When Dreams meet Destiny

Chapter 9 : Shadows of Doubt

That night, Maryam found herself reaching for her journal, something she hadn't done in a long time. The familiar comfort of the blank pages welcomed her as she uncapped her pen, her heart brimming with emotions that needed an outlet.

For the first time in what felt like forever, she was writing about happiness, about the warmth that Yahya had brought into her life. She smiled as she recalled the way Yahya had snapped his fingers in front of her, teasing her out of her daze. The memory of how he looked at her, his gaze warm and intense, made her heart flutter. And when he had said, "Maybe to see you," she could feel herself melting inside. She poured her feelings onto the pages, confessing how she was slowly, but surely, falling for him. With every rose, every thoughtful gesture, Yahya was carving out a place in her heart—a place that was entirely his.

Maryam wrote about the sense of security she felt, the blessing of finding someone who seemed to be hers and hers alone. For the first time, the future didn't seem so uncertain; instead, it shimmered with the promise of love and companionship. As she closed her journal, Maryam smiled, knowing that this was just the beginning of a beautiful journey with Yahya, one that she was eager to embrace with her whole heart.
———
Maryam sat on the edge of her bed, the exhaustion of the day weighing heavily on her shoulders. The preparations for the Nikah had been overwhelming, and with only two days left, she was finally granted a moment of peace. She grabbed her phone, eager to disconnect from the chaos around her, and began scrolling through her social media feeds. The vibrant images and congratulatory messages from friends and family filled her screen, bringing a small smile to her face.

Just as she was about to put her phone down, a WhatsApp notification popped up, catching her attention. The message was from an unknown number. Curiosity piqued, she opened it and found a message from a girl named Alina. The message was simple: "Congratulations on your engagement, Maryam. My name is Alina, and I thought you should know some things."

Maryam hesitated for a moment, her heart skipping a beat. "Who is this Alina?"she wondered. The name didn't ring any bells, but out of politeness, she replied with a brief, "Thank you."

But Alina wasn't done. The next message came almost immediately, and this time, it was much longer. "I was Yahya's best friend,"it began. "We were like family, you know? We grew up together, and everyone thought we were meant to be. We were more than friends; we had feelings for each other. But due to some misunderstandings between our families, we haven't spoken in three years."

Maryam's breath caught in her throat. Why is she telling me this?she thought, her pulse quickening. The message continued, painting a picture of a close, intimate relationship that Yahya had never mentioned. Alina was relentless, driving the point home: "Yahya was madly in love with me. We broke up because of the family issues, but he's not over it. He's only marrying you because of your father's wealth. He's doing it for money, Maryam, not love."

Maryam's hand shook slightly as she read the words on the screen. This can't be true...Her thoughts raced, but she forced herself to remain calm, to push aside the wave of emotions threatening to drown her. She didn't want to show this stranger the turmoil building within her.

Why is she telling me this?she typed back, trying to keep her response measured. *Why are you saying all this to me?

Alina's reply was swift, almost as if she had anticipated the question. "I thought you should know the truth before it's too late. You're about to marry him, after all."

A cold anger began to rise within Maryam, mingled with the fear and doubt that had started to creep into her heart. She was not someone who easily entertained negativity, and she certainly wasn't going to let someone she didn't even know plant seeds of doubt in her mind. Taking a deep breath, she responded with a firmness she didn't quite feel: "I'm sorry, but I'm least interested in his past. I don't want to know about it because I'm sure that I am his present and future. Yahya's past doesn't concern me."

There was a long pause on the other end, and for a moment, Maryam wondered if she had gone too far. But when Alina didn't reply, she put down her phone with trembling hands, her mind spinning. The conversation had shaken her more than she wanted to admit. She had managed to fend off Alina's words, but the seeds of doubt had already been sown.

That night, as Maryam lay in bed, the darkness closed in around her, and all her insecurities rose to the surface. Could it be true? Could Yahya really be marrying her for money? Was she just fooling herself, thinking that someone could truly love her for who she was?The doubts gnawed at her, feeding off her deepest fears.

She tossed and turned, unable to sleep as her mind replayed Alina's words over and over. The thought of Yahya being in love with someone else, of her being just a pawn in some scheme, was too much to bear. Tears welled up in her eyes, and before she knew it, she was crying—silent, heart-wrenching sobs that seemed to come from the depths of her soul.

What if it's true? she thought, the pain in her chest growing. What if no one ever really loves me? She had always struggled with these insecurities, but tonight they felt like they were crushing her, pulling her into a dark place she didn't know how to escape.

As the hours dragged on, her tears eventually dried up, but the pain remained. She felt vulnerable, exposed, and utterly alone. The joy and excitement she had felt about her upcoming Nikah were now overshadowed by fear and uncertainty.

In the silence of the night, Maryam prayed. She asked Allah for guidance, for strength to face whatever was to come. But deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something that could change everything.