Sinful Desires

The Terms

Khan Murtasim Khan was no fool. He had a reputation as shrewd among his business colleagues. And he was a man who took no nonsense. As he stood in front of the woman he was supposed to marry ten minutes ago-the woman who had publicly refused to marry him- the woman who had handed him a contract saying he would have no rights to intimacy- the woman who in her striking red wedding jora was taking his breath away- his mind wheels started turning.

He eyed her beautiful face hungrily- her eyes sparkling and her lips that he had made plans to kiss tonight- and then back to the paper in his hand.

" Yes, take your time, Murtasim. It's not like you have hundreds of guests to answer to "Meerab said snidely.

Her eyes were fixed on him, almost daring him to sign it. But there was a tiny part of her which was apprehensive - and a flicker of her eyes gave away that- and Murtasim picked on it.

Yeh saja hai tumhari mujhe shaadi kareneki

He chuckled " I won't sign it”

Meerab's eyes widened. She had not expected that. She thought he has too much pride to accept a runaway bride.

" Soch lo.. imagine the utter humiliation that you and Ma Begum has to face when this nikaah doesn't happen. Will your pride be able to take it? The disrepute to your family name?" She demanded, obstinately wishing to crush his pride

This family's pride who had just played with her as a pawn. To her utter surprise he looked relaxed.

He folded his arms and eyed her speculatively " Tum soch lo..What would you gain from such a contract anyway? "

She glared at him " Sab kuch.."

He shrugged " It's a good thing you weren't allowed to study law for you would make a terrible lawyer"

Meerab's fists clenched at the mention of her dream, her lips quivered. She took a deep breath to control her tears and Murtasim felt her pain- the pain of not being what she wanted to be, of having the life you want snatched away cruelly and to live a life you never wanted- he knew this pain too well. " at least I am not a terrible human being" she managed to edge out.

" I am not terrible"

“Using someone's weakness to make them feel horrible is the mark of a terrible person" she said glaring at him

He arched his eyebrow " And what are you doing? Tumne is nikah le liya Haan kaha- manipulated me into saying yes- and now are holding public humiliation as a threat over my head to back me in a corner- to threaten me with a runaway bride if I don't give in to your unreasonable demands and settle for a non- marriage?" ( you said yes to this marriage)

Meerab stared at him in silence and he took a moment to appreciate her beautiful eyes sparkling in anger. Did she always have such pretty eyes? Such flushed creamy skin?

" I was backed into a corner too, Murtasim. I had no choice but to agree..."

He smirked " And what makes you think you have a choice now? Agar main yeh contract sign na karu- which I won't- what will you do?" ( if I don't sign this contract -)

“I will not marry you. Yeh nikah nahin hoga.. " she said triumphantly " tumhare khandaan Ki badnaami hogi" ( This wedding won't happen. Your family will be dishonored" )

He nodded casually " Yes . Lekin tumhara Kya hoga? How do you think you can live with us , among us after pulling this stunt? And if we aren't supporting you , then who will? Will Daddy's princess be able to make a living by her own? Do you think we would allow Meerab Anwar Khan to tarnish our image by gallivanting in hostels and working to get by?" ( Yes, but what will happen to you)

There was no way she could escape being part of this family and she knew it. That is why he had believed her reasoning for marrying him because they made absolute sense. And if she had only come to him and asked for time before they consummated,he would have given it without hesitation. Instead she had chosen to manipulate him and back him into a corner? He was his mother's sher beta and you don't back a lion into a corner unless you want to get bitten.

She shook her head slightly, her eyes darting and he sat down on the couch contemplating her " You haven't thought that far? You thought you would successfully make a fool out of me- and get what you want- on the basis on this contract.." he eyed the contract in his hand

" Lawyer banna chahti ho na? What is the legal value of this contract, Meerab Khan?" He asked watching her color rise and led his eyes slid down her form " Does it trump my Sharia right to have you as many times as I want?" ( You want to be a lawyer, right)

His voice had turned husky by the end of the sentence and Meerab flushed hating the way he was eyeing her body like she was a piece of meat- for all his faults he had never ever looked indecently at her before- this was a Murtasim she hadn't dealt with before. She folded her arms trying to protect herself from his hungry gaze.

He smirked " agar contract banana hi tha- kuch dhang ka bana leti- a proper contract which has legal value and valid terms and conditions which make this marriage bearable" ( if you had to make a contract- at least make a good one)

Meerab stomped her foot " There's nothing that can make this marriage bearable "

"Not even the chance to fulfill your dream?" He suggested almost lazily.”

Meerab froze mid tantrum " You will let me study law?"

He shrugged " With certain conditions"

Meerab shook her head " No. You are lying."

" How about we make a contract?" He quipped and Meerab felt like slapping him

" You just told me this contract has no legal value" she snapped at him.

“ Oh yes but our nikah nama does. " he said mockingly " Did our lawyer saheba know that Islam allows the bride to ask for particular guarantees in the marriage contract? In fact, clause 20 allows bride to ask for guarantees and allowances such as the right to pursue her professional career or education. " he stopped and look at her almost patronizingly "But of course you knew that, being as educated as you are"

Her eyes narrowed " Your family will never agree"

“That is my problem, not yours" he said smoothly

Meerab faltered. Here was a chance to finally achieve what she had dreamt of for years, to finally control one aspect of her life, to be who she wanted to be - the dream which was snatched so cruelly from her- right before they snatched her identity from her. She didn't know who she was- but she knew who she wanted - a lawyer

And if she was honest with herself, she knew it was the only way to achieve it. There was no way that the Khan family would allow her to run away from this marriage and live in Karachi to pursue her dream. They will drag her back and then she would have to live with the people who she had humiliated and who would make her everyday life awful. She had drafted her contract in sheer desperation; for a last resort way to get out if the abuse got severe. But now she felt silly; her contract had no legal value and if Murtasim had signed it and then taken her against her will, she could have done nothing.

She eyed him contemplatively and began " I want a home- an apartment in my name- my name only." An asset, a security , a home so that she would never be homeless

" Look who's brain just kicked back in" he said mockingly

" and I want the right to study law.. " she continued ignoring his insolence

He nodded " In Hyderabad. Mariyam's college has a legal department- you can enroll there"

She opened her mouth to argue to continue in Karachi but shut it. He watched her with interest almost expecting a disagreement. But when she shut herself up, he laughed " Good to see you aren't as stupid as you usually act." He straightened up " Now for my terms- you will get over this need for revenge and never humiliate this family"

She glared at him but didn't say anything

" qubool hai? " he asked seriously ( Do you accept?)

She nodded.

He stood there for a while contemplating his next words but then began " Don't imagine me to be someone that I am not. I am a selfish being, prone to arranging all matters to suit myself. I shall not play the part of a romantic hero who does not exert his marital rights while hoping and praying to earn his wife's love." He said eyeing her reaction

" Don't worry, never in a million years would I imagine you as a hero " she snapped

“Good, because the moment we are alone after the Nikah, I will claim all of my marital rights. I am a man of strong desires, and I will play them out with you." He stopped watching her eyes flit down automatically. “Do you understand the marital rights I speak of?

Meerab nodded and colored. She had no illusions about what could take place between a man and a woman, but of course had no real notion of how it would feel to be the object of those attentions.

Murtasim stared at her then, his eyes licking at her lips, neck, breasts and then sweeping lower, as if he could see what lay below, beneath the many layers of garments

." You will not deny me, Meerab. You must never deny my rights as your husband- even if you never grow to desire me."

She didn't know how to reply to that.

“Yeh saja hai tumhari mujhe shaadi kareneki"

And with that he was gone even as she looked up in shock.