"Thank you so much for coming, beta!" Mrs. Begam showed her gratitude to her new son-in-law, Zubair as she gave her daughter a warm hug with tears.... "I'm sorry, Maa Saab" Maryam apologized for the pain she caused her family.... "Are you happy?" Saba asked with a smile, to which Maryam nodded her head with twinkling eyes.... "Then forget about the past.... We are happy!" Mr. Shahnawaz assured her daughter knowing that holding grudges against one another would not help anyone to lead a content life... It was better to forgive and forget the unpleasant events of life and move on....

"Meerab!" Zubair whispered as he noticed his beloved sister standing at the corner, eyes glittering with tears.... she did not waste a single moment as she ran to her brother when he opened his left arm, inviting her for an embrace... Meerab hid her face in his chest as she silently cried ...she was upset that her brother did not come to rescue her when she needed him the most....he always told her that he would be the one to save her from all the monsters if they ever tried to come close to her but he failed... ....Zubair wrapped his left arm around her shoulder and right hand patting her head, resting his chin on top of her head as he always did whenever she broke down, courtesy to his uncle, Anwar Gulzar.... Zubair let her cry for some moments....

His heart was wrenched but he managed to hold back the tears as he did not want the family to witness his discontentment of the situation in which his sister was forced to get married..... "And I thought you would be happy to see me.... should I run back?" Zubair tried to lighten the mood only to get a smack on the arm from his sister, who did not bother to move from her position... "I am sorry" he chuckled... He brought her face up to look at him, then wiping off the tears, he assured looking at her eyes, "You will be fine.... Okay!.." ... Knowing Maryam and after meeting the family today, Zubair felt happy for Meerab, otherwise, he already made up his mind before coming to visit his sister that if he found any kind of discomfort from any of the family members, he would just take Meerab along with him.... the Khan family could go to hell for all he cared .... but he was happy that it was not the case.... Both Mr. and Mrs. Shahnawaz were loving towards their children and Saba api seemed to be very kind and humble... Now, all he needed was to make sure Mr. Murtasim Khan was good enough for his sister....

"Okay, I assume no one is going to introduce me....never mind... Assalamualaikum... I am Haya, the cousin of these two people, who are too busy ignoring me" Haya pointed at both Meerab and Zubair.... "Awww" Saba sympathized with the girl as she gave her a warm embrace.... "Walaikumasalam, beta. Welcome home!... and thank you for the breakfast...." Mrs. Begam replied with a smile....

"I told you, you are adopted!" Zubair joked... "Bhai!" Meerab smacked him again... "Come here" Meerab gestured and Haya quickly ran into her arms.... "I missed you" Haya got a little emotional, to which Meerab placed a peck on her head....

Mr. Shahnawaz Khan silently witnessed the bond the cousins shared and he was glad atleast there were some people who cared about the girl unlike Anwar.... He never had any exchange of words with Meerab despite keeping an eye on her ever since he found out about her true identity.... He was worried if Meerab would ever be able to forgive him once she found out about the reason behind her marriage.... Part of him did not want her to know the reason as it would bring out the bitter truth about her identity that would leave a scar in her heart forever..... the truth that no one knew except him and Anwar ....

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"How is baba?" Meerab asked, a concern still hidden in a little corner of her heart... she offered a mug of coffee to Zubair who was leaning by the double door of the reading room by the garden... his brother always preferred a mug over a cup...She remembered how he used to tell her that kids drink in cups and teased her as she preferred a cup over a mug.... they always had a tiff between cups and mugs.... "He is good... don't worry about him... you tell me about yourself..." Zubair dismissed the topic, then taking the mug in his right hand, he gently pulled her for an embrace, securely wrapping his arm around her shoulder.... Meerab wrapped her hands around his waist and kept her head against his heart as she watched the line of flowers in the garden ... "Are you okay, beta?" he asked ...

"I don't know" she honestly answered.... "I feel so lost," she continued.... "I am unable to digest the past, understand the present, and figure out the future" Meerab took a deep sigh.... "... how is he? ...Did he try to misbeh-..." Zubair needed to make sure his sister was safe with the man she was sharing a room with but was relieved when Meerab instantly cut him off "NO!" ....

He knew his sister... she was considerate, caring, sometimes bold and daring but never disrespectful... she never supported wrong and he believed her when she dismissed his implication... Meerab always took time with people... she would observe them, try to get to know them, then gradually would open up to them based on her trust level... However, the exception to the adaptation with human beings was only limited to children... She would open up to kids instantly as she found peace in them....

Meerab at least knew Rohail and his family... she was at least prepared for what was coming on her way but fate had decided to throw her at an unpleasant destination where she did not even know a thing about the so-called companion of that path ...

"..Then Give him a chance... Talk to him... Share your concerns, your passion... he.." Zubair started to encourage her but paused as his eyes caught the sight of the siblings far away in the garden... "..seems to be considerate...." he slowly emphasized as he observed the moment between the siblings... it was probably a reconciliation, which seemed to be a success ... On the other hand, Meerab kept her gaze intact on the garden, blankly staring at the dead flower that was about to free itself from the burden..... reflecting herself in its place as she closed her eyes letting the pain flow out of her eyes with a half smile ....

He was walking in the garden while speaking to his lawyer over the phone regarding the cancellation of the morning meeting when he felt a familiar clasp around his right little finger..... Murtasim stopped on his track and gently excused himself from the man on the other line "Get the papers ready and I will call you back... thank you" he hung up the phone on his left hand and slipped it into his pocket to look on his right to find his little sister, hugging his right arm, resting her head on his right shoulder, when the last night words of his wife regarding Maryam rushed back in his mind...

"You never trusted me, did you?" Maryam did not miss the ache in his low tone..."I'm sorry Bhai....please forgive me....I was scared that you will never agree..." she apologized... "I've never met Zubair in person then how could you decide that I would never agree to it? ...I understand Baba Saab has some past issues with Anwar Gulzar but that's it...." Murtasim explained.... " Did you really think I was incapable of handling issues concerning your life Maryam? " he asked with a broken tone and Maryam instantly came forward to embrace him... "NEVER BHAI" she emphasized... " you supported me all the time, but you also took the family honor above everything ...and I was so confused and afraid to share it.... I am so sorry bhai.... please don't be upset with me.... I can tolerate everyone's hostility but NOT yours..." Maryam confessed as she broke down.... He wrapped his protective arms around his sister to comfort her and dropped a peck on top of her head when his eyes caught the sight of her by the entrance door of his reading room....

Murtasim felt as if someone had just thrust a sharp knife right through his heart when he witnessed those daring tears roll down his wife's cheeks.... Those almond shaped deep deserted eyes on the serene face of Meerab had reflected the hollowness of her heart .... And he simply desired to fill himself in the blank...

It was then he noticed the man, his eyes focused on him and both the men exchanged a silent look of obligation....they both cautiously acknowledged and conveyed their respective obligations without any words as they protectively held their respective sister in their arms .... creating a mutual trust between themselves...

***********************

"Now since you are married, focus on your family, especially your husband... try to have babies as soon as possible" Fatima dadi advised Maryam, who uncomfortably shifted on her seat.... "have 3-4 children and bind your husband...trust me, this is the only way they don't hunt ...you know what I mean... in our generation, we used to have 7-8 children... In our village, the women are still capable of carrying 10 children and raising them single handedly while taking care of the household chores!... but I don't understand what is wrong with the city women.... they are always competing with men" Jahanara, the companion of Fatima dadi decided to include her two cents on her marriage definition... Meerab raised her brows at the audacity of the elderly women then to her mother-in-law who kept quiet .... It took her a moment to realize that the woman was also not pleased with the conversation but could not figure out why she was not being vocal about her objections.... did she find her reflection?... Meerab immediately dismissed her thought, then taking a deep sigh she decided to escape the torment before it was her turn....

**************************

"Oh sorry!.... I thought Meerab would be here" Haya walked out of the washroom .... the siblings were having a little chat in the bedroom when Zubair excused himself for a phone call and Haya decided to use the adjoining washroom.... Meerab was called out to meet the guests in the living room along with Maryam....

"It's okay.... she must be in the living room..." Murtasim informed.... "You are..." he waited... "I am Haya... Meerab's cousin.... You must be Murtasim bhaia, right?...." Haya was happy to finally meet the man... "Right!" he extended his hand for a formal handshake... she smiled and returned the gesture with respect.... "It is finally a pleasure to meet you Mr. Khan Murtasim Khan.... I must say, you are way more handsome than I expected.... Meerab is lucky... " she praised without a blink.... "should I be flattered?" he chuckled... "Of course bro!...be proud of your cuteness!.... let me know if you have a twin, I will book him..." she stated with a grin... "Aww too bad sweetheart, his twin is already taken" Saba entered with Emad in her arms....

"Seriously?" Haya looked disappointed... "Meet my twin, Saba Api" Murtasim giggled gesturing to his sister.... "SERIOUSLY?" Haya repeated, eyes widened.... Saba laughed at the reaction from the girl... "I wish I could be as hot and handsome as him, no?" she winked at Haya who also shared a laugh....

"Hey bud" It seemed like ages he met his buddy even though it had only been a day .... Murtasim opened his arms and little Emad threw his arms and legs in the air in excitement.... "Oh My God! and who is this little munchkin?" Haya slightly squished the little chubby cheek of the baby, who smiled in return... "MashAllah... he is very cute!".... "Emad" Saba replied as she fixed his pants by pulling them down to his ankles while he was busy playing with his bud...

"Meerab loves kids" Haya gently grabbed the right foot of the little man and dropped a kiss on it as she felt like sharing this little information about her sister unaware of the fact that her 'little' disclosure could make someone's heart beat rise for a moment....

"Baba Saab is expecting you in the library, Murtasim" Saba informed.... Giving him a sound kiss on the cheek, Murtasim reluctantly returned Emad to his mommy before excusing himself from the ladies... he stopped at the door and turned back "Make yourself at home, Haya" he smiled.... "Thank you Bhaia!" she smiled back....

**************************

"What happend?" Murtasim asked with concern as he was walking towards the living room to find Meerab walking out of the same...

"I was not going to sit through that torture" She tried to keep her tone low as she already passed the large double door to the living room, away from the vision of the elderly ladies... as she was about to walk out, he grabbed her by waist... his right arm wrapped from her front to rest on her bare left hip as he gently held her steady against the right side of his figure.... her left arm involuntarily rested on his right bicep as she grabbed onto the right lapel of his suit in order to balance herself from his sudden act .... he gently held onto her right-hand grip .... she looked absolutely stunning in the saree... all the struggle in the morning indeed paid off.... "What the -?" Meerab attempted to release herself from his grip...

"Meerab, please .... this will be disrespectful" he was calm still holding her firmly... he assumed she thought herself to be too modern to listen to the life lessons from older generations....

"Disrespectful? Trust me Murtasim, you do not want to take me there...if you do, I will literally drag Maryam Bhabi out of that humiliation and THAT will be disrespectful" Meerab retorted back with the same calmness, trying to control her fury...

"Believe me when I say, I do not intend to disrespect anyone but I also do NOT take bullshit for the sake of age.... she cannot take Bhabi down to the lowest grade for being a woman just because she got the license of the age and relation with the family...neither law, nor nobody gives this right to anyone! ...and you know what sucks even more? Being a woman herself, she has the audacity to bullshit about women's capability .... " Meerab shook her head in disbelief...

Murtasim thought she must have been misunderstanding, "She is an elderly lady and must be talki-..." Meerab cut him off "...Murtasim please! People do not make babies in a living room full of audiences ... Marriage consummation is supposed to be a private matter between a husband and wife .... and this is something called private for a reason, damn it!.... Do you even have any idea how embarrassing it is for girls to sit through that embarrassment? Why can't they talk about our wishes, dreams, ambitions, career? our aspiration? our adaptation to the new environment with new people? It seems like we are only good for making babies after marriage. The ultimate key purpose of marriage for women!...'Oh, try to make as many babies as possible to keep your husband wrapped around your fingers'....Seriously? Is that so, Mr. Khan?" Her eyes were full of disgust ... "Look at her Murtasim, if you really want to show respect, start from your sister" Meerab yanked his hand off her waist and left for her room....

He never had any idea what these women used to discuss about but getting a hint from Meerab was all he needed to step in as he thought it was a high time for a change.... "So Maryam.... When are you going back to University?" Murtasim walked into the living room, surprising the crowd... It was the first time that a man of the family joined the women discussion.... "Come here My precious, My pride" Fatima dadi opened her arms to greet her favorite grandson, the sunshine of their family.... "As-Salamu-alaikum Dadi..." he greeted her before bending down for an embrace as she placed a peck on his forehead... Fatima dadi always took pride in her grandson.... although she was the sister of his deceased grandmother, she was always proud of his power and achievement as a man .... "Walaikumasalam Meri jaan.... we are just talking about Maryam... now that she is married, she should-" she started...

"NOT stop her education in midways" Murtasim completed as he sat beside his mother and took her left hand in his right to leave a warm kiss of respect.... "Education is very important... and I need her to focus on her career... of course with the consent of her husband.... So, Maryam, what does Zubair have to say about it?" he became serious and turned to his sister, who was wholeheartedly grinning... "He wants me to complete my education and pursue my career as a child development specialist" she proudly shared .... "Great!" he smiled back while ignoring the unpleasant looks from the guests.... He did not miss the proud smile on his mother's face.... she had always been holding equal power as his father in the family, so why did 'this' need a man to bring the change? His mother could have easily stood up for her daughter, but she did not, which did not sit well with him, and he needed to find out why....

Precap:

"Fuck You, Murtasim Khan" Meerab dumped the air tickets on the bed, furious.

"Right here, Right now! I dare you Meerab. DO IT!" Murtasim challenged her with his face a centimeter away from her... ready to give a dose of her own medicine....

NOTE: Sorry! I know I did not have enough scenes of Meerasim but I needed to develop the other characters as each one of them will play significant role in Meerasim's lives down the line. So please bear with me. Love you all!