When Dreams meet Destiny

Chapter 4: Destiny's Design

It had been more than a week since Yahya's chance encounter with Maryam at the café. Both had become consumed by their respective lives—Yahya with his demanding work schedule and Maryam with her projects. The memory of their meeting had faded into the background, tucked away in the recesses of their minds. It seemed as though it was just another fleeting moment, nothing more.

But destiny had other plans.

One afternoon, Yahya was sitting in a café, fresh from a meeting, enjoying a quiet moment with a cup of coffee. He absentmindedly scrolled through Instagram, catching up on updates from friends and colleagues. As he flicked through stories, one in particular caught his eye—Abdul Rehman's. The story was tagged at the very café where Yahya was sitting. Curious, he looked around the room, and sure enough, he spotted Abdul Rehman sitting with a group of friends at a nearby table.

Yahya smiled to himself and decided to approach. He walked over to Abdul Rehman's table, his presence catching the attention of the group.

"Hey, Abdul Rehman," Yahya greeted, his tone warm and friendly.

Abdul Rehman looked up, surprised but pleased to see Yahya. "Yahya! What a coincidence. How are you?"

"I'm good, just finished a meeting here," Yahya replied, gesturing to his coffee. They exchanged a few pleasantries, nothing too significant, but it was enough to solidify the connection they had begun to build.

As the days passed, Abdul Rehman, who was gradually taking on more responsibilities in his father's business, began discussing potential projects with his father, Farooq Qureshi. One evening, as they sat together, Abdul Rehman brought up the idea of awarding the Bandra project to Yahya.

"I've been thinking, Baba," Abdul Rehman said thoughtfully. "Why not give the Bandra project to Yahya? His work is top-notch."

Farooq looked skeptical. "I know his work is good, but his rates are a bit high. We have to be mindful of the budget."

Abdul Rehman leaned forward, his eyes earnest. "I understand that, but Yahya's quality is unmatched. He's worth the investment. We need someone reliable for this project, and I believe he's the right person."

After much discussion, Farooq finally agreed, swayed by his son's confidence in Yahya. "Alright, let's give him a chance," he conceded. "But we'll keep a close eye on the expenses."

A few months later, Yahya found himself at the Qureshi residence, sitting in the living room with Abdul Rehman and Farooq. They were deep in discussion about the Bandra project, going over the finer details and expectations. The atmosphere was professional, with the three men focused on the task at hand.

Just as Yahya was explaining a particular design element, there was a soft knock on the door. Instinctively, he turned toward the sound, his voice trailing off as he saw who entered the room. It was Maryam, holding a tray of tea cups.

For a moment, Yahya's professional demeanor slipped. He was pleasantly surprised, his heart skipping a beat at the sight of her. She looked equally surprised to see him there, a mix of emotions flashing across her face.

Maryam's father, Farooq, noticed the subtle change in Yahya's expression, the way his eyes lingered on Maryam for just a second too long. There was something in that glance that made Farooq's protective instincts flare up.

Maryam, aware of her father's presence and Yahya's gaze, quickly composed herself. She placed the tray on the table, offering a polite smile before excusing herself from the room. As she walked away, Yahya's eyes followed her until she disappeared from view.

Farooq cleared his throat, a subtle reminder that they were in the middle of a business meeting. Yahya snapped back to the present, returning his focus to the conversation, though a part of his mind still lingered on Maryam's brief appearance.

The rest of the meeting continued without incident, but the encounter left an impression on everyone in the room. Yahya couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of interest in Maryam, and Farooq made a mental note to keep a closer watch on this young man who seemed to be paying a little too much attention to his daughter.

As Yahya left the Qureshi house that evening, his thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions. He had come there for business, but it seemed fate had woven a different thread into the fabric of his life. Whether it was destiny or mere coincidence, one thing was clear: Maryam was no longer just a fleeting memory from a café encounter. She was becoming someone he couldn't stop thinking about.