his wife. The worry overpowered his senses and he couldn't help but check the message in the middle of a potentially profitable meeting.
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The minute he read the text, Murtaza felt dizzy with excitement. He ran out of the meeting leaving behind a bunch of confused business people. It felt like a dream but he's going to believe it anyway. The day had finally come for which they've been waiting for a long time. Joy and relief welled up inside of him. In that moment he never felt more alive.
Murtaza hastily entered his house to find his parents who welcomed him with hugs and congratulations. They were wild with joy and so was Murtaza.
"Your wife's waiting for you. Please make her stop crying. She's inconsolable. In my defense, I tried my best but she's fixed on crying saying they were tears of joy" Zohra sat down with a sigh. Murtaza shook his head, laughing at his adorably dramatic wife.
Entering their room he found her crouched up on the bed, her head resting on her knees. "Mehrul?"
As if on cue, mehrul started crying while hugging his husband who stood there caressing her back and controlling his own tears.
"We're going to be parents again Murtaza, finally," Mehrul said once she calmed down. Her head rested on his chest as Murtaza sat holding his wife in the stillness of the room.
"You know, I prayed for this day very intensely. I thought Allah wouldn't give me another opportunity at parenthood. I wanted to be everything I never was the first time and see I'm finally heard by Him" Murtaza spoke as he started into nothingness and something occurred to him that moment as he got up from the bed and instantly went into sajdah on the ground and thanked his Lord for the heavenly joy he had just blessed them with.
Eight Months Later…
An ear splitting cry of the baby gave relief to the restless man pacing outside the O.T as his heart leaped up for joy.
The doctor came out a minute later and announced that he just had a baby boy and both the mother and son were perfectly fine and informed him that he could go in and meet his wife and baby boy. Wasting no time, Murtaza went inside only to find his wife peppering kisses on his son's cheeks as he rested on her chest, all cleaned up and securely wrapped.
"Murtaza look, oh my god. He looks exactly like me" Mehrul laughed while her eyes flickered with exhaustion.
As Murtaza nearned them, he noticed how accurate Mehrul was even under the influence of anesthesia. "Sure he is just like you, my love. Beautiful and Serene" He gave his wife a lingering kiss.
As Murtaza held his son in his arms, He experienced a moment of pure crushing happiness. "My Son, Mamoor Murtaza" Murtaza announced with tears of joy running down his face. While Mehrul felt a stirring in her chest and her face was dazzled with happiness.
Murtaza rested his son in the crib and turned towards his wife to find her weary and exhausted but still beaming with happiness. This woman of his was one adorable creature in this world.
"Would you like a hug?" Murtaza offered to which Mehrul nodded excitedly. Laughing lightly he carefully gave her a loving hug and Mehrul's heart soared.
"Where is Maisha?" Mehrul asked, she missed her baby girl.
"She's with ammi, baba. They should be here anytime now" He didn't even complete his sentence when the door of their room flew open and Maisha entered with bubbling excitement to meet her brother.
"My little brother!!!" She shrieked as soon as she spotted him and swiftly went to his side to watch him in awe paying no heed to her parents. She was in love with her baby brother.
The parents shook their heads and chortled in joy. Holding onto each other as they looked at their children, Mehrul and Murtaza mumbled, 'Alhamdulillah'
" To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness"
