When Dreams meet Destiny

Chapter 20: Whispers of Joy and Hidden Tensions

Maryam was tired, her feet aching after spending hours in the kitchen helping her mother prepare a lavish meal for Yahya and his family, who were arriving tonight. Little did she know, this wasn't just a casual dinner—it was something much more significant.

"Maryam, go get ready quickly! They'll be here any moment," her mother urged.

"Okay, I'm going," Maryam replied, wiping her hands on a towel before rushing upstairs.

She slipped into a stunning Pakistani dress, delicate bangles jingling as she moved. After a quick touch of makeup, she glanced at herself in the mirror, her heart fluttering. She made her way downstairs to check that everything was set perfectly when the sound of a car horn caught her attention.

Her pulse quickened. Yahya must be here.

Maryam ran to the balcony and peered down, her heart skipping a beat as she saw him parking his car in their compound. Yahya stepped out, dressed in a black shirt with his sleeves rolled up, flexing his muscles. He looked breathtakingly handsome. Their eyes locked as he closed the car door, and for a moment, the world seemed to pause. A soft smile tugged at her lips as his gaze lingered on her, a hint of amusement playing in his eyes.

Just then, Sara appeared beside Yahya, pulling him away from their moment. "Ho gaya? Let's go," she teased.

Yahya smiled, following his family upstairs.

Maryam's parents welcomed them warmly as they entered the house. Yahya's mother, Ruqayyah, exchanged pleasantries before her eyes scanned the room. "Where's my daughter-in-law?" she asked with a playful smile.

"Oh, she's coming," Maryam's mother replied. "I told her to bring water."

A moment later, Maryam entered with a tray of glasses, her heart pounding. "Salam alaikum," she greeted loudly, her voice steady despite the fluttering inside.

Ruqayyah immediately stood up to embrace her. "How are you, my dear?"

"Alhamdulillah, I'm good," Maryam replied, smiling as she hugged Sara next. But when she moved to greet Yahya, there was an awkward pause—he wanted to hug her too, but couldn't. Instead, his eyes lingered on her as they exchanged a soft, silent greeting.

After some time chatting in the living room, Fatima, Maryam's sister, broke the conversation. "Alright, Maryam, Sara, Yahya, and Ibrahim are going to have dinner upstairs. We'll let the elders eat here."

Yahya's face lit up at the idea, but as they climbed the stairs, he leaned in towards Fatima. "Now that you've brought us up here, can you give us five minutes? I want to talk to Maryam in private."

Fatima grinned mischievously. "No way, not today! Tonight, we're all eating together—no privacy."

Yahya rolled his eyes in mock frustration as they all sat down. He was seated directly across from Maryam, who decided to make the most of the situation. As Yahya chatted with her brother, she playfully nudged his leg with her foot under the table. Yahya's eyes shot up in surprise, and she smiled cheekily, enjoying the effect she had on him.

After dinner, Maryam went downstairs to serve tea to everyone. She carefully placed the tray on the table when Ruqayyah reached over, placing a piece of sweet into Maryam's mouth.

"Mabrook, Maryam!" Ruqayyah said, her voice filled with excitement.

Confused, Maryam smiled politely as others began to do the same—feeding her sweets, congratulating her. Yahya's eyes remained on her, his expression warm but thoughtful. Maryam finally realized what was happening.

"We've fixed your ruqsati date!" Ruqayyah announced happily.

Maryam's heart swelled with happiness, but she noticed Yahya seemed a little off. The excitement in the room was palpable as they all gathered around the couple, putting sweets into both Maryam and Yahya's mouths, congratulating them. But as Yahya glanced at her, there was a hint of something in his eyes—something she couldn't quite place.

Finally, Yahya's father spoke. "The date is set for December 29th."

Maryam smiled widely, her heart racing at the thought of their future. But even as she basked in the joy of the moment, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was weighing on Yahya's mind.
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Yahya drove home in silence, his jaw clenched, frustration radiating from him. His family could sense it, and finally, as they neared their house, he couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Mamma, why December?" Yahya's voice was sharp, cutting through the quiet. "I told you I wanted the date at the end of this month. Why didn't you listen?"

His mother, Ruqayyah, sighed softly. "Beta, I know, but Maryam has her exams at the end of this month, and then her family has some functions. They couldn't do it sooner."

"I want the ruqsati as soon as possible. How can they prioritize all this? Maryam can give her exams after the ruqsati." His voice was laced with irritation.

Yahya's father, who had been silent until now, frowned. "What's going on with you, Yahya? First, during the Nikah, you said you wanted the ruqsati after a year, and now you can't even wait two months?"

Yahya gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white. He was too frustrated to respond, so he stayed quiet, seething. The rest of the drive was spent in tense silence, and the moment they reached home, Yahya headed straight to his room.

Maryam had been calling him for a while now, but he kept ignoring the buzzing of his phone, worried that if he answered, his anger would spill over onto her. But her calls were persistent, one after another, until finally, he picked up.

"What's wrong, Yahya?" Maryam's voice was soft, but there was an edge of concern. "I've been calling you for so long."

Yahya sighed, trying to keep his voice steady. "Nothing, I was busy."

Maryam was quiet for a second, but she sensed something was off. "Yahya, I know something is wrong. Tell me. You were off even when they announced the ruqsati date tonight."

"Nothing, Maryam. I'm just tired," he muttered, though he knew she wouldn't be satisfied with that answer.

"Yahya, tell me. I know something is bothering you," she pressed, her voice gentle but firm.

His frustration finally bubbled over. "Yes, something is wrong! The ruqsati date! I wanted it at the end of this month, but now it's after two months. More than two months! And I don't understand why."

Maryam was stunned for a moment, then quietly asked, "Why do you want it so urgently now? Before, you said you wanted it after a year. What's changed?"

Yahya's voice rose again. "I'm telling you, Maryam, tell them all not to test my patience. If I lose it, you'll be here with me tomorrow. You're already my wife! I don't need anyone's permission to bring you here."

Maryam was silent for a beat, taking in his words. Then, in a calm voice, she said, "Yahya, cool down. You're making this a bigger issue than it needs to be. It's just two months. Only two months."

"It's more than two months, Maryam," Yahya replied, but the edge in his voice was softening.

"Still, Yahya, it's not that long. We've already waited, haven't we? What's a couple more months? And I have my exams, you know that. We've come this far with patience. Just a little longer, and everything will fall into place."

Yahya sighed deeply. He was still frustrated, but her calmness was starting to work its magic on him. "It's just... I don't want to wait anymore. I want you with me."

Maryam smiled softly, her voice gentle. "I want to be with you too, Yahya. And we will be, soon. But for now, just a little patience, okay?"

He exhaled, the tension slowly leaving his body. "Okay. I'm sorry, Maryam. I didn't mean to take it out on you."

"It's alright. I understand," she said soothingly. "But no more angry outbursts, okay?"

Yahya chuckled slightly, feeling lighter. "I'll try."

"Good," Maryam replied with a smile he could hear in her voice. "Now get some rest."

"Yeah, you too," Yahya said, finally feeling the frustration ebb away as their conversation ended.