When Dreams meet Destiny

Chapter 22:Tales of the Past and Promises of the Future

Later that evening, as Maryam slipped off her heels and settled onto her bed, the events of the wedding replayed in her mind. The house was quiet now, the echoes of laughter and celebration finally fading into the night. She let out a sigh of exhaustion mixed with contentment, sinking into the comfort of her soft pillows.

As she lay there, staring at the ceiling, a smile slowly crept onto her lips. Her thoughts wandered back to the unexpected, heart-fluttering moment with Yahya.

It was right after she had greeted his mother and sister, lost in cheerful conversation. Her phone had buzzed, and there it was—a message from Yahya.

"Ek ladki ko dekha toh aisa laga..." it read, followed by a candid photo of her laughing with his family.

Maryam had been caught off guard, her eyes widening with surprise. The warmth that filled her chest was undeniable as she scanned the crowded wedding hall, trying to find him. She remembered how her heart had raced, her eyes darting around, looking for a hint of where he might be.

And then she saw him.

Yahya was standing on the first floor, by the large window, looking down at her. The dim glow from the chandeliers above cast a soft light on his features, making him appear almost dreamlike in his black kurta. He looked effortlessly handsome, as if he had stepped straight out of one of her romantic daydreams. Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, it felt like the world around them had paused.

Yahya had waved at her with a playful grin, a gesture so simple yet so full of meaning. It was as if he was telling her, I see you, and I'm here.

Maryam couldn't help but blush at the memory. She remembered how she had quickly texted him back, teasing him with her reply: "Aapko dekh kar mujhe bhi kuch kuch hota hai."

She hugged her pillow, letting out a soft giggle as she replayed his dramatic reaction in her mind, the way he had placed his hand over his heart, pretending to be struck by her words. That boy is too much, she thought, shaking her head.

But it wasn't just the teasing that made her smile now. It was the way he looked at her, the unspoken admiration in his eyes, and the ease with which he fit into her world—even from a distance. Yahya had a way of making her feel special, cherished, and most importantly, his.

As Maryam's thoughts drifted blissfully between her memories of the wedding and Yahya's playful antics, her phone suddenly rang, jolting her back to reality. It was Yahya. She couldn't help but smile as she answered the call.

"Assalamu Alaikum, Mr. Dramatic," she teased, her voice laced with amusement. "How can you be so over-the-top like that? I thought I was supposed to be the dramatic one in this relationship."

Yahya chuckled on the other end. "Walaikum Assalam, my dramatic queen," he replied, feigning innocence. "What are you even talking about, Maryam?"

"Really, Yahya?" she said, rolling her eyes. "Don't act like you don't know. That whole 'ek ladki ko dekha' scene you pulled off earlier? You keep teasing me like this."

"Guilty as charged," he admitted with a playful tone. "But hey, you enjoyed it, didn't you?"

Maryam couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head. "Alright, fine, I did. But seriously, Yahya, enough with the flirting. You promised you'd tell me more about this best friend of yours, Yasaa. I'm all ears now."

"Okay, okay, baba. I'll tell you everything," Yahya said, his voice turning more serious but still carrying that affectionate tone she loved.

"Yasaa and I go way back," he began, his tone softening with nostalgia. "We were best friends since childhood, practically grew up together. We were neighbors and even went to the same school. When we were around 19, his father suddenly announced that they were moving to London. He was supposed to do his Master's there and settle down."

Maryam listened intently, picturing a young Yahya with his friend. "But Yasaa was always adamant about coming back to India," Yahya continued. "He used to say that he would return and buy the house next to mine, and we'd be neighbors again. We had all these teenage dreams, you know? Of becoming billionaires with sports cars and bikes in our parking lots." Yahya laughed, the sound warm and genuine. "We even planned to race each other on the weekends."

Maryam smiled at the image of a young, carefree Yahya. "Sounds like you two were quite the duo," she remarked.

"Yeah, we were inseparable," Yahya admitted. "But after they moved, it felt like a piece of my life was missing. We lost touch for a while, no contact for a few years. Those were some tough times for me. I had no idea what to do with myself because we used to bunk college and hang out together all the time. But I guess it was a blessing in disguise because that's when I decided to really focus on my career."

"So, you turned all that teenage energy into building your business?" Maryam asked, impressed.

"Exactly," Yahya replied. "For a couple of years, I just put my head down and worked hard. Then, one day, out of the blue, Yasaa came back to India. He said he was opening branches of his company here and wanted to settle back in his hometown."

Maryam's eyes widened with curiosity. "So, when did you two reconnect?"

"Last week," Yahya said, the excitement clear in his voice. "He called me and said, 'Guess what? I'm getting married!' I was shocked. Marriage was the last thing on our to-do list. I mean, we were supposed to become billionaires, race cars, and then maybe think about getting married in our 40s."

Maryam raised an eyebrow, teasingly. "Oh, really? Marriage was the last thing, huh? Especially for you?"

"Until I met you," Yahya replied without missing a beat, his voice turning soft and sincere.

Maryam couldn't help but smile, feeling a warm flutter in her heart. "I see," she said, trying to sound nonchalant, but he could hear the smile in her voice.

"Anyway, back to the story," Yahya continued. "Yasaa was like, 'I'm getting married, moving next door to you, and we'll live out our billionaire dreams. And once I'm done, we'll find you a bride.' I laughed so hard and told him, 'Well, you're too late. I'm already married!'"

Maryam gasped playfully. "And what did he say to that?"

"Yasaa was in complete shock," Yahya said, laughing at the memory. "He was like, 'You're joking, right? We had a pact! I'm supposed to get married first, and then we find you a girl!' I had to convince him that it was true, that my Nikah was done but the Ruqsati was still pending."

Maryam shook her head, thoroughly amused. "Poor guy, you really blindsided him."

"Yeah, he was totally floored," Yahya admitted with a chuckle. "But he's happy for me. And honestly, seeing you today with my mom and sister... I just felt so lucky, Maryam."

Maryam's heart skipped a beat at his words. "I'm impressed, Yahya. Not just with your stories, but with how you always manage to make me feel special," she said softly.

"Good," Yahya replied with a grin she could almost hear over the phone. "Because you are special, Maryam. And I'm never going to let you forget that."

She couldn't help but blush, feeling a warmth spreading through her chest. "I miss you," she whispered, almost shyly.

"I miss you too, love," Yahya replied. "But don't worry. In a few weeks, Insha'Allah, we'll never have to say 'I miss you' again."

"Can't wait," Maryam said, her voice filled with anticipation.

"Alright, I'll let you sleep now," Yahya said gently. "We both have another busy day tomorrow. Dream of me?"

Maryam laughed softly. "Always, Yahya. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, my love," he replied, his voice a soft whisper before the call ended.

As Maryam put her phone down, she couldn't stop smiling. Her heart felt full, and her mind was filled with dreams of the future that awaited them. Insha'Allah, it was going to be a beautiful journey.