Scene 1 — Morning of Uncertainty
The next morning arrived with an unusual heaviness in the air. The anxiety of the previous day still lingered, wrapping itself around the hearts of everyone connected to Kamran. After a long night of monitoring, the doctors had informed Haroon that Kamran was stable for the moment, but the next 24 hours were still critical.
Maryam barely slept. She woke up early, prepared Ubaid's and Irfan's lunchboxes mechanically, dropping frequent glances at the clock. Ubaid noticed her silence.
"Ammi… Abu Kamran uncle theek ho jayenge, na?" Ubaid asked softly.
Maryam forced a gentle smile and touched her son's cheek. "InshaAllah, beta. Tum bas school jao. Mein aur Imran chacha uncle Kamran ko dekhne ja rahe hain."
Irfan hugged her leg tightly. "Ammi, unki aunty aur baji ro nahi rahi hongi na?"
Maryam's heart trembled. "Woh strong hain, beta. Allah sab theek karega."
At 7:30 AM sharp, after dropping both boys at City School, Maryam met Imran outside the school gate. He stood near his car holding two large breakfast bags.
"Sab kuch ready hai, Aapi," Imran said. "Yahan kachori, omelette, bread, fruit — sab rakha hai. Aneela bhabhi aur Zara ne kal raat kuch khaya bhi nahi hoga."
Maryam nodded gratefully. "Chalo, jaldi chalte hain. Pata nahi un logon ka kya haal hoga."
They sat in Imran's car, and the drive to the hospital was silent except for Maryam's occasional quiet prayers whispered under her breath.
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Scene 2 — At the Hospital Corridor
As they reached the hospital, the familiar smell of antiseptic and hurried footsteps added to their restlessness. It was the same corridor where Haroon had once been brought in, unconscious, bleeding, gasping between life and death.
A painful memory tugged at Maryam's heart, but she swallowed it, reminding herself that today wasn't about her pain. It was about Aneela and Zara.
Just outside the ICU, they found Zara curled up on a plastic chair, eyes swollen and red. Aneela sat beside her in the same clothes from yesterday — scarf slightly misplaced, hair tied roughly, hands tightly gripping prayer beads.
Maryam walked straight to them and set the food bags on the side table.
"Assalam-o-alaikum, Aneela," she said softly.
Aneela looked up, eyes blinking as if pulling herself out of a trance. "Wa–wa-alaikum assalam… Maryam… tum subah hi aa gayi?"
Maryam nodded. "Tum dono ne kuch khaya bhi nahi hoga. Chalo, pehle kuch kha lo."
Imran gave a small smile to Zara. "Chalo baji, main tumhara favorite cheese omelette laaya hoon."
Zara forced a shy nod.
Aneela shook her head. "Bhook nahi hai, Maryam."
Maryam placed a gentle hand over hers. "Main jaanti hoon. Magar bhook nahi hoti tabhi toh kuch khana aur zaroori hota hai. Tum kamzor padogi toh Kamran ko kaun sambhalega?"
Aneela's lips trembled. Tears pooled again.
Maryam sat beside her, pulling her into a soft hug. "Allah bahut Reham karne wala hai. Kamran ne raat ko bohot fight ki hai. Yeh acha sign hai."
Zara's small voice broke in, shaky but hopeful. "Mama… doctor uncle ne kaha tha na ke 'stable' ka matlab acha hota hai?"
Maryam smiled and stroked her hair. "Bilkul acha hota hai."
Slowly, they started opening the breakfast boxes.
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Scene 3 — Haroon and His Team
In another corner of the corridor, Haroon was standing with two team members — Inspector Haseeb and officer Saad. Their uniforms were slightly wrinkled; their faces showed exhaustion but determination remained intact.
Imran walked over with two plates of breakfast.
"Sir, kuch khaa lein," Imran urged.
Haroon looked up, tired but thankful. "Shukriya, Imran. Raat se kuch khaya nahi humne."
Haseeb sat beside him and muttered, "Sir, Agar hum log blast ke time 10 seconds aur delay hotay toh aaj sab kuch… alag hota."
Haroon gave him a stern but reassuring look. "Nahi Haseeb. Allah hum sab ka hafiz hai. Kamran ne bhi bohut himmat dikhai. Jo ho sakta tha usne kiya."
Officer Saad sighed deeply. "Sir, Aneela bhabhi bohot ro rahi theen raat ko."
Haroon glanced toward the ICU door with aching eyes. "Woh sab theek ho jayega. Abhi hum unka sahara hain."
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Scene 4 — Sharing Pain
Inside the small waiting area beside the ICU window, Maryam and Aneela sat together while Zara quietly sketched on a page — a picture of her family holding hands.
Aneela wiped her face. "Maryam… mujhe lagta tha main strong hoon. Lekin yeh sab dekh kar… haath paaon kaam karna band ho gaye."
Maryam took a deep breath. She knew this moment would come, the moment someone needed reassurance from her.
"Main tumhari feeling samajh sakti hoon," she whispered. "Mere saath bhi yahi hua tha… jab Haroon goli lagne ke baad operation theater mein laya gaya tha."
Aneela lifted her gaze. "Sach? Tumne toh kabhi detail mein bataya hi nahi."
Maryam swallowed, remembering a night she had buried deep in her heart.
"Woh raat," Maryam began softly, "shaam ke kareeb mujhe phone aya tha. Haseeb ne kaha Haroon operation mein jaa raha hai. Mujhe sirf itna yaad hai ke main behoshi ki halat mein gari tak gayi. Imran mujhe le gaya hospital."
She paused.
"Jab doctor ne kaha tha ke 'bullet near lung hai… recovery uncertain hai' — tab meri dunya ruk gai thi. Main ICU ke bahar bilkul tumhari tarah bethi thi. Na hansi, na aansu… sirf behosi."
Aneela's eyes widened as if absorbing each word.
"Allah ne us waqt bhi hamari sun li," Maryam said. "Haroon ne ladayi ladi… jaise Kamran ladh raha hai. Aaj wo theek hai, duty par ja raha hai. Tumhara Kamran bhi bilkul aise hi theek ho jayega."
Aneela suddenly leaned forward and hugged Maryam tightly, shaking. "Allah tumhara moqaddar salamat rakhe. Tumhari baaton ne mujhe himmat di hai."
Maryam stroked her back softly. "Bas yaqeen rakho."
Zara wiped her eyes and hugged both of them. "Mama, uncle Haroon bilkul daddy jaise strong hain. Hamare daddy bhi utne strong hain na?"
Maryam smiled warmly. "Unse bhi zyada."
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Scene 5 — A Ray of Hope
After breakfast, the ICU nurse stepped out.
Everyone held their breath.
"Mrs. Kamran?" the nurse called.
Aneela stood instantly, trembling.
"Naye reports achay hain," the nurse announced. "His pulse is responding. Aaj ka din critical zaroor hai, lekin abhi tak koi negative sign nahi mila."
Aneela pressed her hand to her mouth, tears filling her eyes again — this time from relief.
Maryam whispered, "Alhamdulillah."
Haroon and his team also approached.
"Nurse… kya hum thodi der ke liye dekh sakte hain?" Haroon asked.
"One person at a time," she replied.
Aneela went first.
Maryam kissed Zara's forehead while waiting and handed her a water bottle. "Beta, thoda sa pani pi lo."
Imran sat beside Maryam. "Aapi… aap bilkul thak gayi hongi. Subah school chali gayi, phir yahan aa gayi."
Maryam shook her head. "Nahi, jab tak Kamran theek nahi ho jata, thakan kya cheez hai?"
Imran nodded silently, admiring her strength.
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Scene 6 — The Family Circle
After Aneela came out, wiping tears but smiling faintly, Haroon went inside to see Kamran briefly. He soon returned and joined the family.
"Kamran ne aankhein nahi kholi," he informed gently, "magar doctor keh rahe hain ke reflex response improve hua hai. Yeh achi nishani hai."
Everyone exhaled with relief.
Imran placed cups of hot tea which he had brought from the cafeteria.
Zara sat close to Haroon. "Uncle… aapne prayer ki thi na?"
Haroon smiled warmly. "Subah se sirf dua hi kar raha hoon."
Zara rested her head on his arm. "Aap hamare second daddy jese ho. Please hum sab ko chhor kar duty par mat jana."
Haroon froze for a second — touched deeply. He placed his hand over her head.
"Beta… main kahi nahi ja raha. Tum log mere paas hi ho."
Maryam looked at him with soft eyes — this man was not only a fighter for the country but a rock for his people.
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Scene 7 — Time Softens
Hours passed. They shared tea, water, silent prayers, and hopeful glances. The stress slowly gave way to small, tired smiles.
Haseeb sat with the kids, telling them funny comments about his clumsy team member Tariq.
Imran talked about how customers at Amana Superstore were asking for Rimsha yesterday and kept telling him:
"Sir, woh larki hai na… jo hamesha muskurati rehti hai? Aaj nahi dikh rahi!"
Maryam smiled lightly. "Rimsha hamesha se customers ki favorite rahi hai."
Even in worry, life found its way back.
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Scene 8 — The Last Moments Before Evening
By the time afternoon turned into evening, Zara had finally fallen asleep in Maryam's lap.
Aneela looked at the peaceful sight and whispered, "Allah tumhe khush rakhe, Maryam. Tumhare bina main toot jati."
Maryam stroked Zara's hair and whispered back, "Hum sab ek family hain. Tumhari takleef humari takleef hai."
Haroon, standing near the ICU glass window, finally allowed himself a slow, deep breath. The worst part of fear had begun to fade.
For the first time in days, hope felt closer than fear.
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End of Chapter