Blueprints and scalpel Dreams

Chapter 1: The Unseen Connection The ceremony hall was draped in white and gold, a blend of elegance and tradition. Soft instrumental music played in the background, mingling with the hum of conversations and occasional bursts of laughter. Alisha stood near a tall decorative pillar, her eyes scanning the crowd. As an interior designer, she couldn't help but mentally critique the arrangement—the flowers could have been spaced better, the lighting could be warmer. But her thoughts shifted when her gaze landed on him. Zain. Dressed in a crisp navy-blue suit, Zain moved through the crowd with quiet confidence. His tall frame and sharp features exuded a magnetic aura. Alisha had seen him once before, briefly, during a community health camp. He was a surgical operation technologist—someone who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to save lives. She had admired him then, but now, in this setting, he seemed even more captivating. Alisha's heart raced as she watched him greet an elderly couple with a kind smile. She clutched the glass of juice in her hand, trying to suppress the growing admiration bubbling within her. It was ridiculous, she told herself, to feel this way about someone who didn’t even know her name. Her best friend, Riya, nudged her. "Why are you standing here like a statue? Go talk to someone!" Alisha smiled nervously, trying to mask her distraction. "I'm just...observing. The decor is lovely, don't you think?" Riya rolled her eyes. "The decor? Alisha, you're hopeless. Come on, mingle!" But Alisha barely heard her. Zain had moved closer, standing just a few feet away now. She could hear his deep, soothing voice as he spoke to someone about a recent surgery he had assisted in. Words like "precision," "emergency," and "sterilization" floated in the air, alien yet intriguing. Alisha wondered what it would be like to talk to him. To hear that voice addressing her. But instead of making a move, she stayed rooted to the spot, content to admire him from a distance. By the end of the ceremony, she knew one thing for sure—her feelings for Zain were more than a passing crush. They were the beginnings of something profound, something she wasn’t ready to admit to anyone, not even herself. Chapter 2: The Silent Spark The days after the ceremony were a whirlwind for Alisha. Between meetings with clients and overseeing the final touches on a hotel lobby she had designed, she kept replaying the moments she had stolen glances at Zain. She scolded herself for being foolish. What was the point of admiring someone who barely knew she existed? Yet, as she scrolled through her phone one evening, her heart skipped a beat. A notification popped up—Zain had accepted her follow request on social media. For a moment, she froze, staring at her screen. She had impulsively sent the request the night after the ceremony, thinking it wouldn’t matter if he accepted or ignored it. But now that he had, her mind raced with possibilities. What should I do? Should I message him? What would I even say? She decided against it. Instead, she spent the next week quietly observing his posts—a mix of medical updates, scenic photos of his rare days off, and the occasional sarcastic comment about life as a surgical technologist. His world fascinated her, so different from hers, yet somehow it felt familiar. --- Zain, meanwhile, noticed Alisha's quiet presence online. Her profile was a blend of vibrant interior designs and candid moments with friends. There was an artistic charm to her posts, each one reflecting a keen eye for detail. One evening, as he sat in his small apartment, recovering from a long shift in the operation theatre, he found himself lingering on her profile. She wasn’t like the others he had met—her simplicity stood out, and there was something about her smile in those pictures that felt warm, almost inviting. Without overthinking, he decided to send a message. --- Alisha's phone buzzed late at night as she reviewed color swatches for a new project. Her heart raced when she saw the notification: Zain: "Hey, Alisha. Your designs are amazing. Do you take up small personal projects?" Her fingers trembled as she typed back. Alisha: "Hi, Zain. Thank you! It depends on the project. What do you have in mind?" The conversation flowed easily from there. Zain explained that he wanted to revamp his small home workspace, something functional but aesthetically pleasing. Alisha eagerly offered her help, trying to keep her excitement in check. --- Days turned into weeks as they exchanged ideas and met to discuss the project. Alisha found herself looking forward to these moments more than she cared to admit. Zain was not just kind and intelligent; he also had an unexpected sense of humor that often caught her off guard. One evening, as they finalized the designs over coffee, Zain looked up from the sketches and said, "You know, you’re really passionate about what you do. It’s inspiring." Alisha blinked, caught off guard. "Thank you. Coming from someone who saves lives, that means a lot." Zain smiled, his gaze steady. "It’s not just about saving lives. It’s about the small things too—like how a space can make someone feel at peace. That’s what you do, Alisha. You create spaces where people can breathe." For a moment, their eyes met, and Alisha felt the weight of her hidden feelings pressing against her chest. She wanted to tell him, but fear held her back. As the night ended, Zain walked her to her car. "Thanks for helping me out," he said. "This space is going to mean a lot to me." "It’s my pleasure," she replied softly, her heart aching with words left unsaid.