Qubool Hai (MeeraSim FF)

19 - Ehd

He gazed upon her, drinking in the sight of the woman before him. He had assumed that she had avoided him out of lack of care for his health, but the truth was that she had stayed safe in Nano's house, out of Mir's path.

'Itna heyraangi sey kya dekr rahee hou?' ( Why are you looking at me so amazed?) She asked, wondering at how he even asked such a question. She stepped back from him, towards the wall to get a good view of the lands. It was serene and endlessly flat.

'Yeh.... key tum bhaagi nahi,' he stated, his voice laced in apprehension, not believing his eyes. ( Because you didn't run away.) He had expected her to escape.

She had the opportunity to escape whilst the house was in a panic after his shooting, and the week whilst he was unconscious.

She spun to face him. She raised her eyebrows and asked, 'Bas itna he yakeen tha meri wafai par?' ( Was that the limit of your belief in my loyalty?) She had taken an oath.

He had underestimated her. 'Wafai?' ( Loyalty?)

She was referencing the words that he had mumbled to her, whilst pushed up against a tree. 'Woh ehd main bhooli nahi hou.' ( I haven't forgotten that promise.)

Neither had he... Tum yeh aik baat zehn nashein kar lou Meerab. Kay tum meri biwi hou ab. Khan gaddi ki janashein ki biwi. You are loyal to me, and me only.

She stepped closer to her. 'Par bhaagnay ka mouka tha.' ( But you had the opportunity to run.) He's what he had told himself when he believed that she had gone. Although he didnt like it- it seemed like a logical action for her to take.

Admittedly she had considered it- but hadent acted on impulse. 'Tha', she admitted candidly, '... Par mainay nahi leya. Afsos hai kay tumne mujhay nahi samja Murtasim.' She was almost a little sore that he thought she would do that. ( I did. But i didnt take it. It's a shame that you haven't understood me Murtasim.)

'Kya nahi samjha?' ( What didnt i understand.)

He had taken her lightly. He had doubted her. He took another drag of the cigarette- it felt blissfully relaxing.

'Tumnay mujhe izzat de - tou mainay bhe de. Mainay tumhara sar jhuknay nahi deya, bhaag kar.' ( You have me respect , so i did you. I didn't allow for your head to be lowered by running whilst you were unconscious.) She was still facing the fields at this point- she saw a row or smaller houses and some storage-shed looking buildings, and green pastured between.

She had kept up the facade of their wedding infront of his family. She did as a good wife would do- have sabr.

A lightness filled his body- he wasn't sure if it was the painkillers or the realisation that she had chosen to stay besides him. 'Tummay meri izzat ka khayal hai?' ( You took care if my respect?)

She spun around. 'Izzat, haq, zimidaari, wafadaari tumsay he seekha hai.' Wasen't it obvious? 'This is my respect for you that i stayed away- the same way you stayed away and let me study in peace. I let you heal in peace, whilst i stayed put and safe here,' she explained, her eyes glinting in satisfaction. ( Respect, rights, responsibility and loyalty are all things that i have learnt from you.)

It made sense when she said it like that.

She could smell the woody scent from his tobacco and wondered where had got the pack as he likley came straight from the hospital- and it wasent something he did openly. So definaltey from Anas or Rohail.

The simple contrast was nice, he appreciated- the green of her dress and the red of the brick wall and the blue of the sky. But he broke out of that trance when she said...