Hunaid^

___

It was raining heavily, the storm outside echoing the chaos within the tiny shelter they shared. Meerab lay on the small wooden sofa, arms crossed, her back turned to Hunaid, who occupied the floor. The sunlight streamed through the cracks in the wall, illuminating Hunaid’s face.

His dark, slightly brown hair curled messily across his forehead, and his scar—a jagged line running from his eyebrow down to his cheek—seemed almost like a badge of defiance. She hated that he could look so calm, even peaceful, as though nothing could touch him, not the storm, not the discomfort of the floor, and certainly not her glare.

“Typical,” Meerab muttered under her breath, loud enough to hope he’d hear. She hated the smugness he exuded, even in his sleep. She turned back toward the wall, forcing herself to ignore him.

When Meerab woke up next her surroundings were blurry, out of focus, she felt dazed for a second. The picture cleared up and it was her aunt, her hands they had no control, she couldn't lift them. Meerab looked down to realise she was unclothed and tied.

Suddenly her cousins face popped in front of her face, all bloody, his eyed had those crazy look as he slammed down a dagger straight into her heart.

The sharp edge piercing through her artery, and she was drowning in a sea of her own blood literally. The pain increasing every second, then her hand moves as she glimpses up realising someone is peering into her soul. The same eyes as hers, her mother, laced with disappointment.

"I hate you", before she could scream, the hand pushed her into her own sea of blood, as Meerab screamed, but no sound escaped, she couldn't swim. She was drowning, her hand reaching out for help as she her voice called out for help, but she was underwater.

Every part of her body ached, especially her heart, as the cold, suffocating blood filled her lungs. The taste of iron was thick in her throat, and her limbs thrashed wildly, desperate for relief, for escape, but they wouldn't obey. She was sinking deeper, her screams swallowed by the crimson sea.

Her mother's eyes, cold and unforgiving, never left her. Disappointment hung like a heavy weight around her neck, pulling her further under. "I hate you," the words echoed, not just in her ears but through her bones, searing her with the force of rejection. Each time she tried to scream, to beg, to fight, her voice was trapped in the weight of blood that consumed her. Her hands reached out, desperate for anything to hold onto, but there was nothing-no salvation, no air, no escape.

The pain in her chest sharpened as the dagger twisted inside her, a burning, unforgiving agony that felt like it was tearing her apart from the inside. She tried to move, to free herself, but the ropes binding her held firm.

She was powerless, naked, and exposed, her body trembling under the force of the pain and fear.

Then, amidst the chaos, she saw it-a hand. At first, she thought it was her mother again, but it wasn't. This hand was reaching toward her, not to push her deeper, but to pull her out. The darkness around her flickered, and just as she felt herself sinking into oblivion, a voice-a faint one, soft but insistent- called her name.

"Meerab?"

She gasped, air flooding her lungs as she jolted awake. Her body was drenched in cold sweat, her heart pounding violently in her chest.

"Tum theek ho... mai hu yaha"

Hunaid stood at the foot of the bed, still catching his breath, eyes sharp as he studied Meerab. She lay there, motionless, her face expressionless. He had no idea what had just happened, but the way she'd bolted up earlier had him on edge.

He wasn't exactly used to feeling concern for her, but there was something unsettling about the silence she held on to like a shield.

"You almost gave me a heart attack," he muttered, crossing his arms. Meerab ignored him completely, rolling onto her side and staring blankly at the wall.

“What’s wrong with you?” Hunaid’s tone was sharp, almost irritated, but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes. Worry? No, it had to be annoyance.

Meerab glared at him, refusing to answer. She didn’t need his pity, or worse, his fake concern. “Nothing,” she snapped, her voice cutting through the silence like a blade.

He crossed his arms, his stance casual, but the tension was clear in the way his jaw tightened. “You were thrashing around like you were being murdered. If you’re trying to keep me up all night, congratulations. Mission accomplished.”

She shot him a withering look. “You’d love that, wouldn’t you? Blame me for everything, like you always do.”

His irritation flared. "Aye... are you scared of darkness or something? If you are, then technically you should be scared of me too." He tried to sound casual, like it was no big deal, but her lack of response was driving him mad.

He waited for her to throw a sarcastic remark, but nothing. The tension in the room was unbearable, so he did what he did best-he tried to crack her. "I love you," he threw out, testing the waters, the words almost sounding ridiculous on his tongue. It wasn't even close to the truth, but at this point, he was grasping at anything.

Her head snapped toward him so fast he was almost startled. Then she laughed-a real, genuine laugh that took him off guard. "You're such a weirdo." Her lips curved into a smile, her eyes softened, and for the first time in what felt like ages, there was a lightness in the air. The dimples on both sides of her cheeks deepened, and for a split second, he forgot why he was so annoyed in the first place.

"And you snore!" He countered quickly, desperate to regain control of the situation, but he couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips.

"Do I?" she asked, mock-offended, but her soft smile gave her away. There was a hint of playfulness now, teasing, as she angled her head to look at him fully.

He blinked, thrown off by the game she was playing now. "Yes, you do." He kept up the banter, though a bit off balance. The way her eyes danced in amusement, like she was letting him in on a secret, was disarming.

"And you still love me?" she repeated, her voice softer, teasing, almost daring him to continue this absurd charade.

"Well," he shot back, "you rejected my proposal... so I might find a new woman" Her eyes lingered on him a second longer, her smile softening as if she was letting him in, just a little.

"If I had accepted it, what would you do?" She asked curiously.

"I would have pulled you to my chest and sung you a lullaby."

Meerab chuckled at his response, the sound light and genuine, a stark contrast to the dark tension that had filled the room earlier. "A lullaby?" she repeated, her voice dripping with amusement. "You can't even carry a tune, Hunaid."

He rolled his eyes, trying to brush off her teasing, though a grin was threatening to break through. "Well, if you ever decide to accept my proposal, you'll find out how talented I really am."

"Zaroorat nhi, apna proposal apne paas rakho."

"Your loss, mujhe kya, I hope woh dayan phirse aaye tumhare khwab mai."

He scoffed but didn’t push further. Instead, he returned to his spot on the floor, muttering under his breath about “dramatic women.”

__

Early morning Hunaid woke her up, "We have to leave, the bus stop is an hour away", Meerab understood, freshening up she glanced at him, he was stocking up on food.

He cooked some dal chawwal for the two of them, they ate in silence before leaving. He was still limping slightly but overall he seemed to be moving better than before. As they stepped out into the early morning light, the rain had stopped, leaving the air cool and fresh, but the streets were still slick with water. The distant sound of birds singing broke the quiet, as if nature itself was trying to provide some sense of normalcy after everything they'd been through.

Meerab didn't say much as they walked, her mind still lingering on the nightmare from the previous night. The image of her mother's eyes, full of disappointment, haunted her. She couldn't shake the sensation of drowning, the suffocating weight of failure pressing down on her chest.

Hunaid, however, seemed unusually quiet too. His usual banter had been replaced with a contemplative silence, his eyes scanning their surroundings. Every now and then, he would steal a glance at her, but he never said anything. He just walked alongside her, his limp still noticeable but more manageable.

After an hour of walking, they finally reached the bus stop-a small, run-down shelter on the outskirts of the town. The streets were still empty, with only a few stray dogs wandering nearby. Hunaid leaned against the wooden post, rubbing his leg, clearly in pain but trying not to show it. Meerab couldn't help but notice.

"You should rest," she said quietly, her voice softer than usual. She wasn't sure why she cared, but after everything, it felt strange to see him hurting without saying anything.

"I'm fine," he replied, though the tightness in his voice betrayed him. They waited in silence for the bus, the weight of unspoken thoughts hanging between them.

Suddenly, a group of masked figures emerged from the darkness, surrounding them like wolves ready to pounce.

"Look what we have here," one of the gang members sneered, stepping forward with a glinting knife in his hand. "A couple of lost little sheep."

Hunaid instinctively positioned himself in front of Meerab, his body tense, ready for a fight. "Back off," he growled, his eyes narrowing at the menacing group. But before he could make a move, he felt a sudden shift beside him.

In an unexpected act of defiance, Meerab stepped forward, positioning herself between Hunaid and the gang. "No," she said firmly, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her. "You won't hurt him."

Hunaid's heart raced as he registered what she was doing. "Meerab, get back!" he shouted, alarmed at her recklessness.

But she didn't budge. Her expression was fierce, a mix of determination and bravery shining through the shadows. "I won't let you touch him," she reiterated, her eyes locking onto the lead gang member, unyielding.

The gang laughed, an unsettling sound that sent chills down Meerab's spine. "Look at this brave little girl," the leader mocked. "What do you think you can do? You're outnumbered."

"I don't care," Meerab shot back, her voice unwavering.

Before Hunaid could react, the gang lunged toward them. In a split second, Meerab raised her arms, instinctively pushing Hunaid back as she shielded him. The first attacker swung a fist, but she sidestepped, adrenaline coursing through her veins.

Hunaid's instincts kicked in. "Meerab, move!" he shouted, shoving her aside just as another gang member lunged. He grappled with the assailant, fists flying, but his mind was racing with worry for her safety.

"Stay close!" he yelled, darting back to protect her.

But Meerab was fierce; she wasn't just a bystander. She found a makeshift weapon-a broken piece of wood lying in the alley. With a swift movement, she swung it at one of the gang members, catching him off guard and knocking him off balance.

Hunaid's eyes widened in disbelief. "What are you doing?" he exclaimed, adrenaline surging as he fought off another attacker.

"I'm not letting them hurt you!" she yelled back, determination etched on her face as she squared off against another gang member, her fear transforming into courage.

"We should run," he offered her his hand, and they started running in the opposite direction taking turns, until they reached a small house, they hid behind the walls for a few minutes before Meerab sarcastically uttered, "Your training helped us for real".

She was looking at his biceps, and Murtasim flexed them for her, glancing at her hands, all torn up bleeding, "You love to play the hero, don't you?"

He taunted taking her hand in his, and from his pocket, he removed a small gauze, "No, I just like beating up people."

He narrowed his eyes, "Haath se pehle dimaag ka ilaaj karwane ki zaroorat hai tumhare."

"Pagal lagti hu kya mai?"

"Yes, you don't like me enough to give up your life, so that stunt you pulled... you did it because you wanted to die, didn't you?"

She got silent all of a sudden.

And got out of the hiding place walking out, "Ruko! Agli baar marna ho toh mujhe bata dena, kya haina mujhe itne jaldi marna nahi" He called out to her, as they heard the sound of the bus horn, they ran chasing after the bus, as Hunaid tapped on it's rear. It stopped, and the two got up.

The bus finally arrived, and they boarded in silence. Meerab chose a seat near the back, and Hunaid followed her, sitting beside her as the bus rattled to life and began its journey.

He glanced at her from the corner of his eye, watching as she leaned her head back against the window, eyes closed, looking worn out.

They soon reached another stop, and Hunaid guided her out, they sat on the bus station quietly in an awkward silence.

She didn't like the silence, feeling a little guilty, she brought up another topic, "Where did you got the scar from?"

"From the streets... half of my childhood I was a part of these street gangs."

"Weren't you born in a rich family?"

"Born maybe. But I raised myself on the streets."

"Why?" She asks not understanding but a little curious, he walks towards her cornering her, and she seems startled but he can see her eyes are on the dagger, "Tum sawal bohot karti ho magar mere sawalon ka kabhi jawab nahi deti."

She blinks almost holding her breath and coughs, trying to create some space between them, "Konsa sawal?"

"Kal raat ko tum darr kyun gayi thi... aisa kya dekha tumne?"

She holds her breath.

"Mere paas aane par tumhari saanse kyun ruk jaati?"

She feels the tension in the air, the way he is leaning too close to her, it was not fear anymore. When did she stopped fearing him? Maybe after the whole mutton kebab fiasco, or because of the fact that he was still injured. Did she trust him?

Her thoughts were causing a conflict, he was giving her a hard look, as if he could read her mind and if she lied he would know.

"Nahi." She replied softly, wiping her lips, as Hunaid's eyes remained on her pink tongue.

He pauses, tilting his head to the side, gazing at her with his dark eyes, "Nahi? Sawal ka jawab hai ya koi jawab nahi hai?"

She pressed her palm on to his chest to shove him off, the corner of his mouth lifts up as he softly acknowledges her hand on his chest and her confused expression.

The warmth of her hand is softly pulled away, as he sees her eyes spitting fire at him again, and he lets out a soft chuckle. "So much anger, Meerab. But no answers."

Meerab's hand trembles slightly as she clenches it into a fist, trying to control her rising anger. She glares at him, her gaze burning with intensity.

"You always twist everything, Hunaid. Tum kabhi serious nhi hoskte kya, zindagi khel lagti hai kya tumhe?"

He lets out a breathy laugh, his eyes still watching her every movement like a predator. "Khel toh tum bhi khel rahi ho Meerab. Sawaal ye hai ke kon jeet raha hai, tum ya mai?"

Meerab realized he had an idea about her own plans to backstab him honestly that wouldn't be backstabbing him when she was being forced to participate in his plans.

Her jaw tightens. "I'm not playing any games," she says firmly, stepping forward this time. Sge stood her ground. "Tum chahe jitni koshish karlo, but I am not falling for you. You know why? Because nobody can ever like you!"

The way she said it, it was meant to be hurtful, the words that had echoed in her brain, in her memories were now coming out of her mouth. She was projecting her insecurities.

Hunaid raised an eyebrow, leaning against the wall as if unfazed by her words, but the flicker in his eyes betrayed him. He was unsettled by her words. It stinged.

She was supposed to be a pawn, just someone he could manipulate, but instead, he found himself drawn to her. It annoyed him to no end. He moved closer again, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Toh phir kyun defend kiya tha mujhe us waqt? Agar tumhe farak nahi padta, toh mere liye awaz kyun uthai thi?"

She processed his words and shrugged, "Mujhe koi farakh nhi padhta, bhaad mai jao tum."

Hunaid watched her walk away, her back rigid with defiance, but he couldn't shake the feeling of victory. He smirked, his hand still over his heart as if mocking the very thing that had started to betray him. He knew Meerab had just lied, but it was the first time he had seen her rattled. Her defenses were slowly crumbling, and he was sure of it now.

"Bhaad mein jao?" he murmured softly, his smirk growing wider. "Pehli baar koi mujhe bhaad mein jaane keh raha hai, aur main khud ko rok nahi paa raha."

As he leaned over there, Meerab started noticing the looks people were giving her, did Hunaid leave her alone. Meerab turned around, her eyes narrowing as she saw Hunaid standing there casually, leaning against the wall, a cigarette between his lips. He took a slow drag, exhaling the smoke lazily, as if he had all the time in the world.

"Tum yahaan khade kyun ho? Come on," she called out, her voice tinged with frustration. She could feel the stares from the people around them, and it made her uncomfortable.

Hunaid took another drag and let out a slow chuckle, his eyes locking with hers. "Tumne toh kaha tha, bhaad mein jao," he said, his smirk deepening. "Toh socha bhaad mein jaane se pehle ek cigarette pi loon."

Meerab rolled her eyes, annoyed at his nonchalant attitude. "Tum kabhi serious ho bhi sakte ho?"

He shrugged, pushing himself off the wall. "Serious hone ke liye kuch khaas reason hona chahiye. Tumne toh kaha, farak nahi padta, I ain't impressing anyone, so why even try?" His voice was teasing, but there was an edge beneath the playful exterior.

She crossed her arms, watching him approach. "It doesn't. Tumhare nazdeek khudse zyaada important koi nahi, haina?" she replied sharply, though her words carried less conviction than before.

Hunaid's smirk faded slightly as he stopped in front of her. "Yes, my wants, my desires and needs are the most important to me, and right now I want to smoke, so I will smoke."

She clenched her fists, resisting the urge to give in to the frustration he so effortlessly provoked.

"You're infuriating, you know that?" she snapped, stepping closer, attempting to close the distance between them without realizing it, her defiance still fierce.

Hunaid looked down at her, his dark eyes glimmering with amusement. "Infuriating? Perhaps. Magar tum se kam. I know my actions, my words bother you, that's why you are being super rude to me, mujhse jitna chaho ladlo magar sach toh sach hi rahega" He leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper

"Kuch bhi... bakwas band karo. I don't give a flying f*ck about you, baat samajh aayi?" she rolled her eyes at his words.

"Oh, but you are bothered. This little dance we have? It's exhilarating, isn't it?" He took a step back, maintaining eye contact, his expression shifting to one of genuine curiosity. "Tell me, what are you really afraid of, Meerab? That you might actually like me?"

She grimaces as if disgusted, "You are so full of yourself. Next time, I’ll let them take you."

"Next time? You are dreaming of our future...", he teased opening his box passing her a biscuit, "Ye kaha se laaya?"

"Jab tum un aadmiyon se lad rahi thi mai unki jeb kaatra tha", he smiled showing his knife, Meerab snatched the biscuit from his hand, her glare sharp enough to cut through steel. "Chor ho tum. Mujhe toh pehle se hi pata tha," she muttered, biting into the biscuit despite her disdain. Her stomach growled in betrayal, making Hunaid smirk.

"Chor? Nahin Meerab, mai toh opportunist hoon," he said, leaning casually against the wall. His gaze softened as he watched her eat. "Waise, tumhare liye churaaya, warna mai toh khud bhookha mar jata."

Meerab swallowed, her expression briefly faltering before the mask of indifference slid back into place. "Mujhe tumhare ehsaan nahi chahiye."

He bit his lip, she had snatched the biscuit away just a moment ago, "Ji behtar", he said signaling towards the eaten biscuit, "Biscuits?"

She snatched away the entire packet and munched on them while he snacked on peanuts. Whatever Hunaid was, he was persistent, and she hated how he always managed to get under her skin.