When Dreams meet Destiny

Chapter 5: A New Beginning

Yahya sat at the dining table with his family, the familiar clatter of plates and silverware filling the room as they enjoyed dinner together. Despite the usual lively atmosphere, there was something different about Yahya tonight—something even his family couldn't ignore.

Sara, his younger sister, noticed it first. She glanced at Yahya, catching the subtle shift in his demeanor. His usual stern, reserved expression was softened by a smile that seemed to linger without reason.

"Yahya bhai," Sara teased with a playful grin, "what's going on with you today? We barely ever see you smile like this. What's the secret?"

Yahya's smile faltered slightly as he tried to brush off her comment. "It's nothing, Sara," he replied, his tone dismissive. But Sara was not one to let things go easily.

"Nothing? Come on, bhai, we know you too well for that," she insisted, leaning in closer as if trying to read his mind. Yahya ignored her probing, focusing on his meal instead.

As the family continued to enjoy their dinner, the conversation shifted to various topics—work, school, and upcoming family events. But Yahya's mother, Ruqayyah, soon steered the discussion toward a subject that had been on her mind for quite some time: Yahya's marriage.

"Yahya," his mother began, her voice gentle but filled with purpose, "have you given any more thought to what we talked about? It's time we started thinking seriously about your marriage."

Normally, Yahya would have given his usual noncommittal response, something about needing more time or focusing on his work. But tonight, something was different. For the first time, he didn't shy away from the topic.

Instead, he looked up from his plate, meeting his mother's expectant gaze. "Actually, Ammi, I've been thinking about it a lot," Yahya said, his tone steady but with a hint of excitement. "I want to send a rishta to a girl in Kalyan."

The room fell silent, as if the very air had been sucked out. Everyone at the table stared at Yahya in stunned disbelief. His mother's eyes widened with surprise and joy, while his siblings, Sara and Ibrahim, exchanged looks of pure shock.

Ruqayyah was the first to break the silence, her voice filled with a mix of happiness and curiosity. "Really, Yahya? Who is she?"

Yahya smiled slightly, his eyes reflecting a sense of calm resolve. "I'll tell you and Baba later," he replied, his voice gentle but firm. "I'm going to do istikhara tonight, and then we can discuss everything."

The room erupted into chaos as Sara and Ibrahim, still reeling from the unexpected announcement, began bombarding Yahya with questions.

"What's wrong with you, bhai? Why are you keeping us in the dark?" Sara exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement. "We want to know who our lucky bhabhi is!"

"Come on, tell us!" Ibrahim joined in, his curiosity piqued. "You can't drop a bombshell like that and leave us hanging!"

But Yahya, true to his nature, remained tight-lipped. He simply shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "Patience, both of you. All in good time," he said, his tone final.

Despite the flurry of questions and demands from his siblings, Yahya didn't reveal any more details. He was content to let the matter rest for the night, his mind already focused on the istikhara prayer he would perform later.

Meanwhile, across town, Maryam sat in her room, completely unaware of the storm of emotions brewing on the other side of the city. She was lounging on her bed, scrolling through her phone, lost in thoughts about her latest project. Little did she know that her life was about to take a turn she had never imagined.