Hidden bonds of love

39.

He gazed at her with that same affectionate smile, brimming with happiness.

"I'm absolutely speechless right now, Suraj. What's going on?" Maryam asked, her confusion evident.

"Exactly what your friends promised – a surprise," Suraj replied, his smile unwavering.

"You're the last person I expected to see right now. I'm so taken aback," Maryam admitted.

The girls were all laughing and excited. "Suraj reserved this entire section of the restaurant just for you two. We'll be waiting in the other part. Enjoy your date; we'll be keeping an eye on you," Najiba whispered to Maryam.

"A date?" Maryam repeated, her voice filled with surprise. The girls left her there, and Suraj gestured for her to take a seat. She walked over gingerly, her shyness palpable, and a faint smile lingered on her lips.

"Your eyes are exceptionally bright today," Suraj observed.

Maryam smiled, still feeling somewhat self-conscious. She didn't quite know how to behave, and he noticed but patiently waited for her response. "Oh, my eyes. They do this whenever I'm really nervous," Maryam confessed awkwardly.

"I've never seen someone's eyes go so white from nerves before. It makes you unique," Suraj commented, his tone affectionate. Maryam responded with a shy smile.

As they placed their orders, their food arrived at the table.

"So, you sent your people to our house without telling me," Maryam said, her shyness still apparent.

Suraj looked at her and replied, "I was just trying to do the right thing. Plus, I sent you a message on WhatsApp, but you didn't respond."

"I hadn't been online for a while. I didn't even notice," Maryam explained before taking a sip from her drink.

A solemn silence hung in the air for several minutes.

"A few days before Ahmad passed away, he approached me. I didn't even know him, and I had no idea how he knew about me," Suraj began, exhaling deeply as he continued. "He asked me to look after you, to ensure your happiness, and to always be there for you. He wanted me to promise him that I would take care of you. It's a mystery to me how he knew about my feelings for you, but he even said that if we didn't end up together, I should still be like a brother to you—a brother who would love and protect you. I won't share all the details of our conversation right now." Suraj said.

Maryam simply gazed at him, her emotions welling up inside her.

"Seeing you that day when Ahmad had that accident made me realize the profound love you both shared," Suraj continued with a calm voice, his eyes locked on Maryam. "Then I remembered how he spoke of what he called 'hidden love' for you, regretting not having confessed his feelings and wished he had asked you to be his wife."

Tears finally streamed down Maryam's cheeks, and she wiped them away. A heavy silence filled the space. Her focus remained fixed on the table, and it pained Suraj to witness her tears.

"You know, Yaya Ahmad meant everything to me, and I can't help but feel responsible for his death," Maryam confessed. "I shouldn't have left him. I left without saying a word. He had been an incredibly caring brother to me, always protecting me, doing anything to make me happy. He'd even buy my favorite snacks just to see me smile. And when everyone else turned against me, he was the one who stood by my side. What I gave him in return was nothing but pain."

"Maryam, please don't blame yourself," Suraj comforted her. Maryam hesitated before responding, her voice filled with guilt. "I can't help it, Suraj. The doctor said Ahmad's heart disease developed during the time I was missing, so I can't help but feel responsible for his condition." She had stopped crying by now, and a moment of silence followed.

"I'm sorry; I brought you here with the intention of cheering you up, and I also thought discussing this topic might bring you some comfort," Suraj admitted.

Maryam managed a brave smile, trying to conceal her pain. "Honestly, I appreciate that you told me. Sharing everything with you has made me feel better. Thank you."

Suraj returned her smile as he picked up a spoon. "By the way, I love the scent of the perfume you put on the sweater you returned to me the other day," he complimented her with a charming smile, causing Maryam to blush, her cheeks turning a rosy shade.

They ate their meal gently, and after they finished, they engaged in light conversation. Maryam couldn't help but ask, "Why did you reserve this entire place just for me?"

Suraj replied, "I thought you'd appreciate the privacy, and your friends also suggested it. You're lucky to have such caring friends; you guys must share genuine connections."

Maryam's smile radiated as she glanced over at Valerie and the others seated nearby. Suraj found her smile irresistibly endearing, deepening his affection for her. When he looked at her and asked a silent question with his eyes, she nodded in agreement. They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, during which Suraj checked the time on his phone. Maryam was lost in her thoughts, feeling an overwhelming sense of tranquility and happiness as she gazed at him. Unintentionally, she whispered, "Thank you, Aarav."

Suraj raised his head, puzzled. "Aarav?" he inquired.

"It's a name that means 'peace.' I feel at peace whenever I'm with you, and it just feels right to call you that. I hope you don't mind," Maryam explained, her voice tinged with shyness.

Suraj responded with a loving and affectionate gaze. "A lovely name from a beautiful girl. Of course, I don't mind; I like the name," he replied with a hint of romance in his voice. They exchanged smiles.

The girls joined them, expressing their gratitude to Suraj for covering their orders and for bringing a smile to Maryam's face. Valeria shared her hope for a promising and happy future, to which they all chuckled. Suraj secretly wished he could be the one to take Maryam home but restrained himself, not wanting to part from her.

Najiba asked Suraj if he enjoyed his time with Maryam. He replied, "Absolutely, and I even received a nickname from the charming lady," with a smile and a gaze directed at Maryam.

The girls were curious about the nickname, and Suraj glanced at Maryam before revealing it. "Aarav, which means peace."

Their reactions were filled with excitement and laughter. Mustabshira exclaimed, "I want to fall in love all over again."

Najiba added, "Look at you, Maryam, already giving him a name. You two look adorable together. I might find a name for Khalifa as well." Laughter filled the air.

Valerie chimed in, "Looking forward to seeing the name you come up with for Maryam, maybe on your next date."

Suraj blushed and Maryam covered her face with her hands, overwhelmed with shyness.

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