The evening was serene, the golden hues of the setting sun filtering through the curtains of their room. Murtasim had been watching Meerab, his gaze heated, trailing over her as she busied herself with a book on the bed. She, of course, was completely unaware of the intensity with which he was looking at her, but he couldn’t ignore the pull any longer.
His patience had run thin. Tonight, he wasn’t going to hold back. His love for Meerab burned inside him, and the thought of being closer to her, of feeling her warmth against him, was driving him wild. With a determination that was both tender and eager, he walked over to her, casting a shadow over her as she remained engrossed in her reading.
"Meerab," he murmured, his voice low and thick with desire.
She glanced up, confused by the intensity in his eyes. "What?" she asked, innocently, as if oblivious to the storm brewing within him.
Without another word, Murtasim reached down, his arms sliding beneath her, lifting her effortlessly from the bed. Meerab let out a surprised yelp, her book tumbling from her hands.
"Murtasim, what are you doing?!" she asked, half-laughing, half-annoyed, her hands instinctively clutching his shoulders for support.
Murtasim, his eyes dark and intent, didn’t respond with words. Instead, he carried her toward the bed again, setting her down gently, but with an unmistakable urgency. His hands framed her face for a moment before they trailed down to her waist, and his lips hovered over hers as he positioned himself above her.
"Tonight, Meerab…" His words trailed off as his body moved over hers, but just as he leaned forward, a sharp, unbearable pain shot through his back.
“Ahhh—!” Murtasim groaned, his face contorting in agony, his entire body stiffening as the pain flared up violently.
Meerab’s eyes widened in alarm. "Murtasim? What’s wrong?"
He winced, his hands gripping the bedsheets tightly. "My back… I can’t… move!"
Her concern was immediate. "What do you mean, you can’t move?"
He tried shifting again but to no avail. Every time he attempted to move, the sharp pain flared up even worse, leaving him frozen in place, hovering over her awkwardly. His face was now twisted in both pain and embarrassment.
"I think I pulled something... or my back’s out. I’m stuck, Meerab," Murtasim groaned, the frustration evident in his voice.
Meerab’s eyes widened in disbelief as she realized that he was truly stuck, unable to get off her. Panic set in, not just for him, but for herself too, as she tried to push him gently to relieve the pressure.
"We need to get you help! Murtasim, I’m calling Maa Begum!" she exclaimed, trying to wriggle out from under him, but he was too heavy to move without causing him more pain.
"What? No!" Murtasim protested weakly, knowing full well how humiliating this was about to get. "Just give me a minute, I’ll figure it out."
But Meerab wasn’t listening. She was already yelling towards the door.
"Maa Begum! Baba! Someone come quick!" she called out, panic rising in her voice. She couldn’t leave Murtasim in this state, nor could she help him by herself.
Within moments, there was a flurry of footsteps down the hall. Maa Begum and Anwar burst into the room, followed closely by a couple of the household staff, all looking alarmed and confused by the urgency of Meerab’s voice.
"What’s wrong, Meerab?" Maa Begum asked, her eyes narrowing in concern as she entered. But then, she saw Murtasim, hovering above Meerab in the bed, his face beet red with embarrassment, his body stuck in a position that made it appear as though he was... well, in a rather compromising situation.
Anwar's eyebrows shot up in surprise, his usual composed demeanor cracking into pure bewilderment. "What in heaven’s name is going on?"
Murtasim groaned again, his pride completely shattered. "It’s not what it looks like! I—my back. I’m stuck!"
For a moment, the room was silent as the absurdity of the situation settled over everyone. Meerab, despite her concern, had to bite her lip to stop herself from laughing. Maa Begum, however, was less restrained.
She let out a surprised chuckle before trying to compose herself. "Murtasim… you mean to say… you got stuck like this?"
Anwar rubbed his temples, trying not to laugh but failing miserably. "This is certainly… unexpected."
Murtasim’s face burned with embarrassment. "This is not funny!" he snapped, his voice strained with both pain and frustration. "Can someone just help me get out of this?"
Maa Begum waved her hand, struggling to keep a straight face as she approached. "Alright, alright. Let’s get him sorted."
Meerab couldn’t hold it in any longer. She started giggling uncontrollably, her laughter only intensifying as Murtasim shot her a helpless glare.
"Meerab, stop laughing," he grumbled, though even he could hear the ridiculousness of the situation.
Anwar and one of the staff members cautiously approached the bed, trying to find the least awkward way to help Murtasim without worsening his injury. They carefully maneuvered him to the side, his face still a deep shade of crimson as he was finally released from his uncomfortable position.
As they laid him down flat on the bed, Murtasim let out a relieved sigh, though his pride was still very much bruised. Maa Begum stood with her hands on her hips, shaking her head in mock disapproval.
"You young people…" she muttered, though there was clear amusement in her eyes. "This is what happens when you rush things. Murtasim, what were you thinking, trying to lift her like that?"
Murtasim closed his eyes, feeling the humiliation settle in. "I wasn’t thinking, Maa Begum," he muttered. "Just… let me lie here for a minute."
Anwar, barely suppressing his laughter, clapped Murtasim on the shoulder gently. "Next time, maybe take it easy, hmm?"
As everyone slowly left the room, Maa Begum shook her head one last time before closing the door. Meerab, still giggling, looked down at Murtasim, who was lying flat on his back, wincing every now and then.
"You’ll never live this down," she teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
Murtasim shot her a playful glare, though there was a hint of a smile on his lips. "Just wait till I’m back on my feet, Meerab. You’re not getting away with laughing at me this easily."
Meerab chuckled, leaning down to kiss his forehead. "We’ll see about that. For now, let’s focus on getting you better, Mr. Khan."
He groaned softly, but there was warmth in his voice as he replied, "You’re lucky I love you, Meerab."
She smiled, settling down beside him on the bed. "I know."
