"Ok fine you can call and tell them", Meerab responded not knowing if she is right or wrong. She doesn't know if she should trust him with Haya or not but for other things, she knows that Murtasim is right and he will not think something bad for her. But his question perplexed her as to why he asked this question abruptly at midnight.
"Tell me why you went. Murtasim... Murtasim ", before she should ask further she heard a beep sound and realised he already declined the call. She threw her mobile phone angrily. Why he never listens to her? Now she wanted to know what happened and why he left but this stupid guy declined the call like she mean nothing to him.
"Hugh idiot ", Meerab cursed him in her mind and tried to sleep knowing he will not come now but sleep was far away from her eyes. Curiosity kills and this curiosity is making her go mad. Her mind already started to think of many possibilities. What if Haya again cut her wrist? What if Haya did something which forced him to go back? Or maybe Mariyam came back but that probability is very less
"He is an idiot. How I will survive with this anxiety ? ", Meerab thought and got up from the bed as she is getting restless thinking about the probabilities. She again tried calling him but his phone is switched off adding fuel to the fire. She walked towards the terrace and sat on the floor admiring the moon and stars. She remembers how she used to love spending the night with her father and he would tell her stories. Fairytale stories also looked interesting to her and dreamt of a prince which faded with time but now she started to think of it again
Yes, she is angry at him but that doesn't change the fact that she has mixed feelings for Murtasim. She won't accept she loves him but she can't deny that she accepts him as her partner and doesn't find him bad now. She used to hate him before but from the time he supported her and took a stand for her, he became the man she dreamt of.
She forgave her parents for him but she is still hesitant to think of them. Their faces remind her of the betrayal she faced when she begged to complete her dreams. Her dreams are still incomplete and maybe they will be incomplete forever. The fact made a tear roll from her eyes. Why her? Why her life took a U-turn? Why her parents broke her trust?
"Bibi ji please come down. You will catch a cold", Meerab heard a voice coming from the gate and noticed one lady standing near the door which startled her. She took a sigh of relief when realised that she is safe and there is no ghost there. She wiped her lone tear and passed a smile towards that woman who was waiting for her. Meerab walked downstairs carefully thinking about her unborn child who will meet his parents after 8 months.
She came back to the room and sat on the bed. She noticed the time which is 3: 00 am. Her mouth opened wide in shock realising that she was at the terrace for a long time. What should have done when she is getting restless thinking about why he left suddenly? Moreover, they still have misunderstandings to clear and she will clear them by hook or crook.
"You can sleep now", Meerab told that lady and gestured for her to go. Lady nodded and went leaving Meerab alone. She placed her head on the headboard trying hard not to overthink but again her mind was filling up with many thoughts. To overcome that she started talking with her child and did not realise when she slept
In the morning Murtasim came back and directly headed towards the room where his wife must be sleeping. He entered the room and noticed her sleeping in a very uncomfortable position. He didn't know the reason but it looked like she left in deep slumber while sitting and talking with someone and then fell onto bed. He first pulled her down by her legs and then held her face in his hands to make her lay comfortably but stiffened when she opened her eyes.
"Not again", he thought and immediately left her face and stepped back fearing her anger and fight again.
"Sorry... I... Was just changing your position as you were about to fall. You were sleeping in U shape and it would hurt your back and ...", Murtasim was explaining himself but Meerab interrupted him in middle
"That was just because of you. I was unable to sleep and don't know when I dozed off talking with our baby ", Meerab shouted angrily. She is annoyed first because he disturbed her from her sleep when she just slept now and second she is angry at him for yesterday's behaviour. Why he left and why his mobile was switched off?
Murtasim smiled hearing "our baby" but looked away when he noticed her sharp glare. He knows that she is hungry tigress right now and he should not trigger her otherwise she might end up leaving him again which he can't handle.
"Why you left suddenly? Why your mobile phone was switched off? And why you came back now? Early in the morning. It's just 7", Meerab asked angrily. Murtasim checked his pocket and found his mobile switched off and tried to start it again but couldn't and realised his mobile phone battery was dead. He looked for the charger and sighed as currently, they have nothing to charge his phone
"Battery is dead and I didn't get time for that. I came here to sleep for a while", Murtasim said and sat on the bed. He looked at her to find any discomfort on her face but found none. He sighed in relief and winched when his body pained suddenly as he was at the hospital last night and he couldn't sleep. He couldn't even lay comfortably as Aneela was using the room and he couldn't disturb the couple. When in the morning doctor told Wakas is fine and they can take him back, he came back here. He already told them that he found Meerab but refused to tell them about Meerab staying with him at the village as per the promise. Wakas requested him to take Meerab to the hospital, he was about to deny it but then realised that Meerab need to check-up also and that's why he agreed
"Tell me why you went in a hurry yesterday?", Meerab asked in annoyance raising her voice which caught his attention and he sat on the bed with half-open eyes
"Wakas chacha fainted yesterday as he was not well that's the reason I went", he replied and was about to lay again but this time Meerab pulled him by his arm and forced him to sit
"He has heart issues. Why didn't you tell me yesterday?", she asked getting impatient and tensed thinking about her father. How can he hide this truth from her? She deserved to know about her father's sickness
"He is fine Meerab", Murtasim replied and held her face in his hand calming her down. He knows she loves her parents and that was just a mask which she put on to show herself strong and independent. He rubbed her shoulder lightly to assure her that nothing is wrong which is true as Wakas is out of danger now but he need to take care of himself. The worst part which he is afraid to tell that Wakas faced a heart attack and that's the reason he fainted
"Let's go", Meerab requested to which Murtasim nodded. He thought he will tell her later but this girl pushed him to blur this truth in the morning. He groaned in frustration and went towards the washroom to wash his face to open his eyes properly. When he came back he noticed Meerab combing her hair without changing her dress which looked weird to him as she is wearing a simple dress which might not look good in public.
"Go and change first", he ordered
"Why should I?", Meerab asked politely not to initiate a fight but just to ask why he is ordering her like this. Is this dress looking bad? She thought
"Because this dress is not looking good on you. Wear anything you want from the wardrobe", Murtasim told and sat on the chair taking his dead phone from the table. He can't even ask her as this is his mistake he forgot to take her changer with him when he took the phone.
Meerab nodded and changed into a simple peach-coloured suit and rushed towards him. She noticed Murtasim was walking here and there thinking of something and on noticing her rushing he shouted: "Careful". She looked at him confused as she was not going to fall and she is not a child who can't take care of herself. But kept quiet when she heard his reply
"You are carrying a child", he said
"Is that the reason you asked me to forgive them and told them about my whereabouts?", Meerab asked as suddenly she remembered how they were about to clear the misunderstanding but he went away. Murtasim nodded and looked down staring at her flat belly which will soon get big when the child will grow up. Meerab again requested to go and refused to have anything, not even tea much to Murtasim's annoyance as she is hungry when her child needs food. But he couldn't say anything as he is scared Meerab would get angry at him.
When they reached the hospital Meerab ran taking Murtasim along with her and he took her to the ward where Wakas and Aneela were staying. Doctors advised Wakas to stay for one more day at the hospital and asked Murtasim to take care of him. Meerab felt bad as she is his daughter, not Murtasim then why doctor talked with Murtasim, not her?
Aneela hugged Meerab tightly and started to cry telling how scared she was when Wakas fainted. She didn't tell Meerab about a heart attack as Murtasim gestured no to her. Aneela took Meerab to the ward where Wakas was resting. On seeing her father Meerab became emotional. All memories of childhood till her marriage came into her mind.
"Baba", she whispered and hugged him tightly. She started to cry meeting her father and feeling his embrace after a long time. She missed him and this safe embrace so much. She felt too peaceful and Wakas didn't let her break the hug. Meerab closed her eyes feeling peaceful and as the hug stayed a bit longer, Meerab dozed off in weakness as she needed rest but couldn't sleep.
On hearing Wakas shout Murtasim entered the ward and ran towards Meerab. He took her in his arms and pat her cheeks asking what happened to her from Wakas.
"She fainted I guess but don't know why", Wakas replied shaking in fear, fear of losing his daughter
"I will call the doctor", Murtasim left panicking and shifted Meerab to another ward with Aneela. On talking with a doctor they got to know that Meerab is fine and is pregnant. Which he already knew and they both were unaware of the fact that Meerab didn't faint but slept due to weakness and this time went into deep slumber because she found bliss in her father's arm
When he went to tell Wakas the same Wakas stayed quiet for a while. Like examining the whole situation and concluding only one reason why his daughter would run away at night.
"My daughter will stay with us. You can go. Leave right now", Wakas announced
_____________
How's the story going?
What Murtasim will do now? How he is going to explain himself?