Fated Love

Chapter 42

Meerab found herself engulfed in a disturbing atmosphere within the walls of Khan Haveli. The cancellation of Mariam's wedding had cast a shadow over the once lively estate, bringing the usual hustle and bustle to a halt. Her days were consumed by consoling a distraught Maa Begum, who grappled visibly with the tension between her roles as a mother and a wife. Meerab's heart ached witnessing the strong woman she admired succumb to the weight of the situation.

Mariam, too, withdrew into the confines of her room, emerging only for meals. The dinner table, once a hub of family activity, now bore the heavy silence of Uncle Shahnawaz's absence and a palpable gloom. Murtasim too, felt overwhelmed by the cloud of awkwardness and hesitation that had surrounded his house. Though he kept his feelings buried, trying to keep himself busy with work and feudal duties but Meerab sensed his guilt as he wordlessly wrapped his arms around her each night, seeking reassurance and warmth from her.

What troubled Meerab the most was the noticeable shift in Uncle Shahnawaz's demeanor. The confrontations with Murtasim seemed to have taken a serious toll on him. He retreated to his study, rarely emerging, and Meerab couldn't help but notice the palpable distress etched on his face. His guilt mirrored Murtasim's, a fact confirmed by Meerab's father during a concerned phone call. While she withheld specific details of the argument, Meerab conveyed enough to pique her father's concern.

In response, her father advised her to act as a healing bridge between the estranged father and son. "Meerab, I understand that Shahnawaz may not be your favorite person, but trust me, he's been through a lot. I know we glorify parents but after all, we're humans too and we can make mistakes as well. I am not trying to justify his actions, but everyone deserves a second chance. Sometimes, it takes longer for some of us to recognize those mistakes, but it's never too late."

Her father's voice carried a weight of wisdom and empathy. "Shahnawaz might be struggling with the burden of guilt right now, hesitating to make amends. It's not easy for anyone to confront their own faults. Perhaps, he's waiting for someone to reach out and I want you to be that person for him."

With a sense of sincerity in his tone, her father added, "Remember, Meerab, family is a tapestry of imperfections, and it's in acknowledging and accepting them that we weave the strongest bonds."

Meerab acknowledged her father's advice, thanking him before cutting the call. The challenge now lay in navigating the intricate web of emotions that hung heavy in the air, threatening to tear the her family apart. Meerab felt the weight of this responsibility and understood that, in the midst of the turmoil, she knew that she had to become a pivotal force in reuniting the fractured bonds within Khan Haveli.

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Meerab hesitated, standing before Shahnawaz's study door, her heart racing with nervousness. Gently pushing it open, she found him seated on a sofa near the fireplace. Anxiously twirling her dupatta, she approached him, with uncertainty. "Uncle Shahnawaz," she called out, causing him to startle from his trance.

"Oh, Meerab, come, sit," he whispered, his voice carrying an unusual fragility. With a deep inhalation, he gestured for her to take a seat.

"Uncle Shahnawaz, are you okay?" Meerab inquired, her eyes studying him intently.

"Yeah—I'm okay," he replied, his usual stern demeanor conspicuously absent. His trembling hands betrayed the turmoil within, prompting Meerab to gently grasp his hand between hers.

In that moment, Meerab felt a surge of courage, the need to bridge the emotional chasm between them. "Uncle Shahnawaz, you don't have to carry this burden alone. Talk to me please,"

He hesitated, as if unsure of where to begin. But as Meerab persisted, her eyes filled with empathy, Shahnawaz's proud and egotistical façade crumbled. His eyes, once stoic and mighty, now held the vulnerability of a defeated warrior.