This is unedited.

____

Meerab sat on her chair, going through the case files, two months had passed, she was six months pregnant. Her baby bump visible, she was assisting her father while pursuing her degree in online mode. Meerab did everything she could to distract herself, and she was successful. But sometimes late at night, the loneliness of the night, the kicks of her baby and overall bad day would make her sob. It was hormones and heartbreak, the worst combination. Sometimes a single tear would start all the others. She would think about the past, about all the stupidities and bad decisions that had landed her into all of this, and cry some more.

Her baby would kick when she would sob, she would caress her bump and whisper, "I would never abandon you, I will be there for you, even when you are wrong, I will support you". Something her parents had failed to do so.

She knew crying over the past wouldn't bring her anything except pain, and as she thought about it she felt more emotional.

Another month passed and her life was peaceful. She was concentrating on the baby but thoughts of him often crossed her mind, "I miss him, but I could not tell him that. I have to make efforts to slowly erase him from my life, even if it makes me cry. The thought that he was living his life happily without me was more painful than his absence".

Meerab's relationship had improved with Waqas but with Anila there was still some tension.

"Beta Murtasim abhi bhi tumhe dhund raha hai".

Meerab who was sipping her tea rolled her eyes, placing the strand of her hair behind her ear, "Kyun? Talaq lekar Haya se nikkah karna hai"

The words that escaped her lips were painful, but she had shed too many tears, and accepted that Murtasim was marrying Haya.

"Tum wapas chali gayi toh nahi karega woh Haya se nikkah".

She shook her head, placing the cup on the table, "Ab mai Haya aur uske khushiyon ke beech nahi aaongi".

Her left hand was on her back, as she lifted the bag. "Back pain?"

"Thoda kam hua aaj".

"Beta aaram karlo", Meerab shook her head,  "Ammi pura ek saal peechey hogayi hu mai apne batchmates se, mai chahti hu ke jab tak baby aaye tab tak uski Maa apne pairon par khadey hojaye. Kisipe dependent na rahey... ek ghar ho khudka."

Anila's hand trembled as she listened to Meerab's words, there was no anger, just acceptance.

"Meri himmat waali, bahadur bacchi hai", truly Meerab was a strong fierce girl.

____

The phone rang and Meerab saw the name, "Anwar Khan", her actual biological father, she felt nothing for him. No anger, no heartache or grudge.

Waqas picked up the phone, "Anwar... kya hua?"

There was silence but Waqas briefly glanced at Meerab, "Tum kyun pareishan horahey kuch nhi hoga,.... Anwar tum nhi marney waaley. ..... meri baat suno mai ghar aata hu".

Waqas glanced at Meerab who looked at him with worry, "Blood cancer, last stage hai. Tumse milna chahta hai marne se pehle".

Meerab started scribbling on her papers, her hands trembling. Anwar was just her biological father, she repeated. But... but he was her father, why was her heart aching, as if someone was twisting a dagger in her heart.

There was a knock on her door,  Meerab fixed her face and told the secretary that her father was out.

When she was coming back, she saw gajra. She remembered Murtasim slipping it into her wrist, his eyes soft, that was love. Wasn't it?

She didn't know anymore. Her heart believed Murtasim had truly loved her, but her mind had built protective walls around it.

She didn't wanted to get hurt again.

___

Anwar's condition got worse day by day, and Meerab was admitted the day Waqas told her that he didn't had much time.

Murtasim and Haya's wedding was scheduled the next month.

"Bacche ka baap hai woh... usse pata hona chahiye", Waqas tries to talk to her but Meerab shook her head, "Nhi. Baba woh Haya se shaadi karne jaraha hai, woh kala jaadu karti hai, usne mujhe seedi se giraya tha. Agar usse mere bacche ka pata chala toh woh kisi bhi had tak jayegi..."

"I wanna keep my kid far away from Haya's shadow."

It was twelve hours of labour, contractions and pain, after which the doctor placed the infant in her arms, "Ladki hui hai, Mubarak".

A laugh of happiness escaped as she clutched the baby to her chest, crying, laughing. 

The small little bundle was smiling as it looked at her, "Meesam..."

She had her father's eyes and her smile. She kissed her head and fed the baby as the nurse instructed.

A month passed and Meerab finally had the courage to face Anwar, he was on bed rest. Meerab looked at Meesam, "Meesam ko dekh kar bohot khush hongey woh".

Waqas drove her to the Khan villah, she looked around smiling a little, remembering some past moments. The time when she had believed that Murtasim had truly loved her, that he was only hers.

She kissed her one month old's forehead, the haveli was decorated. Waqas hurried inside but Meerab was looking around walking slowly. When she entered the hall, she heard him say, "Qubool Hai".

For some reason she shielded Meesam, as if the one month old could understand what was happening. Murtasim's hands were raised in dua, his eyes closed. When he opened them, they met hers.

"Meerab.."

She was here, infront of him. Anwar stood up, "Meerab mera baccha", he placed his hand on her head, "Tum kaha chali gayi thi... kitna dhunda tumhe "

She smiled tearfully, looking at the pain in his eyes, "Yahi thi Abbu," Anwar hugged her, and finally acknowledged the baby.

"Ye?"

"Meesam meri beti," Meerab introduced, and Anwar kissed the baby's head.

"Iss bacchi ka baap kon hai?"

Meerab looked at Maa Begum and then glanced at Haya.

"Kya matlab baap kon hai? Murtasim hai!" Waqas defended, and Meerab sighed in relief as she felt him holding her shoulder for support. 

"Nikkah Mubarak ho!" She wished, her eyes meeting Murtasim's whose hands trembled. This wasn't how they were supposed to meet.

"Aagayi ne phirse mere aur Murtasim ke beech mai".

Meerab, whose eyes were on Murtasim, repeated the words, "Beech mai... Haya tumhe tumhara Murtasim Mubarak ho".

There was no anger or emotions when she said that.

Haya stalked towards Meerab, "Baccha lekar aaogi kisika bhi aur Murtasim maanlega ki ye uska baacha hai?"

Meerab stopped her, "Meri beti ki taraf aankh uthakar mat dekhna Haya!"

Waqas shielded her, "Meerab yaha apne Abbu se milne aayi hai".

"Mere nikkah ke din? Ruqawat banna chahti thi na, isliye aayi hai. Maa Begum mai bolrahi huna ye jalti hai.

Maa Begum, who had been silent till now, stepped forward, her eyes filled with stern determination. "Haya, bas karo! Aaj tumhara nikah hai, kuch toh izzat rakho." She turned to Meerab, her expression softening. "Meerab, tumhare liye yeh jagah hamesha khuli hai."

Meerab nodded, holding Meesam close. "Shukriya, Maa Begum. Lekin ab mujhe jaana hoga." She looked at Anwar, who was lying frail on the bed. "Abbu, Meesam ko dekhne aati rahungi."

Anwar's eyes filled with tears. "Mujhe maaf kardo, Meerab. Main tumhare saath nahi tha jab tumhe meri zaroorat thi."

Meerab shook her head, her voice gentle. "Abbu, ab yeh sab sochne ka waqt nahi." She kissed his forehead and turned to leave.

As she walked out, Murtasim called out, "Meerab, ruk jao!"

Meerab paused but didn't turn around. "Murtasim, ab humare raaste alag hain."

Murtasim's voice broke. "Meerab, please..."

Meerab turned, her eyes filled with unshed tears. "Murtasim, tumne apni zindagi ka faisla kar liya. Ab mujhe apni zindagi jeene do."

With that, she walked out, Waqas following closely behind, leaving behind a hall filled with silence and unspoken emotions.

Outside, Meerab took a deep breath, looking at the sky. "Chalo Meesam, nayi zindagi ka safar shuru karte hain."

Waqas placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Meerab, I am proud of you beta".

Meerab smiled, looking at her father with gratitude. "Shukriya, Baba. Aapne hamesha mera saath diya hai."

___

Meerab sat on the study table, Meesam was asleep, so she had some time to herself. She opened the novel she was reading last night, it had a wedding picture of Murtasim with her.

"Mai apne zindagi ke faisle khud lungi..."

He had chosen Haya over her, how could she let him in her life. 

It made her laugh, although there was nothing about it.

Her phone rung Murtasim, where did he get her number from?

"Hello", she picked it up, scared that maybe it was about her father.

"Meerab, I wanted to talk to you"

"We will set timings for you to visit Meesam, I am not comfortable in the haveli, so you can come and visit her."

"I.. am outside"

"My home?"

Meerab went to the window, seeing him outside leaning on the car, and then she heard Meesam cry as if she heard him.

Picking up Meesam, "Itni jaldi uth gayi?'' The baby laughed a toothless smile, Meerab put on the shawl around her shoulder, and opened the gate for him.

Murtasim who was looking at his phone met her eyes, "Meesam uth gayi hai", he locked his car and followed after her.

Her entered her room and saw the little one year old laughing by herself. "Pyaar karlu?"

Meerab smiled, "Haan karlo", he kissed her forehead, as the baby looked at him, feeling the softness of her skin. This was his child, "Meesam".

Meesam kicked her feet, making Meerab laugh, "Dekho ek mahina nhi hua, aur itni active hai. Paanch mahine par toh pura ghar sar pe uthalegi", Meesam laughed reacting to her words, as Meerab caressed her leg.

He caressed her head, until she fell asleep, and Meerab soaked in the father daughter interaction.

When they were outside, Murtasim asked, "Phir kab aasakta hu?"

Meerab thought for a second, "Jab bhi Meesam se milne ka man karey".

___

"Meerab tumne usse andar kyun aaney diya", Meerab who had Meesam in her hands, looked from her mother to her father, "Meesam ka haq hai, ke woh apne Baba ko jaaney."

"I don't want their relationship to be affected because of ours. Meesam sabka pyaar deserve karti hai. Mai chahti hu iss dunya ki har khushiyan miley.  Murtasim uski shaqal dekhne k liye taras raha hai, mai baap aur beti ko alag nhi karungi".

Unlike her father, Meesam's father wanted to be there. She couldn't put Meesam in this mess.

"Talaq ki baat kari tumne?"

"Himmat nahi hui Baba, agli baar aayega toh karlungi".

___

"Mai iss ghar ki Khaani hu, ye ghar, ye zameen sab ki malkin," Haya rolled on the bed laughing remembering Meerab's face when she saw them.

"Meerab", she laughed, "Tumhara shauhar ab mera."

There was a knock on the door, Haya sat up quickly putting the veil on her head, "Haan"

Murtasim was here, Haya reached for him, but realised it wasn't Murtasim.

"Maa Begum?"

"Haya ghungat uthao", Maryam replied, shaking away her hand.

Haya hugged Maryam, "Tum meri shaadi mai aayi ho", feeling emotional, but Maryam didn't hug her back.

"Tumhare liye nahi Ammi k liye aayi hu, hogaya tumhara maqsad pura. Bangayi tum khanum, ab khush?"

Haya smiled, "Maryam tumhe pata nahi mai kitni khush hu".

"Bhai ka ghar tod diya tumne!"

"Kaha, mai huna tumhari bhabhi"

"Chii! Bhai tumhari jaisi aurat nahi deserve karte, infact dunya mai koi mard tumhari jaisi behaya aurat deserve nahi karta", Haya raised her hand and striked Maryam.

"Chup!" Her eyes wide, "Pehle tumhare thappad aur bakwaas sunti thi, magar ab nhi. Is ghar ki malkin se baat kar rahi ho tum. Toh zabaan sambhalkar, warna kheech dungi".

Maryam glared at her, "Haya tum girogi, mu ke bal girogi. Aur koi sahara dene waala nhi hoga tumhe".

___

Two weeks passed, Murtasim would visit Meesam daily, driving for hours back and forth just to see his daughter. He didn't step in his house.

He was about to leave that day when Meerab stopped him, "Mujhe talaq chahiye", Murtasim's ear rings as he heard her say that. He knew this was coming, "Do you really want this?"

Meerab nodded her head, "I will initiate Khula"

"Meerab aisa na karo", he begged holding her hand, tears started rolling down his eyes.

"Kya na karu? Murtasim tumhari ek aur biwi hai. You married her, now I want to move on with my life, that's why I have to divorce you. Meesam ki tension na lo, tum usse jab chaho milsakte ho."

Murtasim stood there, holding the gate when Meerab saw him clutching his heart, "Nahi chodsakta tumhe..."

He collapsed. The next time he woke up, Maa Begum, Maryam and Haya were by his side.

"Meerab..." he whispered faintly, almost inaudible.

"Haan Murtasim mai hu tumhare paas", Haya held his hand, Murtasim repeated, "Meerab", Maryam who had been crying almost laughed when she saw Haya's face. Dejavu.

She wasn't in his life anymore and he was still calling for her?

She exited the room and picked her phone, "Zubair, Meerab ke marne ka time aagya hai", Malik Zubair on the other side laughed, "Kyun? Tumhari shaadi toh hogayi haina Murtasim se?"

"Jab tak Meerab maregi nahi, Murtasim mera nahi hog", there was silence from the other side then a the sound of gun reloading, "Haww.. bechari Meerab".

Haya in her delusion, didn't notice Maa Begum.

___

Maa Begum was the one who had given Haya the power, to come in between Murtasim and Meerab. She had never taken her seriously and now she regretted it.

Haya never loved her son, all she wanted was power, and to be the Khanum. She had slapped Maryam, had insulted her in the panchayat meeting.

Murtasim wasn't in the house amymore. He was broken, Maa Begum couldn't understand what was the matter. Why did Murtasim suddenly insisted on getting married to Haya?

Didn't all of this take place after Murtasim and Haya returned from the village? Did something happened then?

She clearly remembered, he had gotten a call where he had rushed off, and Haya had disappeared the next day.

What happened in the village?