Unveiling Meerab [Tere Bin FF]

19. gifts

A/N: Thank you for all the love for the last chapter, y'all are the absolute sweetest! <3

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Under the quiet, moonlit sky, the cobblestoned driveway beneath whispered faint tales, reminiscing the gentle laughter and mellow voices that had just faded into the embrace of the night as the last of the cars disappeared, leaving only the muted hum of engines in the distance.

Murtasim stood silent beside Meerab, engulfed in an array of emotions, each one more complex and overwhelming than the last.

Being a feudal lord in a world sprinting towards modernity was a taxing role, a mask he wore with grave heaviness. Before Meerab entered his life, days melded into weeks in the village where responsibility hung in the air like thick mist, each droplet a silent burden, an unspoken demand. His time in Hyderabad wasn't any easier; every day was a marathon through a dense forest of obligations and connections, a tightrope he walked to maintain his power and position in a rapidly changing landscape.

In this whirlwind of duty, the playful banter, the comforting presence, the echoes of laughter shared with Saad, Shahzain, and Shahryar got lost, faded, and then went silent. He had not been oblivious to their gradual retreat into the recesses of his memory. Initially, there had been attempts, frail bridges trying to span the growing chasm. Yet, each bridge crumbled under the relentless tide of obligations until the efforts ceased. The phone stopped ringing with invitations he never accepted, and get-togethers became distant memories rather than anticipated futures. Murtasim had resigned to the solitude, a silent agreement signed with the ink of responsibilities and expectations.

However, witnessing the departure of those same friends, he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and deep gratitude towards the woman beside him. He never would have thought to reach out himself, the guilt of saying no to all their invitations for one reason or the other weighed heavy on his conscious, he wouldn't have known where to start. But, Meerab, with her intuitive understanding and quiet strength, had effortlessly re-woven the frayed threads of his past relationships, bringing back the vibrant echoes of laughter, and the easy camaraderie that once defined his relationships.

It was a silent offering, a gift wrapped with the ribbons of understanding and care, presented with the twinkling eyes of love. It was as though time had folded onto itself, erasing the distance and silence, bringing them back to a place where laughter was abundant, and friendship was unburdened. And all of this was Meerab's doing. Without fuss or drama, Meerab had opened a door he thought was permanently closed, illuminating a corridor he had forgotten existed, and in doing so, brought a part of him back to life.

The lingering sounds of departure were finally drowned by the enveloping serenity of the night, leaving Murtasim and Meerab standing in silent reflection. Murtasim turned to Meerab, the weight of his emotions pulling his gaze downward momentarily before settling on the softness of her eyes. It was as if his entire world had shrunk to this intimate bubble, only to be disrupted by the stars above and the gentle serenade of nocturnal creatures.

"You've..." The words seemed to tangle, tripping over one another, struggling to find a rightful place in the vast sea of gratitude and wonder he felt. His hand reached out, cradling her face with an exquisite tenderness. Her skin, soft and warm, seemed to pull him deeper, an invitation into her heart.

Meerab, with the moonlight draping her in a celestial aura, tilted her head ever so slightly, seeking the warmth and comfort of his hand. Every feature of hers seemed softly accentuated, from the curl of her smile to the depths of her eyes— eyes that bore into his soul with an intensity and warmth mirroring the constellation of love she harbored for him. "I thought you needed them," she murmured, each word an echo of her understanding.