Hearts Anointed

5

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As Salman's heart pounded in his chest, he debated with himself. He wasn't sure what he would say, or how he would even begin the conversation. The last thing he wanted was for her to sense the turmoil churning inside him—especially not here, amid a celebration. But the pull was undeniable.

"You good?" Hamraz asked, noticing Salman's sudden stillness.

"Yeah," Salman responded, but his voice was distant. "I'll be right back."

Without waiting for a reply, he began weaving his way through the crowd, his eyes never leaving Fayrouz. She was now standing near one of the tall floral centerpieces, engaged in conversation with an older woman. The gentle smile on her lips, and the slight tilt of her head as she listened, only heightened her quiet elegance.

Salman approached slowly, careful not to draw attention to himself. His mind raced, trying to form the right words, something that wouldn't sound too forced. As he neared her, the older woman excused herself, leaving Fayrouz standing alone for a brief moment.

"Dr. Fayrouz," he called out softly, just loud enough for her to hear over the gentle murmur of the crowd and the soft jazz music.

She turned at the sound of her name, and for a split second, her expression shifted from surprise to recognition. Her eyes met his, a flash of something unspoken passing between them before her lips curled into a soft smile.

"Mr Salman," she greeted, her voice calm, though there was a hint of curiosity in her tone. "I didn't expect to see you here."

He let out a small chuckle, trying to ease his nerves. "Yeah, me neither. I didn't know you knew Adnan."

"I don't, not personally. The bride is an old friend of mine" Fayrouz adjusted her hijab slightly, her eyes scanning the room briefly before settling back on him. "But it's nice to see a familiar face."

Salman nodded, feeling the tension in his chest ease just a little. There was something about her presence that always grounded him, even when everything else felt chaotic.

"You look... incredible," he said, the words slipping out before he could stop them. "The dress, I mean. It's—"

"Thank you." She smiled warmly, a hint of a blush coloring her cheeks. "You clean up pretty well yourself."

He glanced down at his suit, a sheepish grin tugging at his lips. "I try."

For a moment, the two stood in a comfortable silence, the sounds of the wedding around them fading into the background. Salman felt an overwhelming urge to ask her about yesterday, about the conversation that had left him feeling so unsettled, but he stopped himself. This wasn't the time or place.

"How have you been?" Fayrouz asked, breaking the silence.

"I've been..." Salman hesitated, searching for the right words. He didn't want to lie, but he also didn't want to burden her with his thoughts, not here. "Busy. Work's been... you know how it is."

She nodded, her eyes studying him for a moment as if sensing there was more beneath the surface. "I understand. Life tends to do that—keep us busy."

There was a depth to her words, something unspoken that hung between them. Salman swallowed, feeling the weight of yesterday's session pressing against him again.

"About yesterday—" he began, his voice lower now, almost hesitant.

Fayrouz held his gaze, her expression softening. "You don't have to talk about it now if you're not ready."

Her understanding caught him off guard, and for a moment, he didn't know how to respond. He exhaled, his shoulders relaxing slightly.

"Thanks," he murmured, grateful for her kindness. "It's just... been a lot to process."