When Dreams meet Destiny

Chapter 3: The Unexpected Connection

The night after their chance encounter at Madras Café, Yahya lay in his room, the ceiling light casting a soft glow on his thoughtful face. Despite the day's activities, his mind was restless. He tried to convince himself that meeting Maryam was just another day, another interaction. Yet, the impression she left was anything but ordinary. There was a magnetism about her, a presence that made it difficult for Yahya to simply move on.

As he tossed and turned, his curiosity got the better of him. He sat up and grabbed his phone, determined to learn more about Maryam. His search began with Instagram, where he stumbled upon her business account—a graphic design portfolio that spoke of her talent and creativity. The work was impressive, and Yahya found himself even more intrigued.

Scrolling through her followers, he noticed an account belonging to her brother. Yahya knew that connecting with him could be a way to get closer to Maryam. He followed the account, hoping it would lead him to more information about her. His own account, verified and well-curated due to his successful architectural firm, was a stark contrast to Maryam's more personal profile.

Across town, Maryam was having a different kind of night. Her room was a flurry of activity as she recounted the day's events to her cousins, who had gathered around her with curiosity and excitement. They listened with rapt attention as Maryam animatedly described her encounter with Yahya.

"He was so polite, and there was something about him," Maryam said, her eyes sparkling with the excitement of her storytelling. "He knew my father and was so respectful when he realized I was uncomfortable. He moved to another table without a fuss."

Her cousins exchanged knowing glances. "You sound like you've already created a whole story about him," one of them teased.

Maryam giggled, nodding. "I can't help it. It's like he's the hero of a romantic tale. I've never met someone who made such an impression on me so quickly."

In the privacy of her room, Maryam's imagination took flight. She envisioned a scenario where Yahya, moved by their brief interaction, would go to great lengths to know her better. She imagined him reaching out, expressing his interest in a way that was both respectful and romantic. It wasn't that she had any concrete expectations, but the thrill of imagining such possibilities was intoxicating.

As she shared her thoughts and fantasies with her cousins, she made up stories about Yahya being the perfect match—someone who was respectful of her values and traditions, someone who would understand her deeply and cherish her for who she was.
---

A few days later, Maryam was sitting in the living room with her family. The air was filled with the usual chatter, the comforting noise of home. She was half-listening to the conversation, her mind still lingering on her encounter with Yahya at the café.

Suddenly, her brother Abdul Rehman mentioned something that caught her full attention. "So, Baba," he began, "I got a message from Yahya Merchant the other day. He mentioned that he had worked with you before."

Maryam's eyes went wide, her heart skipping a beat. Yahya had messaged her brother? The realization hit her like a wave. He was reaching out, trying to build a connection with her family. Could it be because of her?

Her father nodded thoughtfully, "Yes, Yahya is a bright young man. We worked together on a few projects. It's good to hear from him."

Maryam tried to keep her expression neutral, but her mind was racing. *Is he doing this for me?* she wondered. The idea that Yahya was making an effort to bond with her family made her heart flutter with excitement. She felt as if she was in the middle of one of her daydreams, where the man of her dreams took an interest in her life.

Later that evening, she couldn't hold back her excitement and told her sisters about it. They were gathered in their shared bedroom, getting ready for bed, when she brought it up.

"Guess what?" Maryam said, her voice barely containing her excitement. "Yahya messaged Abdul Rehman today."

Her sisters looked up, curious but not fully understanding the significance. "So?" one of them asked, raising an eyebrow.

"So?" Maryam echoed, her voice incredulous. "Don't you see? He's trying to make connections with our family. I think he's doing it because of me!"

Her sisters exchanged glances, clearly amused. "Maryam, you're reading too much into this," one of them said with a teasing smile. "Maybe he's just being polite. You know, networking and all."

But Maryam was unconvinced. "No, I'm serious. Why else would he message Abdul Rehman out of the blue? I think... I think he's interested."

Her sisters laughed softly, shaking their heads. "You and your stories," another sister chimed in. "You're always making things up in your head. It's probably nothing, Maryam."

But Maryam couldn't shake the feeling. She knew her sisters thought she was being delusional, but deep down, she believed that there was something more to Yahya's actions. She couldn't help but replay the events in her mind, imagining all the possibilities. Her heart was already running ahead, spinning stories of what could be.

As she lay in bed that night, staring up at the ceiling, she couldn't stop thinking about Yahya. Whether her sisters believed her or not, she felt a connection, something she couldn't quite explain. And for now, that was enough to keep her hopes alive.