Final answer:
Maya felt a tumultuous mix of emotions upon first seeing Nurzhan, starting with desperation to make eye contact, followed by a joy that quickly turned to fear and trembling, suggesting a deeper realization.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Maya first saw Nurzhan, she experienced a complex mix of emotions that ranged from desperation to joy, and then to fear and trepidation. Her initial attempt to meet his gray eyes was marked by a desperate struggle, reflecting her intense and possibly conflicted feelings toward him. This was followed by a sudden realization that caused her joy to fade and left her feeling pale and trembling. These emotions suggest a deep-seated recognition or revelation, possibly pertaining to issues of identity, as indicated in the provided text snippets mentioning racial identity and beauty as an asset. The excerpts portray characters who undergo moments of profound personal insight or discomfort when confronted with the reality of another person, often entwined with themes of love, societal expectations, or self-realization.