When Dreams meet Destiny

Chapter 28 : Freezing Moments and Warm Glances

                      DISCLAIMER!!!
If you want to JUDGE please don't read.
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It was almost 2 a.m. when Maryam and Yahya finally reached their hotel. Their flight had landed in Srinagar amidst a gentle snowfall, and now they were in Gulmarg, staying at the luxurious Khyber Himalayan Resort. Despite their exhaustion, the beauty of the property was undeniable. The snow-covered landscape and the serene quietness of the night made it feel magical, even as their tired bodies longed for sleep.

As they waited at the reception for their room keys, Maryam couldn't resist the allure of the snow. "Can we go outside for a few minutes?" she asked softly, her excitement momentarily overriding her fatigue. Yahya glanced at her with amusement but nodded.

The biting cold hit them the moment they stepped outside. The temperature was well below freezing, and Maryam immediately regretted her decision. She hugged herself tightly, her teeth chattering. Yahya chuckled at her plight, his laughter warm and full of life.

Maryam narrowed her eyes and mimicked his laugh dramatically, pretending to be annoyed. Yahya, still grinning, stepped closer and pulled her into a hug. His arms wrapped securely around her, and his voice softened as he whispered, "Are you warm now?"

Her cheeks flushed, but she nodded. The warmth of his embrace was more comforting than she wanted to admit. A few moments later, they returned inside, collected their keys, and collapsed into bed, too tired to speak.

The next morning, Maryam woke up at 9:30 a.m., her body naturally attuned to early mornings whenever she traveled. Yahya was still fast asleep, his steady breathing filling the room. She got out of bed quietly, freshened up, and slipped on her jacket. Grabbing a steaming cup of coffee from the in-room service, she stepped out onto the balcony.

The view took her breath away. The pine trees stood tall, their branches weighed down by layers of snow. The mountains in the distance glistened under the morning sun. Snow blanketed everything, creating a pristine white wonderland. Maryam hugged herself as she stood there, taking slow sips of her coffee, letting the tranquility of the scene envelop her.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice Yahya approaching until he back-hugged her. His arms snaked around her, pulling her gently into his warmth as he tucked her inside his jacket. He pressed a soft kiss to her head and rested his chin on her shoulder.

Maryam smiled, the gesture so natural and comforting that she hesitated to speak. She tilted her head slightly to glance at him and asked, "Aren't you hungry?"

Yahya, his voice still husky from sleep, murmured, "Hmm," his tone vibrating against her ear. The sound sent a flurry of butterflies through her stomach. She bit her lip and tried to turn around, but his hold was too strong.

"Yahya," she said, laughing nervously, "Let's go eat breakfast. I'm starving."

Still resting his head on hers, he replied lazily, "Hmm," as though he wanted to stay like that forever. His reluctance was endearing, and Maryam felt her cheeks heat up again.

Finally, she turned to face him, his arms falling to his sides. "Come on," she said, tugging at his hand, "Let's go eat."

Yahya smirked and teased, "You're so unromantic, Maryam. You just ruined a perfect scene."

She rolled her eyes and brushed off his comment, pulling him back inside. "It's freezing out there," she said, closing the balcony door.

Yahya leaned casually against the wall, his eyes twinkling. "You're enough to make the temperature rise, though."

Maryam burst into laughter. "Really, Yahya? Your flirting skills are getting worse by the day."

Chuckling, Yahya let her drag him toward the closet. "Fine, fine," he said. "I'll get ready."