When Dreams meet Destiny

Chapter 8: A thoughtful gesture

The decision had been made—Yahya and Maryam's Nikah would take place in ten days, but with conditions. Maryam's parents had set clear boundaries: no meeting alone before the Ruqsati. The date for the Ruqsati had yet to be fixed, leaving a sense of anticipation hanging in the air.

It was around 10 am when Maryam finally stirred from her deep sleep, feeling a mix of exhaustion and excitement. The night before had been a whirlwind, and Yahya's voice, still echoing in her mind, had been the soothing lullaby that put her to sleep with a smile.

After freshening up, she noticed her phone vibrating on the table. An unknown number flashed on the screen. Curious, she picked it up.

"Hello?" Maryam answered.

"Good morning, ma'am. I'm a delivery boy. I have an order for you. I'm outside your door," the voice on the other side said.

Maryam furrowed her brow in confusion. "I think you have the wrong address. I haven't ordered anything," she replied, still trying to shake off the remnants of sleep.

"Are you Maryam Qureshi?" the delivery boy asked, sounding confident.

"Yes, that's me," Maryam confirmed, her curiosity piqued.

"Then this is for you, ma'am."

Still puzzled, Maryam opened the door to find a delivery boy holding a neatly wrapped gift box. She accepted it with a polite nod, still unsure of what was going on. As she closed the door, she looked down at the box, her mind racing with possibilities.

She carefully unwrapped the package, revealing a single, delicate rose and a small note tucked inside. Her heart skipped a beat as she unfolded the note, her eyes scanning the words:

"Day one of waiting to make you officially mine"
Y❤️

A huge smile spread across Maryam's face. The thoughtfulness of the gesture made her heart flutter. Yahya had sent this. It was such a small, yet incredibly meaningful surprise. It was clear he was making an effort to show her just how much he cared, and that thought alone made her day.

Without thinking twice, Maryam took a picture of the gift, the rose, and the note, capturing the moment. She decided to share it with her family on her social media, a private story meant just for them—and Yahya. She added a caption: Someone made my day❤️, tagging Yahya in the post.

Almost instantly, her phone buzzed with a notification. Yahya Merchant had liked her story.

Maryam's smile widened as she saw his name. The gesture was simple, yet it spoke volumes about how Yahya felt. In just ten days, they would be husband and wife. The thought was overwhelming, yet moments like these made her believe that this journey, no matter how uncertain, might just turn out to be beautiful.
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Every morning had become a ritual, a charming routine that made Maryam's heart flutter—receiving a parcel from Yahya. Each day, the number of roses increased, symbolizing the days left until their nikaah. Today marked the seventh day, and Maryam couldn't help but anticipate the moment when the doorbell would ring.

Yahya had come to Kalyan for some work and had an ulterior motive—he needed Maryam's ring size but wanted to keep it a secret. So, he teamed up with her sister, Fatima, to make it happen. Fatima had agreed to leave one of Maryam's rings on the shoe rack outside the door, and Yahya planned to collect it without Maryam knowing. But Yahya, being Yahya, had another idea up his sleeve.

Maryam was having breakfast in the living room, while Fatima pretended to be engrossed in her assignments. Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and Fatima looked up.

"Maryam, can you please get that? I'm in the middle of something," Fatima asked, not even glancing up from her work.

Maryam sighed, already expecting another delivery from Yahya. "Sure," she muttered, getting up and heading toward the door.

As she opened the door, she saw a man standing with his back to her, dressed in a full-sleeve Black t-shirt, beige cargo pants, and a black cap. His posture was casual, but something about him seemed familiar.

"Excuse me?" Maryam called out, her voice uncertain.

The man turned around, and Maryam froze. It was Yahya. He looked absolutely stunning—his t-shirt perfectly highlighting his build, his scent intoxicating, and his presence overwhelming. Maryam's breath caught in her throat as she realized she had been caught checking him out. She felt a deep blush creeping up her neck, coloring her cheeks.

Yahya noticed her reaction, and with a teasing grin, he snapped his fingers in front of her face, bringing her back to reality. "Are you done?" he asked, his voice smooth, a playful smirk dancing on his lips.

Maryam's eyes widened in embarrassment. "I—uh—what are you doing here?" she stammered, trying to compose herself but failing miserably.

"Just delivering your order, ma'am," Yahya said, holding out a bouquet of seven roses, each one wrapped to perfection. He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "And maybe to see you, too."

Maryam took the bouquet, her hands slightly trembling. "Thank you," she whispered, her eyes finally meeting his. There was a warmth in his gaze that made her heart race even faster.

Before Yahya could respond, their conversation was interrupted by Maryam's mother calling from inside the house. "Maryam, who's at the door?"

Maryam quickly stepped back, holding the roses behind her back. "No one,Just another order!" she called out, trying to keep her voice steady.

Yahya's eyes twinkled with amusement. "Better go before someone catches us," he said, a hint of laughter in his tone.

Maryam nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. "Right. You should go. Bye."

"Allah hafiz, Maryam. Take care of yourself," Yahya said softly, turning to leave.

As he walked away, the scent of his cologne lingered in the doorway, leaving Maryam in a daze. She watched him until he disappeared from view, only then realizing how hard she was gripping the roses. Her heart still fluttered wildly, and she couldn't help but smile to herself, thinking about how this simple encounter had made her entire day.

With one last glance at the door, she stepped back inside, clutching the bouquet to her chest. It was going to be a long ten days, and she couldn't wait to see what Yahya had in store next.