Scene 1: PRIME-TIME PANIC – NEWSROOMS ERUPT
Islamabad, 8:05 PM.
News studios across Pakistan were buzzing like shaken beehives. Every channel had broken into urgent transmission. Behind every anchor, the same shaky, blurred footage kept looping: smoke rising from the entrance of Islamabad International Airport, people running, sirens wailing.
The headline flashing everywhere:
"SUICIDE BLAST TARGETS PRIME MINISTER'S CONVOY – PM SAFE!"
At Capital News Channel, senior anchor Hassan Ameer leaned forward, shuffling papers with trembling fingers.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, his voice struggling to maintain composure, "you are watching exclusive footage of the blast that took place just minutes after Prime Minister Khalil Khalid Yousufi returned from Türkiye. According to initial reports, civilians have suffered casualties, and several members of the security squad are injured."
Analyst Dr. Asif Muneeb shook his head slowly.
"This is a direct attack on national security. Whoever planned this knew the timings… the route… this was not ordinary."
Another channel showed a panel shouting over each other:
"It's a failure of security!"
"No, it's a foreign-backed conspiracy!"
"This is an attempt to destabilize Pakistan after the Türkiye visit!"
In every living room across the country, families sat frozen, wondering how such an attack could happen at the country's main airport.
---
Scene 2: MARYAM'S QUIET HOME – A MOMENT BEFORE TEARS
At 8:40 PM, Maryam and her sons, Ubaid and Irfan, sat around the dining table. The dinner had grown cold long before they began eating. The tension of the day still clung to the walls of the house.
Haroon had just returned home an hour ago after giving an initial report at the ATS office. He tried to act normal, but his stiff shoulders betrayed the stress.
Ubaid poked at his rice with the spoon.
"Mama… Baba was close to the blast?"
Maryam forced a smile.
"No, beta. Allah saved your Baba. He's brave, and Allah protects brave people."
Haroon glanced at his elder son and nodded gently.
"I was safe, Ubaid. Very safe. I promise."
Irfan, the younger one, swallowed hard.
"Baba… Will the bad people come back?"
Haroon reached out, holding the boy's tiny hand in his firm, protective grip.
"No, champ. Not while your Baba is on duty."
The tension in the children softened slightly.
They continued eating in silence, but every few minutes Maryam's eyes drifted toward Haroon. She knew something was wrong. Something he was not saying.
---
Scene 3: HAROON'S DECISION – THE HOSPITAL CALL
They had barely finished dinner when Haroon's phone rang sharply.
He saw the caller ID: Inspector Jibran, one of his ATS junior officers.
Haroon answered immediately, voice sharp.
"Yes, Jibran?"
"Sir… it's Kamran. His condition is extremely critical. Doctors say the next few hours are important. His wife Aneela and daughter Zara are still outside the operation theater… alone."
Haroon closed his eyes briefly. Kamran wasn't just a team member. He was a brother in the uniform.
"I'll come right now," Haroon said.
When he hung up, Maryam looked at him softly.
"Haroon… I'm coming with you."
Before Haroon could protest, she added,
"I'm not sending you alone tonight."
He exhaled. Her voice had that firmness he couldn't argue with.
---
Scene 4: RIMSHA ARRIVES – A SISTER'S SUPPORT
At 9:10 PM, the doorbell rang.
Maryam opened the door and saw Rimsha, still in her Amana Superstore uniform scarf, her expression tight with worry.
"Aapi…" she said breathlessly. "I saw the blast news… I came straight from the store."
Maryam hugged her quickly.
"JazakAllah khair, Rimsha."
Rimsha noticed Haroon standing behind with his car keys in his hand.
"You're going to the hospital?"
Haroon nodded.
"Yes, Kamran is still in surgery."
Without wasting a second, Rimsha stepped forward.
"Then I'm staying here with Ubaid and Irfan. Don't worry about them. You two go."
Maryam placed a grateful hand on Rimsha's shoulder.
"Thank you… they'll feel safe with you."
Ubaid and Irfan appeared in the hallway, their eyes slightly wide.
Khala?" Irfan whispered.
"Yes, sweetheart," Rimsha said gently, kneeling to his height. "I'll stay here. We'll play something, or you can sleep. Your Mama and Baba will come soon."
Haroon nodded.
"Rimsha, thank you."
"No thanks between family," she whispered firmly.
And with that, Maryam and Haroon left for the hospital.
---
Scene 5: THE HOSPITAL – THE WAITING THAT FEELS LIKE YEARS
10:02 PM – Shifa International Hospital Emergency Wing
The bright white lights of the hospital reflected on the shiny floor, making everything seem colder, harsher.
They walked briskly toward the surgical ward.
Outside the operation theater, Aneela, Kamran's wife, sat with her 12-year-old daughter Zara. Both were pale. Both were trembling.
Maryam rushed toward them immediately.
"Aneela…!" she whispered, pulling her into a tight embrace.
Aneela broke into sobs, shaking in Maryam's arms.
"I don't know… I don't know if he will survive. He lost so much blood…"
Zara stood quietly, pressing her hands together tightly, trying to be strong but failing. Maryam knelt and hugged her too.
"Beta… your father is a brave man. Allah is watching over him," Maryam whispered.
Meanwhile, Haroon moved toward the cluster of ATS officers standing near the corridor.
Inspector Jibran saluted him.
"Sir… doctors say the next hour is crucial."
Haroon nodded solemnly.
"Where is the surgeon?"
"Inside, sir."
Haroon clenched his jaw. He felt helpless—something he hated feeling.
---
Scene 6: BEHIND THE GLASS DOOR – SILENT PRAYERS
Maryam guided Aneela to sit properly.
"Did you eat anything?" Maryam asked softly.
Aneela shook her head.
"How can I eat when I don't even know if he's alive?"
Maryam squeezed her hands.
"You have to stay strong for Zara… and for Kamran. He will need you the moment he wakes up."
Zara looked at Haroon with wide eyes.
"Uncle… is my Papa going to die?"
Haroon knelt to meet her face-to-face.
"No, Zara. He will fight. Your Papa is the strongest man I know."
For the first time that night, Zara managed a tiny nod.
---
Scene 7: TIME PASSES, HEARTS BREAK
Minutes felt like hours.
Every time the surgical theater's red light flickered, Aneela gasped.
Every footstep of a nurse made Maryam hold her breath.
Haroon paced back and forth, checking with his team, ensuring the hospital perimeter was secure. Though exhausted, his mind remained alert.
At 11:45 PM, a nurse walked out briefly.
Aneela jumped to her feet.
"How—how is he?"
The nurse hesitated.
"He lost a lot of blood. But the doctors are trying their best. Please pray."
She disappeared inside again.
Aneela burst into tears once more.
Maryam held her tighter.
"Allah's mercy is bigger than any injury. Don't lose hope, Aneela."
---
Scene 8: A MIDNIGHT OF HOPE
It was almost 1 AM when Haroon walked over to Maryam quietly.
"You should go home. The kids need you. They must be worried."
Maryam shook her head immediately.
"No. I'm not leaving Aneela alone."
But Haroon touched her shoulder gently.
"Maryam… listen. Rimsha is with them. Ubaid and Irfan are safe. Go home for a few hours. I'll stay with Kamran."
Maryam looked conflicted.
Her heart was here.
Her children were home.
She felt pulled apart.
At that moment, Rimsha called Maryam's phone.
"Aapi, kids are okay. They're sleeping. I'm awake. Don't worry."
Maryam looked at Aneela.
"I'll come early morning. I promise."
Aneela nodded weakly.
"Go, Maryam… I don't want your boys to wake up scared."
Maryam hugged her again and whispered,
"You are not alone, Aneela. Allah is with you."
Haroon walked her to the elevator.
"Come home safely," he said.
Maryam looked at him, fear still in her eyes.
"Please call me if anything happens."
"I will."
---
Scene 9: RETURNING HOME – A NIGHT OF HEAVY HEARTS
At 2:05 AM, Maryam reached home with Rimsha opening the door quietly.
"Aapi… everything okay?" she asked softly.
Maryam nodded, though her eyes were tired and swollen.
"Thanks for staying with the boys."
"Always," Rimsha whispered.
Maryam checked on her sons, kissed their foreheads, and whispered a dua before going to her room. But she couldn't sleep. She sat near the window, praying for Kamran, for Aneela, for Zara, and for Haroon's strength.
Her trembling hands held the tasbeeh tightly, lips whispering,
"Ya Allah… protect them."
---
Scene 10: BACK AT THE HOSPITAL – HAROON'S LONG NIGHT
Haroon remained standing outside the operation theater, refusing to sit.
His team members occasionally approached him, but he waved them off.
He needed to stay alert—needed to be ready for the doctor.
At 3:12 AM, the doors opened again.
The senior surgeon stepped out, removing his gloves.
Everyone rushed toward him.
"Doctor…?" Haroon said.
The surgeon sighed heavily.
"We have stabilized him for now. The next 24 hours are critical. If there are no complications, he will survive."
Aneela burst into tears of relief, falling to her knees.
Zara clung to her mother.
Haroon closed his eyes.
A deep breath escaped him—a breath he had held the entire night.
"Alhamdulillah…" he whispered.
---
Scene 11: A NEW DAWN
At sunrise, Haroon finally texted Maryam:
"Kamran stable. Doctors hopeful. Will update after morning round."
Maryam, who had not slept, finally let herself collapse against the pillow with relief.
The night that began with fear ended with hope.
But the story was far from over.
---
End of Chapter