Her eyes bright like the sun as they shone, she was wearing a golden lehenga, her bangles and anklets made a chan chan sound wherever she went. In the large haveli, there was a festive occasion as Miraal dolled up. The golden jewels, the long heavy necklaces and the beautiful net dupatta on her made her look simple yet aesthetic.

"I want to like you, will you give me a chance to like you back? To accept you as you are? I know I have anger issues, I might be break my promises, that's why I will no longer make any promises. Because relationship shouldn't be tied by old promises, love shouldn't bind you, instead it should free you. I give you the freedom to chose, will you be Abraar Khan, the messiah of the village or .... will you be mine?"

As Abraar stood at the entrance, his eyes locked onto Miraal, who stood on the terrace like a vision of ethereal beauty. He marveled at how she seemed to radiate a soft, inner light, casting a romantic spell on the entire evening. The mehendi on her hand, intricate and delicate, spoke of their love story etched into her skin.

Miraal, on the terrace, felt her heart flutter as her gaze met Abraar's. She remembered the day he had vowed to be hers for this lifetime, and her heart swelled with love. She couldn't help but think how his smile, now so freely given, was her favorite kind of magic-a testament to the transformation their love had brought about.

In the distance, the roses in the haveli's garden bloomed in shades of deep red and vibrant pink, their fragrance wafting through the air, symbolizing the passionate love that had blossomed between them. As their eyes met, it was as if the world around them faded away, leaving only the two of them, connected by an unbreakable bond.

Abraar's thoughts were filled with admiration for Miraal. She was not just his love; she was his savior, the one who had tamed the tempest within his soul and replaced it with the calm of her affection. He longed to hold her close, to feel the warmth of her presence beside him, and to cherish every moment they would share on this beautiful evening.

Miraal, on her part, couldn't help but feel a sense of wonderment. The man who once sought revenge and lived in darkness was now standing before her in the light of love. Their love story was the stuff of legends, a tale of redemption and transformation, and it was a story she cherished with all her heart.

As the guests entered the haveli, and Miraal took her place beside Abraar, their thoughts and hearts intertwined, ready to dance to the melody of their love, celebrating the incredible journey they had embarked upon together.

As Miraal and Abraar strolled through the garden, the night's enchantment seemed to weave around them like a romantic symphony.

"Miraal, let me show you something beautiful."

"What is it?"

Abraar led her to a secluded corner of the garden, where the moonlight bathed the blossoms in a soft, silvery glow.

 "This, my love, is where our journey begins, and where my promise to you truly takes root."

Miraal's heart skipped a beat as Abraar spoke. She could see the sincerity in his eyes, and the words hung in the air, heavy with love and commitment.

 "I promise you, Miraal, I'll be the man your parents wanted me to be, and more. I'll never let you down again."

Miraal's eyes welled up with tears of happiness as she took in his words. She twirled around in the moonlit garden, her lehenga swirling around her, and as she laughed, it was as if the night itself echoed her joy.

"And what's this surprise you have for me, Mr. Khan?"

Abraar plucked a rose from a nearby bush, its petals glistening with dewdrops. He held it high above her.

"This, my dear, is for you."

With a flourish, he showered the petals over Miraal, and her laughter filled the air as the petals rained down upon her, like a shower of love and promises.

 "You always know how to make my heart dance."

"And I promise, Miraal, I'll keep your heart dancing for the rest of our days.

___

The walimah ended and Miraal was brought to her room, the room was decorated beautifullu, she waited for a long time but he didn't arrive. An hour passed and Miraal fely dejavu setting in as thoughts entered her mind.

She exited the room, her lehenga tailing after her, as she looked around, calling his name, her voice echoed, her worry un answered.

" Abraar" , she called his name, the maids tried to stop her, "Bibi Kidhar jaa rahi hai?" They asked her but she didn't stop. Running with her lehenga, Leaving the heavy dupatta as she ran outside to the gate. She was met with Bakhtu, "Kidhar hai Abraar? " she asked him, Bakhtu glanced else where and accepted, "Gao par hamla hogya phirse, Khan ko jaana padha".

Miraal's eyes widened as she asked angrily, " Tum yaha kyun ho?"

"Aapki hifazat karne k liye Khan ne mujhe yaha chod ha", he said his eyes not meeting hers, as she shook her head.

" Mujhe hifazat ki zaroorat nahi, Khan ne apna waada toda... Now I will break mine, take me to him", she cried out distress in her voice, as Bakhtu blocked her way.

"You can't go, Khan ne mujhse waada liya tha", he said his eyes pleading her to relent, "Bakhtu, you know I can escape too like last time, it would be better if you accompanied me", she replied her hands fiddling with the dupatta as Bakhtu relented.

"Theek hai I will take you there but its a request from my side, gadi se nikalyega mat", Miraal nodded stiffly as she got in the car.

Her eyes shedding tears as she prayed, " Ya Allah Abraar ki hifazat karna"

She was in anguish, yhe time she thought everything would be fine, her world shifted again and she was going back to the village. Today was supposed to be their first step towards healing, towards their new life. It should have been marked with love and happiness but instead here she was unaware of what condition her husband was in.

Kaash.. Maine kisi aam aadmi se mohabbat ki hoti.

The pain, trauma and the tears she had shed for this love was crazy. She had lost her mind, had sacrificed everything, the reason she had shifted to the Saira Mahal wasn't only to turn it into a hospital but also for Khan's motive to be completed. She didn't care if he had killed her, she loved him too much. She had endured the betrayal, she could endure a dagger through the heart for him.

Why was he her saviour?

She had saved him countless times, and he had protected her from her own self ruin. Miraal had directed the hate, the anger and loneliness towards herself, she had started detesting her own existence. Could she blame Abraar?

She had no idea, because this was bound to happen. Abraar had no idea who she was when they met, neither did she. Miraal had always considered herself as a strong independent woman, but she had no control over her fate.

"Ya Allah I have lost everyone, I can't lose Abraar..."

"Meri gunnahon ki saza mujhe dena, magar Abraar se alag karke nahi"

"Ya Allah.. Mujhe akela mat karna phirse"

She felt dread building as they entered the village, her eyes looking around to see any sign of Abraar. Then she saw smoke and fire, houses lit on fire. As people ran, it was a chaos, Miraal's tears dropped as she realised she was responsible for this. If she hadn't settled the Mirs in the village this would have never happened, "Bakhtu gaadi roko".

She whispered, Bakhtu glanced at her and shook his head. Some people started running after the car, begging them to rescue them.

She couldn't see them die, her fingers quickly worked and discarded the heavy jewleries, " Ye tumhari Khaani ka hukum hai", she said with an authority in her voice, Bakhtu stopped the car. Miraal exited the car, and helped in bunch of people.

"Inko Saira Mahal lekar chalo jaldi", Bakhtu did so and on the way they got more patients in. The car was small, and as they reached many injured patients helped the severly injured ones. They were carried in, and as the chaos lessened. Miraal got to work, tying the apron around her body. As she performed CPR on the dying kid, she prayed for Allah to show mercy. To save the kid, the nearest hospital was two hours away, Miraal's set up was for Emergencies, she was a third year student with slight experience but handling so much patient was something she had never done.

The Mahal started filling as people were brought in, the news spreading, many taking refuge in the Mahal, knowing the Mirs would never attack their own home.

She cried, breaking down as a kid, passed away. Her shoulders shaking as she cried, the large room smelled of burnt human flesh and it made her nauseas.

The night passed, Miraal didn't sit for twelve hours, her body drained but she worked. Crying, breaking down, vomiting but coming back to make them feel better. At fajr Bakhtu arrived with a team of doctors and Miraal filled them in. She didnt leave yet, because Miraal felt responsible for this.

Parents had lost their kids, they died because of her. She wanted lessen the guilt so she drowned herself in helping the medical team. And the team needed assistance. Many villagers were transferred to the hospital in ambulances, the patients that passed away were sent to the local graveyard.

Food was arranged and finally the next evening the situation somewhat stablised.

Miraal sat down on the floor, her golden dress now red, she discarded the gloves in the dustbin and drank some water.

She closed her eyes resting it on the wall, when chaos broke down she heard people wailing, screaming. As two men walked in, Miraal stood up and follow ed their voices, they were pointing guns, a doctor laid on the ground dead.

"Saira...", Shahveer said as he welcomed her, " Thanks for making our job easier".

Miraal's hands shivered as she glanced at the people around her, "Don't kill anyone", Miraal warned as she walked to them, she was so drained that she didn't care if they shot her.

"We should have never trusted you", he said as he walked towards her, her eyes glistened with tear as he revealed her the next thing.

" Abraar is dead", she pushed him away, "No".

She said her hands grabbed a scissor as she held it against his neck, " You Are a fucking liar, Abraar can't die".

Shahveer laughed and shouted, "Bring in the body".

A man was brought in his body burnt severly, he wore Abraar's sherwani. Miraal felt the agony in her heart as she shook her head, "Allah you can't do this, you cant take away Abraar from me".

She went closer and saw the burnt flesh of his face, his hair completely burnt off, she felt nauseated as she held the corpse's hand and cried.

She kissed his palm, " Abraar, I am sorry", she whispered again and again. Her eyes shed tears as she entwined her fingers with the corpse's.

Abraar was given a small bed, and then she heard another chaos take place. A Mir was brought in, but the doctor's refused to help him. Shahveer and Zaid went back to the village and Miraal felt her Fingers shake as she fisted them.

This must be Mir Honaid, his face was covered by a mask, he wore thick clothes. Miraal saw the oozing blood from his chest and felt an urge to help that man.

She asked one of the doctor's to bring him upstairs, along with Abraar's body. Miraal felt dead, but her humanity didnt allow her to leave the patient to die.

As he was brought in she felt his pulse and saw the Mir heirloom in his wrist. Feeling disgusted by it, this bracelet caused her husband to die. This had started all the chaos, if only she had never tied this around Abraar's wrist. She cut open his clothes, and as she was about to cut the bracelet off, she heard his voice.

"Don't, please," he pleaded.

Miraal removed the mask on his face and realized this was Abraar. The Mirs had rescued the wrong man. Miraal kissed his cheeks and hugged his head to her chest as she cried out his name.

"Abraar, you'll be fine," she said as she locked the door.

Miraal called his name, "Please, Abraar, open your eyes."

She cried in agony as he woke up, and she screamed at him, "Why did you sacrifice yourself? I never thought you would act like a messiah after all this!"

"You can't leave like this, Abraar."

"Miraal..."

"Yes, Miraal?"

"Do you hate me?"

"Hate," she laughed, "My heart has always belonged to you. You captured me in your love long ago. You can call it madness; I love you like a madwoman."

"Saira..." He called her name with love, the hatred gone as he whispered it.

"Where are your people?" she asked. He frowned and shook his head. He didn't want to involve his people in this, so he came alone.

"Why are you such a martyr?" Her eyes welled up as she held him in her arms, his head on her lap as he gazed at her. His thoughts wandered, imagining a life with just the two of them, in the mountains.

He remembered how Miraal had supported him every step of the way, making him realize that he had a choice. He didn't have to live his life according to his father's wishes; he wasn't supposed to hate her but protect her. He had promised his mother to "Take care of Saira" when they hid in the closet.

Tears filled his eyes as he recalled their first meeting in the graveyard.

"I love you, Saira," he said it out loud.

Saira, the woman he had hated, was his love. The daughter of the man who had destroyed everything had mended his broken heart, taught him how to live, and how to love.

"You are so beautiful," he whispered, his voice barely audible. Blood dripped from his wound as Miraal tied a new bandage. She offered her hand to bite so he wouldn't make a sound, but he pressed a kiss on it and closed his eyes. They snapped open as the pain from the cut registered, and she searched for the bullet.

"Like an angel," she didn't say anything as she sewed up his wound. They heard a sound, and she tried to get up to hide, but he stopped her.

"If someone finds us, they will kill you," she revealed.

"Do you hate me? You told me that you hated me... Do you still?"

"No, I don't."

"Do you despise my touch?"

"I don't." He kissed her and passed out.

As he woke up, he found himself bound by bandages, wondering how he was still alive.

____

Three months had passed since the fateful events that had reshaped their lives and the village. The Mirs were arrested, and the haveli now stood as a symbol of unity, healing, and progress. The scars of the past were slowly fading, replaced by a newfound sense of harmony.

Abraar and Miraal stood on the same balcony where they had shared their deepest moments of reflection. The haveli's courtyard below was alive with the vibrant colors of flowers and the laughter of children playing. It was a testament to the transformation that love and forgiveness had brought to their lives.

Miraal turned to Abraar, her eyes filled with a radiant glow, and a soft smile played on her lips. She took his hand in hers, and as their fingers intertwined, she spoke from the depths of her heart.

"Nikkah karoge mere saath?" Miraal said, her voice filled with conviction.

Abraar's eyes widened in surprise, and then a warm smile graced his face. "Phirse?" he asked, his voice filled with a hint of playful disbelief.

She shook her head, her eyes locked onto his with unwavering determination. "Nahi is baar dil se," she replied, her words carrying the weight of a love that had withstood every trial and tribulation.

Abraar's heart swelled with emotion as he looked into Miraal's eyes. He had once vowed to protect her, but now he realized that she had become his protector, his anchor, and the love of his life. He had grown to understand that love wasn't just about passion or desire; it was about the deep connection of two souls, bound by trust and devotion.

With a gentle nod, Abraar accepted her proposal. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the haveli. It was a new beginning, a fresh chapter in their remarkable love story, and they were ready to embrace it with open hearts.

As the village continued to heal and thrive, Miraal and Abraar stood on the balcony, their souls entwined, and their love stronger than ever. They knew that their journey had been long and arduous, but it had led them to this moment of joy, where they were finally united in a heartfelt nikkah, a union of their souls that would endure for all eternity.

(The end)

____

Alternate version of this book -Love 1971/Mine to take.