The space under the bed wasn't that large, Mahjabeen could barely lay there with her heavy dress. She was breathing loudly scared out of her wits, waiting for Murtasim. Hasan was right outside the door, she could hear him speaking to Murtasim on the phone.

What was taking him so long? She wondered as beads of sweat now rolled down her head, the space under the bed was sacred for her. Whenever she had nightmares, instead of waking her parents up Mahjabeen would take her pillow and sleep under the bed.

The space beneath the bed had always been her sanctuary, a place where she sought solace during moments of distress. It was a haven of safety, an escape from the terrors that plagued her dreams. But now, the once comforting refuge seemed suffocating and oppressive.

As the minutes stretched on, the weight of uncertainty pressed upon her. She strained her ears, attempting to make out the words Hasan was saying on the phone, desperate for any clue as to what was happening. Each passing second felt like an eternity, the suspense building within her.

Finally, a creak of the doorknob echoed through the room, followed by the sound of footsteps. Mahjabeen held her breath, her pulse quickening. She could hear Murtasim's voice, muffled yet recognizable. Relief washed over her, temporarily easing the grip of fear that had consumed her.

With a cautious sigh, Mahjabeen slowly emerged from beneath the bed, the musty air of her childhood refuge giving way to the reality of the room. She straightened her disheveled dress, her trembling hands attempting to regain composure.

Murtasim observed her crawling out of the bed and was worried. Her face was red, she was breathing loudly and he could identify the terror in her eyes.

"Kuch hua hai kya Mahjabeen?" Murtasim asked her, she nodded and walked towards him. She took his hand in hers, wanting to share her fears with him but before she could Hasan entered the room. Mahjabeen was terrified as she hid behind Murtasim, shielding herself from his lecherous gaze.

Murtasim noticed the change in her expression and turned around to find Hasan in their room with Mahjabeen's phone in his hand.

"Hasan bhai, aap yaha kya kar rahey?" he questioned letting Mahjabeen use him as a shield.

"Ye phone wapas karna tha", Hasan replied and passed him the phone, Murtasim relaxed and relief washed over him as finally Mahjabeen stopped hiding behind him.

"Shukriya", Murtasim replied with a hint of gratitude and continued "Bhai Mahjabeen itna darr kyu rahi thi?"

His tone held a little apprehension, after his nikah night when Ma Begum had bullied his bride Murtasim had become very sensitive around her. What if Hasan had bullied her before he came?

"Woh ro rahi thi bohot, apne Ammi Abbu ke liye. Toh maine socha tumhe buladu", Hasan repeated the excuse from before, with clueless eyes. Mahjabeen's eyes widened, she didn't remembered this happening.

"Hasan bhai aapko toh koi zaroori baat karni thi magar", Mahjabeen said challenging him to lie, but he didn't and just nodded.

"Haan mai is ghar ka bada hu isliye ye shaadi ke kharche mai uthana chahta tha. Magar mujhe aaney mai deri hogyi isliye bas ye ek chota so tohfa",

Mahjabeen glanced at Murtasim, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. She knew that Hasan's presence concealed hidden motives, and this gift seemed to be another layer of his complex intentions. With a mix of caution and curiosity, she accepted the envelope, its contents still a mystery. She hesitated, her fear lingering, but she couldn't find the words to explain. She glanced at Hasan, his demeanor appearing normal and benign. Unsure of how to express her concerns without sounding paranoid, she decided to keep her apprehensions to herself for now.

Taking a deep breath, Mahjabeen made a decision. For now, she would keep her concerns to herself, observing Hasan's actions closely, and gathering more evidence before confiding in Murtasim. She didn't want to create unnecessary tension or alarm him without concrete proof of any wrongdoing.

Hasan left soon after, and Murtasim made her sit on the bed wiping the sweat from her face that had smudged her makeup.

"Mahjabeen mujhe batao kya hua hai?" Murtasim repeated concerned by the change of her demeanor, her mood did a complete three-sixty once again as soon as Hasan left. Mahjabeen just smiled and shook her head, she didn't wanted to spoil their wedding day. And part inside her hoped that what Hasan said was true, because her alarming instincts were terrifying her.

"Kuch nahi bas mujhe kal Ammi Abbu ke wahan chod dijiyega", she replied glancing at him, Murtasim nodded and Mahjabeen's heart swelled with joy as Murtasim slid a beautiful diamond ring onto her finger. She couldn't help but admire its exquisite craftsmanship, feeling a deep sense of gratitude towards her husband

"Ya Allah, itni khoobsurat anghuti hai!" Mahjabeen exclaimed as she turned her fingers around admiring its beauty.

However, Mahjabeen's desire to reciprocate Murtasim's gesture led her to search for something special. Among her belongings, she found a locket and decided to split it in half. One half she kept for herself, while the other half she placed around Murtasim's neck, creating a tangible symbol of their bond.

"Kya kar rahi hu Mahjabeen? " Murtasim asked as he felt a metallic chain being placed on his neck. His eyes fell upon the engraved word on the half-heart locket, and his heart fluttered at the message it conveyed: "You forever." The simplicity of the gesture touched him deeply, making him feel loved and cherished.

"Hum tasveerien khichwatey hai saath mai, FB pe dalungi", Mahjabeen said excitedly and made him pose again, but this time Murtasim stopped her and walked towards his cupboard fishing out a camera.

But before she could reach for her phone, Murtasim had a surprise of his own.

Walking towards his cupboard, Murtasim retrieved a camera, indicating his desire to capture their precious moments in a more traditional way. He wanted to preserve their memories in physical form, beyond the fleeting realms of social media. With a gentle smile, he extended the camera towards Mahjabeen, inviting her to join him in documenting their journey together.

"Mujhe tasveerein banani nahi aati"

Murtasim's smile widened as he reassured Mahjabeen, sensing her slight embarrassment. He stepped closer to her, his hand gently resting on her shoulder.

"Mai sikhata hu tumhe", he said with warmth in his tone and taught her how to capture different shots.

With newfound confidence, Mahjabeen accepted the camera from Murtasim's outstretched hand. She held it gingerly, feeling its weight and the promise it held within. Murtasim stood beside her, guiding her gently on how to frame the shots, adjust the settings, and find the right angles.

As they ventured into their impromptu photography session, Murtasim's encouraging words and Mahjabeen's willingness to learn created an atmosphere of joy and laughter. They experimented with different poses, capturing their genuine emotions and the joy that radiated between them.

In the midst of the laughter and shared moments, Mahjabeen's earlier concerns about Hasan momentarily faded away. She found solace in Murtasim's presence, realizing that their relationship was built on trust, understanding, and open communication. And though she still held her reservations, she knew she could rely on Murtasim's unwavering support.

***

I need a Murtasim in my life...