Meerab stood frozen, her breath coming in short, sharp bursts. Her pride had been wounded, and the sting of Murtasim’s words lingered. He had left her standing there, soaked, exhausted, and utterly humiliated. The way he had so effortlessly restrained her, silencing her mid-rant, still left her seething. She had never felt so powerless, so completely overwhelmed by his physical presence. The warmth of his breath, the press of his body against hers—everything about the encounter burned in her memory.
Once the door of the hut clicked shut behind Murtasim, she slumped against the wall, panting. Her heart raced, the adrenaline still coursing through her veins. Her eyes darted to the cupboard he had mentioned. Huffing in frustration, she pushed herself off the wall and stomped toward it, feeling every inch of her exhaustion as her muscles ached from the earlier task of carrying the water.
Meerab swung open the cupboard and rifled through the clothes, her fingers brushing over the soft cotton fabrics. She pulled out a plain white saree and a red blouse, simple but elegant. She needed something clean, something that would make her feel refreshed after the chaos of the day. Her drenched clothes clung to her uncomfortably, and her hair, now greasy and sticking to her face, was driving her mad. The memory of Murtasim’s touch still tingled on her skin, and she needed to wash it away—the sweat, the dirt, and everything that had transpired.
Her mind made up, she decided to head to the river where she had collected water earlier with the village women. The cool, refreshing water had called to her then, but now it felt like a necessity. A bath would cleanse not only her body but also her mind, give her a moment to breathe and think.
Grabbing a towel and the clean clothes, she stepped outside, the midday sun blazing overhead. Her feet moved quickly across the dirt path, the familiar route to the river etched in her memory. As she neared the bank, the sound of the gentle current reached her ears, a soothing melody that calmed her racing thoughts. She glanced around cautiously, ensuring no one was nearby. The last thing she needed was someone sneaking up on her while she bathed.
Once satisfied that she was alone, Meerab began to undress. First, she unwrapped her saree, letting it fall to the ground in a pool of fabric. Then she unhooked her blouse and finally slipped off her petticoat, standing bare by the river’s edge. The air was warm against her skin, but the anticipation of the cool water made her shiver in excitement. She dipped one toe into the river to test the temperature, and then slowly waded in, allowing the water to rise up her legs and envelop her body.
Submerging herself completely, she let out a soft sigh of relief as the cool water washed over her, rinsing away the grime, sweat, and tension. Her long hair fanned out in the water, floating around her like a dark halo. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, inhaling the crisp, earthy scent of the river. For the first time in hours, she felt at peace.
Back at the village, Murtasim had returned from his patrol only to find the small hut empty. His eyes scanned the room, and a sudden wave of unease washed over him. "Meerab?" he called out, but the silence that greeted him only intensified his worry. His mind raced, and a fear he hadn't felt before gnawed at him. The thought of those men coming after her tightened his chest, and he felt the urgency of the situation rising.
Frantically, Murtasim searched around the hut and the village, stopping at every corner and asking people if they had seen her. His heart pounded with every moment she wasn’t found, his mind running wild with possibilities of what could have happened. What if those men had found her? What if they had hurt her? He could never forgive himself if something happened to her under his watch. His hands clenched into fists at the thought.
Finally, a young girl tugged at his sleeve. “I saw her go towards the river,” she said in a small voice.
Murtasim’s eyes widened. Without wasting another second, he turned and hurried toward the river. His steps were quick, but his mind was racing faster. As he neared the riverbank, a cold chill ran down his spine. He saw no sign of her. The fear that had been simmering now boiled over. His heart thudded painfully in his chest.
