Miraal was laying on the bed haphazardly, her legs dangling in the air as she went through her assignment questions. Boring, unnecessary and never-ending. She suppressed a yawn, motivating herself to study, her mind was a mess. She was distracted, her thoughts somehow always landed on him.

Embarrassment, longing and excitement all three turned into confusion. She was confused by her actions, yesterday when he had sat with her nothing mattered. She was too enchanted by his presence, for her, he was like the prince charming.

The one she had dreamt about her entire childhood, her father had created an image in her mind of the Khan. A positive image, subconsciously she respected him before she even met him. He was an ideal man.

Charming, handsome and kind-hearted.

His kindness melted her, his softness attracted her and his charm made her fall. She fell for him.

An engagement that held almost no importance in her life, gave her a purpose to live. He was her saviour, her fiance, Abraar Khan was hers.

She closed her eyes and made a wish, she wanted to meet him once again. Talk to him a little longer, gaze at him and listen to his voice, his sweet words. He was a sweet talker, she realised, he had a way with his words to convince a person. To make them believe his words, in simple words to manipulate them, and Miraal was fine with that. Because he never went overboard with it...

How beautiful was this stage of life... One that transformed humans into poets.

How beautiful was this stage of life...
Where one's flaws too become pleasing to the eyes.

Meanwhile, Abraar Khan sat in the panchayat meeting his eyes unfocused. Lost, broken and confused. He was trapped in the game of revenge he had begun, the rumour had resulted in a domino effect and the silent Mirs woke up again like vampires.

They wanted to win this power play, some still doubted whether Saira was alive whereas others believed it. And were relentlessly searching for her.

Fear, regret and helplessness consumed him as he faced the consequences of his actions. He had never in a million years considered Saira to be still alive. And even if he had, he had planned to murder her with his own hands. But his hands trembled as the faceless Saira transformed into the woman who had innocently given him her mother's last memoir. She loved him, it should have filled him with joy if not for the current situation.

The international terrorist group were looking for Saira...

It wouldn't be hard to locate her, to reach her and they could harm her or worst brainwash her with their ideologies. One thing he had realised in the past few weeks was Miraal was smart but she had no real life experience. She was naive and trusted easily, it scared him. The thought of his Miraal turning into the Mirs scared him, they were her relatives, actual blood relatives and she was the last of the Mirs.

Her name itself had breathed life into them, they could reach her easily. And Abraar wouldn't allow that, he turned his hand to look at the engagement ring and the bracelet that was tied around his hand.

He threw it on the ground and stepped on the bracelet that Mir Mehmoud had personally designed. Abraar hated the Mirs, they were the ones who had invited three terrorist groups into their country. Mirs had endangered the entire city all for greed, all Mirs were alike, and they were bound to transform into demons.

Hatred, frustration and anger forced him to stamp on the bracelet as if he was destroying the legacy of Mirs. His hands trembled as he brought out the cigarette and picked up the bracelet. As he was about to burn it, her love-filled eyes flashed in front of him.

Ye aapki hifazat karega

It was ironical- how could an heirloom that had wrecked his entire life protect him? He chuckled dryly but decided not to burn it for now. What if the Mirs reached her? And she transformed into the Saira he loathed, would he be able to kill her? Could he watch her die without losing his sanity?

Hadn't Mir Mehmoud done the same? He had killed the woman he loved, Abraar could do the same. He wasn't weak, but the thought of using her as bait, endangering her didn't sit well with him.

He had unknowingly put her life in danger, his head started aching as he sat on the bed. The game had begun, and he had to play his part of deceit, manipulations and lies.

Saira was precious to them, but her heart belonged to him. It would be easier to manipulate her because she trusted him.

Because she loved him.

He grinned, he knew more about Saira than the Mirs themselves. He could bow the seed of hatred in her heart for the Mirs as his father did.

_____

It was past seven, the stars in the sky twinkled, Miraal wore a red anarkali dress her hair rolled up into a bun held by a clutch. Strands of hair escaped and tickled her face as she unsuccessfully tried to push them behind her ears with her muddy hands. She dug the soil with the mini shovel to get some wet sand, and placed it in the new pot, as she placed a new rose plant in the mud.

Roses needed to grow in water before their stem grew, so they could be placed in the rose pot back again. It was a continuous cycle, being displaced from one place to another. It was a lovely night, the cold wind made the hairs fly and this time Miraal didn't resist, she closed her eyes and enjoyed the wind caressing her skin.

As she was lost in her peaceful world, she didn't notice a man leaning towards her, his eyes admiring her beauty, her charismatic personality.

He bent down and brushed off the dirt on her pale skin. Her eyes flew open in surprise, her brown eyes processed him in and then her lips curved up.

His callous palm was unmoving against her cheek, his hand enjoying the softness of her skin, as her pale cheek turned red like the rose plant beside her.

Miraal had wished earlier to meet him, and her wish came true. She was nervous, happy and fidgety in his presence, his gaze brought her comfort and kept her at the edge at the same time.

His beautiful smile, made his inky black eyes twinkle like the stars in the sky as he gently tucked her hair behind her ear. Miraal could hear her heart beating loudly in her chest, his flicks covered his forehead as he gazed at her. Her eyes went to his wrist and she noticed the missing bracelet.

She stood up, embarrassed, and she felt a sense of betrayal. Miraal didn't blame him but it stung her that Abraar didn't wear the bracelet that she had given him out of love.

Abraar noticed the look on her face and the change of emotions as he asked standing up towering over her, "Kya Hua Miraal?"

His voice was deep, she didn't want to make eye contact with him or tell him what hurt her. But her eyes unconsciously lingered on his wrist and Abraar noticed it.

Frustration, helplessness and hatred. He went through all three, for a moment he wanted to tell her everything, reveal his struggle. But his trust issues didn't allow him, what if she turned into her father in future? He was protecting himself and her, he loved this girl and hated her at the same time. It was complicated.

Abraar put on a fake smile and tried to convince her, "I have kept it safely in my drawer", she glanced up the hurt in her eyes lingered along with doubt as she nodded. He was trying to make her believe his words, she noticed the glint in his eyes as if he was glaring at her with hatred.

Abraar slyly twisted the conversation as they walked on the grass barefoot side by side, "Do you love me, Miraal?" He asked halting, she was staring ahead thinking about his question.

Her deviant heartbeat, the butterflies in her stomach and the tingling on the arm that touched his all conveyed one thing. The way he called out her name, and gazed at her made her feel like the rose in her garden.

"Yes, I do", She replied her eyes closing as a beautiful smile spread on her face, her red Anarkali was dancing with the wind as Abraar brought a rose bracelet out of his pocket. He took her hand in his and slid it into her wrist, if he hadn't heard her heartbeat, he could feel it now. He entwined their hands and got down on his knees.

Miraal was speechless as she realised what this meant, it was like a dream come true. The man she loved brought out a ring and asked her, "Miraal will you marry me?"

A tear escaped her eyes as she giggled and playfully flaunted him the ring present on her finger, "Sorry Khan, I am already engaged"

He couldn't help but giggle as he took that hand and gently slid the ring off. "Woh anghuthi Baba ne tumhe mukhatib karne wakt pehnai thi. Magar ye meri idhar e mohabbat hai, kal ka jawab hai. Miraal, mujhe tumse mohabbat hogayi hai"

She bent down on his level and nodded eagerly, as he slid the ring in her finger she hugged him. Miraal was over the moon as he wrapped his arms around her body, her brown eyes were filled with genuine love.

And his inky brown ones were filled with guilt...

________