"Nahi mai ye nikah nhi kar sakti, mujhe Rohail se milna hoga", Mahjabeen was extremely distraught, tomorrow was her nikah her hands were already tattooed with Murtasim's name. But the two of them were against this marriage and she had caused all this misunderstandings. If only her plan hadn't failed, she would have been in Karachi watching TV instead of this room with ubtan and henna all over her body.

She was scared of getting married, it wasn't the committment that scared her, rather it was the person she was getting married to. Murtasim's anger terrified her for real, last time she almost felt her soul leaving her body. How could she survive this marriage if the mere thought of her husband brought chills to her spine?

"Ya Allah... Mai kya karun", Mahjabeen was tensed now as she paced around the room thinking of anything she could do.

"Murtasim bhi toh ye shaadi se raazi nhi hai... agar dulha dulhaan dono ne qubool hai kehne se inkaar kardiya toh kaazi sahib kya hi kar lenge", she giggled now relieved by such an amazing plan. But she had to share this with Murtasim, it was almost midnight. Mahjabeen quickly washed away her ubtan and mehendi, tying a shawl to cover her face she got out.

She tried to blend in with the shadows to hide from the servants or worse Maa Begum. And she didn't want to show her face to Murtasim right now as Maa Begum had told her that the groom can't see his bride until the end of ceremony. Mahjabeen didn't believe in breaking old customs so she had tied the shawl around her face only her eyes were visible.

She finally reached outside his room, the electricity cut off and there she saw him standing. Mahjabeen sighed in relief but before she could say anything Murtasim had cornered her.

"Kon ho tum? Malik Mukhtar ne ek aurat ko bheja hai?" Murtasim hissed angrily, his eyes blazing fire in the dark room. Mahjabeen felt her heart stop, he was too close to her.

Since her face wasn't visible, Murtasim retrieved his pocket lighter and that's when he saw those familiar eyes. In his anger he had pinned her to wall, it was for self defence. He didn't care it was a woman, if her only motive was to harm him or his family. But those brown eyes were staring at him in utter shock, she was terrified of him. And the worst thing, she hadn't said a word until now.

"Aap theek hai?" He asked quickly getting away from her.

She didn't say anything just blinked her eyes, resembling a deer caught in headlights. One wrong move and she could die, Murtasim felt guilty for being so harsh with her.

"Mahjabeen mai aapse maazirat chahta hu, mujhe andaza nhi tha ki aap parde k peeche ho", He explained as he scratched his head.

"Aap bohot darawni lagte mujhe... Mujhe aapse shaadi nahi karni", Mahjabeen cried her last sentence was followed by a hiccup, this man could kill her and apologise later. As if saying sorry could fix anything, she felt like her heart had split into two pieces.

"Mahjabeen kal humara nikkah hai aap koi aisi waisi harkat nhi karne ka soch rahi?" Murtasim asked concerned by her words, she nodded then shook her head.

"Ji mai soch rahi thi ke Qubool hai k dauran hum inkaar kardete", Mahjabeen replied excitedly, she was staring at Murtasim waiting for him to applaud this plan but she got that meh face from him.

"Takey Maa Begum humara hashr nashr karde. Mahjabeen aap maan kyun nhi leti?" He pondered, this time it wasn't his ego that made it hurt.

"Kya?" She asked inquiring with her eyes, since her face was covered Murtasim could only gaze at her eyes.

"Kuch nahi, Mahjabeen aap kya chahti hain?" He probed exhausted by the events of five days, she had took him on an emotional rollercoaster.

"Meri ek baar Rohail se baat karade", She pleaded, she didn't want him to be informed by a third person of her marriage. Murtasim wasn't sure what to do next, he had two options, help her or do the right thing. But the right thing no longer felt right, the walls of this mansion for the first were closing in on him. He needed a break, and Mahjabeen needed a closure.

Mahjabeen took his silence as his refusal, and sighed, she was now on her own.

Doubts and fear swirled within her, threatening to overpower her determination. Just as she was about to turn away, she felt a gentle touch on her arm.

Mahjabeen looked up at Murtasim, his eyes filled with unwavering support and compassion. Without a word, he extended his hand towards her, his palm open and inviting. The gesture was simple yet profound, a silent promise of solidarity and unwavering companionship.

In that moment, time seemed to stand still. Her gaze locked onto his hand, her mind flooded with a myriad of emotions. The weight of her decision rested in that outstretched hand, a bridge between the life she knew and the uncertain future that awaited her.

A single tear trickled down her cheek as she reached out, her trembling hand finding its place within his. As their fingers intertwined, she felt an electric current surge through her, as if the touch of their hands ignited a flame deep within her soul. It was a gesture that spoke volumes-a promise of shared vulnerability, unwavering support, and the beginning of an extraordinary journey together.

***

They were in his car driving to their destination, Mahjabeen was in the passenger seat her anxiety washed away with the wind caressing her face. She glanced at Murtasim, who was looking at her with unwavering support. For the first time his face didn't scare her, his words reassured her and it almost felt like he was an entirely different person.

The two of them were aware that this would be the last meeting of theirs. After this Mahjabeen would marry Rohail, and maybe somewhere in his heart Murtasim had accepted her as his. Her laugh, her tears and innocence grew on him, her drama brightened up his days. Without her the Khan mansion would be back to being silent and he hated to accept that, he would miss her.

"Mahjabeen aap mujhe apna dost maanti hai?" He asked while glancing at her, her face was still covered by the shawl as if she carried a doubt in her mind. He found his name on her palm, it was written beautifully and he felt his emotions resurfacing.

"Ji", Mahjabeen replied her eyes shining as if she was smiling beyond the veil.

"Phir mujhe waada karye agar aapke upar koi bhi pareishaani aayi, toh aap mujhe call karengi", He pleaded, he was worried on behalf of her. Mahjabeen was an innocent girl, and he knew after this maybe nobody would support her. A girl needed her family's love and support the most after getting married.

"Haan Murtasim, ek baat bolu", Mahjabeen asked feeling grateful for him going beyond his way, and the fact that he wasn't even doing anything for himself made her realise why Haya loved him so much.

" Aap bohot acche hai", she said with honesty, he glanced at her and smiled.

Murtasim Khan was helping his bride escape so that she could marry her lover. People would believe if someone claimed unicorns existed before this.

"Meri shaadi horahi!" Mahjabeen exclaimed with pure happiness visible in her voice, Murtasim noted the difference in her reaction to marriage on a whole when he was swapped by Rohail. Maybe choice did make a difference, and Rohail was hers.

"Aap mere walimey mai rukenge?" she asked with excitement not realising the sererity of her request. He didn't say anything just shook his head, a part of his mind wanted to turn around and go back to the mansion with her. But the other knew this was the right thing, Mahjabeen wasn't supposed to be his.

An hour passed and they finally reached Rohail's house. She dialled his number and in a few he came down. Mahjabeen turned to Murtasim asking him to come out so she could introduce them.

"Wo dekhye Rohail, Rohail!!!", She called him but he couldn't hear her as their car was parked a little away.

"Chalein?" She asked excitedly but Murtasim looked down and shook his head.

"Nahi Mahjabeen, humesha aisehi rehyega", He said with a smile, he was holding himself back from stopping her.

He took her hand in his and for the last time helped her out of the car.

Before parting he didn't say anything just one word. A word that could have conveyed his feelings, a word that could have changed their destiny.

"Mahjabeen"

***

After performing the Fajr prayer, Murtasim carefully folded his prayer mat and sat there in deep prayer for a long time. Nervousness enveloped him as he pondered Mahjabeen's whereabouts. He trusted Rohail, having conducted multiple background checks on him. Rohail seemed like a decent guy, working as an intern in an IT company. His family in Karachi had a respectable standing - his father being a doctor and his mother a teacher. They were highly educated and well-regarded in society.

Murtasim imagined Mahjabeen getting married at this very moment in a mosque similar to the one he had just left. He let out a sigh and made his way to his car.

"AC toh on karde", He laughed as he remembered the sentence.

Restlessly glancing at his phone, Murtasim anxiously awaited her call. Three hours had passed, and he grew increasingly fearful that something might have happened to her. He knew he was overthinking, but he couldn't shake off the need to ensure her safety. With determination, he drove to the location where he had left her earlier.

Arriving at an apartment complex, Murtasim hoped to find Mahjabeen unharmed. He yearned for one glimpse of her before he departed, as the haunting thoughts of what could have befallen her tormented his mind. Climbing the stairs, he stood outside a white gate and knocked. After a few minutes, Rohail opened the door.

" Ji aap kon hai?" Rohail inquired, peering through the door. Murtasim looked up and introduced himself.

"Murtasim Khan, aapko bataya hoga Mahjabeen ne mere baarey mai"

"Kon Mahjabeen mai kisi Mahjabeen ko nhi janta", Rohail quickly denied, attempting to close the door. His response ignited Murtasim's anger, and he barged inside, grabbing Rohail by the collar.

"Kya bakwaas kar rhey ho. Teen ghante pehle hi tumharey ghar pe chodkar gaya tha mai usse", Murtasim confronted him, regretting his decision to leave Mahjabeen with this man. She was an innocent girl, and he had placed unwarranted trust in someone he shouldn't have.

"Dekhye mujhe maalum hai woh ladki zarwat se zyada bewakuf hai. Isliye toh aap ne apni jaan bachane ke liye usse yaha choda. Magar mere maa baap aisi pagal ladki qubool nahi karenge"

"Phir kyu usse shaadi karne ke waade karte they tum?" Murtasim snarled he was ready to shoot this guy dead, but first he had to find Mahjabeen.

"Aaj shaadi karenge aisa toh nhi bola tha na maine!" Rohail exclaimed, trying to portray himself as the good guy. Murtasim wouldn't have it. He pushed him aside and demanded, his voice filled with rage.

"Kidhar hai wo", Murtasim hissed his eyes were bloodshot as he screamed at the guy.

" Bolo"

"Apne ghar pe", Rohail replied. Murtasim left, giving one last scathing look before driving to her house. This matter wasn't forgiven, what kind of man backs off from his words. How dare he play around with an innocent girls feelings? Murtasim was angry and worried as he drove to her house.

He saw her sleeping on the porch of her house, her own parents didn't open the door for her.

Murtasim woke her up, and passed her a water bottle. She gulped down the water and raised her brows at him asking what he was doing here.

"Tum yaha kya karrhi ho?" He countered back, he knew the answer to that but Mahjabeen just smiled at him and replied.

"Woh shaadi ke agle din ladki apne ghar jaati haina, isliye mai thodi der pehle aayi. Bell bhi bajayi magar lagta hai Ammi Abbu so rhey hai", She lied smoothly, he didn't understand why was she lying. His heart ached for her, he took her hand in his and brought to his head.

"Mujhse galti hogayi tumhe aise nhi chodna chahiye tha, mujhe maaf kardo Mahjabeen", He apologized his guilt was killing him, the poor girl had spent four hours outside her house and she was lying instead of blaming him for leaving her like that.

"Arrey bawle hogaye hai kya aap, aapki galti nhi hai isme. Bas mai bohot bewakuf hu, aisi ladki se kon shaadi karna chahega", She said her eyes were filled with tears but still she managed to smile. Murtasim shook his head, she wasn't stupid or dumb just too pure for this world. She didn't love Rohail but still went to such great lengths for him.

"Mahjabeen tum maasum ho, bewakuf nhi. Aur maasum hona toh acchi baat hai, tumhara dil saaf hai isliye Allah tumse zyada mohabbat karte", Murtasim said, these weren't words of encouragement. He genuinely believed whatever he said.

"Aapko pata hai Rohail ne mujhe gunah bulaya, meri koi pehchaan nahi aur... Aur", She cried as her hiccups blocked her speech and continued " Aur usne mujhe kaha ki mujh jaisi panchvi fail se koi ladka shaadi nahi karega"

Murtasim was riled up, he was ready to shoot this guy dead but Mahjabeen caught his hand stopping him from leaving.

"Mujhe pata hai woh galat kehta hai", She said wiping away the tears with her shawl, " Mai panchvi fail nhi dasvi fail hu"

Murtasim didn't knew whether to laugh or cry, he sat beside her as she poured her tears out.

"Mahjabeen woh ek aur baat galat bolta hai", Murtasim said while wiping away the tears from her eyes as Mahjabeen raised her brows.

"Mahjabeen suno, dekho mai koi mohabbat ka dawa nhi karunga tumse. Tum mujhe pasand ho, mujhse shaadi karogi?" He asked nervously, Mahjabeen was staring at him with shock but then a smile replaced it.

"Mujhe aagey padhai karni hai", She said, he could tell she wanted to do this because of Rohail's insults. He had destroyed her self confidence and broke her heart in just an hour. Murtasim knew what needed to be done after this, he needed to be taught a lesson and that would be only possible by breaking his bones.

"Aapki aankhein firse woh karrhi, mujhe dar lagta hai aise na dekhein", she whispered covering her face with the shawl.

"Tumhe darne ki zaroorat nhi Mahjabeen, ye gussa toh uss Rohail k liye hai", He explained softly, Mahjabeen peeked from behind the shawl and asked while blinking.

" Sacchi?" Murtasim laughed and nodded at her tone.

"Aur Mahjabeen tum meri Khani bani toh tum kuch bhi karsakogi", He promised, his shining with sincerity.

"Ammi Abbu mujhse baat karenge agar maine aapse shaadi ki toh?" she asked gloomily, she blamed herself for her parent's ignorance. After everything they had done to her the poor girl still thought it was her fault.

"Haan karenge", He said with determination, after this he would have to settle scores with two people one right behind the door and the other who had dropped her here.

"Phir mujhe Qubool hai", she whispered Murtasim looked up and she was smiling.

Murtasim knew maybe this was the moment that he fell for her, those brown eyes were gazing at him as if he was her whole world. She was scared of him in the beginning but his actions, genuine care and support had tweaked her fear. Right now when her parents didn't stand by her, he didn't leave her side.

***