Scene 1 — A Quiet, Freezing Night
The house was silent. Winter winds brushed against the windows, making a soft, cold hum in the background. It was 1:30 AM, and Islamabad's late-night freeze wrapped the neighbourhood in complete stillness.
Inside the house, the study room glowed warmly under the soft white lamp placed at Haroon's wooden desk.
Haroon sat hunched slightly forward, a pencil between his fingers, sketching the outlines of a family photo—himself, Maryam, Ubaid, and the little one, Irfan. The strokes were clean, gentle, full of care and attention. Sketching was always his way of calming his mind after long days of police duties.
His diary lay open on the right side of the table. A few lines of poetry had been written earlier but left unfinished. He was planning to return to them once the sketch reached the point of satisfaction.
The study door creaked open softly.
Maryam stepped inside holding a glass of warm milk, steam rising from its surface. She wore a soft shawl around her shoulders, her hair loosely tied, her eyes sleepy yet warm.
Maryam (softly):
"اب بھی جاگ رہے ہیں؟ موسم ٹھنڈا ہے، کچھ پی لیں۔"
She placed the glass on the table near his diary.
Haroon looked up, smiling tiredly.
Haroon:
"بس تھوڑا سا رہ گیا تھا۔ سکون ملتا ہے اس سب سے۔"
Maryam looked at the sketch. She always admired this side of him—the officer who faced danger every day, yet came home to create beauty in quiet moments.
She walked toward the diary lying open. Before Haroon could shift to close it, she gently placed her hand on it.
Maryam (with a soft teasing smile):
"آج ڈائری میں کیا لکھ رہے تھے؟"
Haroon smiled but didn't answer; he simply shrugged.
Maryam turned the pages slightly and her eyes caught the beginning of a new ghazal.
Her heart paused for a heartbeat as she began reading the first line aloud:
"مجھے یاد ہے اب بھی آپ کی پہلی نظر…"
She looked at him with raised eyebrows, smiling with surprise.
Maryam:
"پہلی نظر؟ آپ نے لکھنا شروع تو کیا ہے مگر مکمل نہیں کیا۔"
Haroon lowered his pencil and leaned back in his chair.
Haroon:
"پہلی نظر تو واقعی بھلائی نہیں جاتی۔ بس وہ منظر… وہ دن… سب یاد آ جاتا ہے۔"
---
Scene 2 — Flashback to Their First Meeting
(Independence Day Parade Ground — Years Ago)
Maryam sat on the wooden bench near the stage, preparing her debate papers. It was 14 August, Independence Day, and she was representing her college in the city-level debate competition.
There were banners everywhere, people cheering, flags flowing high with pride. The atmosphere was vibrant.
Haroon was newly promoted to Police Inspector, wearing his crisp uniform for the first major official duty. He and his fellow officers were positioned around the parade ground for security.
Maryam looked up for a moment when she heard a loud whistle. Her eyes paused for a second—maybe longer—at the officer coordinating the vanguard line near the stage entrance.
Haroon.
She had never seen him before. But the uniform, the confidence, the determined walk—all silently demanded attention.
Haroon, from a distance, noticed a girl holding papers tightly against the wind, struggling to keep them from blowing away. He moved forward instinctively.
He approached her gently.
Haroon:
"اگر آپ چاہیں تو ہم اس فائل کو کلپ لگا دیں؟ ہوا کافی تیز ہے۔"
Maryam blinked, surprised that he had noticed.
Maryam:
"جی… شکریہ۔ یہ ہر سال والا مسئلہ ہے۔"
She gave him a polite smile.
It lasted a moment too long.
Haroon handed her a clip from the officers' station table nearby.
Haroon:
"آپ مقابلے میں حصہ لے رہی ہیں؟"
Maryam nodded.
Maryam:
"جی، ڈبیٹ کمیٹیشن۔ تھوڑی گھبراہٹ ہے۔"
Haroon smiled.
Haroon:
"گھبراہٹ تو سب کو ہوتی ہے۔ مگر اچھے اسپیکر اسے چھپا لیتے ہیں۔ آپ کی نظر میں تو خود اعتمادی ہے۔"
Maryam lowered her eyes, shy but pleased.
That was their first conversation.
Their first look.
The moment that stayed alive in their hearts forever.
---
Scene 3 — Back to the Study Room (Present Night)
Maryam placed the diary back gently on the table.
Maryam:
"آپ نے کبھی بتایا ہی نہیں کہ اس دن آپ نے مجھے نوٹس کیا تھا۔"
Haroon smiled mischievously.
Haroon:
"آپ نے پوچھا بھی کب؟"
She laughed softly.
Then she sat on the small sofa near the desk.
Maryam:
"ٹھیک ہے، آج لکھ دیں۔ مکمل کر دیں۔ میں سننا چاہتی ہوں۔"
Haroon picked up his pen.
Haroon:
"آپ سنیں گی تو پھر ٹھیک ہے۔"
He bent over the diary and began writing again, this time letting his emotions flow freely.
---
Scene 4 — The Poetry
Maryam watched him with a soft smile as the tip of his pen moved with grace, filling lines one after the other.
Finally, he paused, read everything once, and then looked up.
Haroon:
"سنیں؟"
Maryam nodded gently, folding her shawl around her arms.
Haroon read aloud:
---
**"مجھے یاد ہے اب بھی آپ کی پہلی نظر"
(Original Poetry by Haroon)**
مجھے یاد ہے اب بھی آپ کی پہلی نظر،
جو رُکی تھی چند لمحے مگر ٹھہر گئی عمر بھر۔
وہ ہوا میں لہراتے کاغذ، وہ لرزشِ دل،
وہ مسکراہٹ کہ نہ جانے کیوں لگ گئی مجھ پر اثر۔
آپ بولی تھیں بہت دھیمے لہجے میں "جی… شکریہ"،
اور میری دھڑکن نے کہا، "بس یہ لمحہ ہے معتبر"۔
وہ قومی ترانہ، وہ جھنڈے، وہ جشنِ آزادی کا دن،
مگر میری یادوں میں بس آپ تھیں اور آپ کی نظر۔
آج برسوں بعد بھی جب رات ٹھنڈی ہو، سکون ہو،
میرے دل میں کبھی کبھی وہی پہلی ملاقات اُتر۔
آپ نے پوچھا تھا "گھبراہٹ کم کیسے ہوگی؟"
میں نے کہا تھا "خود اعتمادی سے"،
مگر سچ یہ ہے—
میری خود اعتمادی کو بھی سہارا ملا آپ کے ہونے کا اثر۔
قسم ہے اس لمحے کی، جس دن پہلی بار دیکھا تھا،
قسمت نے لکھ دیا تھا—
آپ ہیں میرا سفر…
آپ ہی میرا ہم سفر۔
---
Maryam sat still, her eyes moist with overflowing emotion.
She wiped a small tear at the corner of her eye.
Maryam (whispering):
"یہ… بہت خوبصورت ہے۔"
Haroon smiled, gently closing the diary.
Haroon:
"یہ سب آپ کی وجہ سے ممکن ہے۔ ورنہ میں تو بس ایک پولیس افسر ہوں… شاعری کہاں آتی ہے مجھے؟"
Maryam stepped forward and placed her hand on his.
Maryam:
"آپ کی شاعری مجھے ہمیشـہ حیران کر دیتی ہے۔
اور آپ… ہمیشہ میرے دل میں جگہ بناتے ہیں۔"
---
Scene 5 — Warmth in a Cold Night
Maryam handed him the warm glass of milk.
Maryam:
"پہلے یہ پی لیں، یہ بھی نظم کا حصہ ہے—
'بیوی کا حکم'۔"
Haroon laughed.
Haroon:
"جی madam."
He drank a few sips, then put the glass down.
Maryam gazed at the sketch again.
Maryam:
"یہ تصویر بہت اچھی بن رہی ہے۔"
Haroon:
"یہ میرا سب سے قیمتی سرمایہ ہے…
آپ تینوں۔"
Maryam blushed slightly.
Maryam:
"چلیں، اب سونے چلیں۔ صبح بچوں کے پیپرز کی تیاری کرانی ہے۔"
Haroon stood, stretched his back a little.
Haroon:
"جی، ورنہ Ubaid اور Irfan کہہ دیں گے کہ بابا رات بھر جاگ رہے تھے، ہمیں کیوں سونے دیتے ہیں۔"
Both laughed softly.
They walked toward the door.
Before leaving, Maryam glanced back once more at the diary on the table.
The poetry…
The sketch…
The warmth of the moment…
She whispered quietly, almost to herself:
Maryam:
"پہلی نظر سے آج تک… آپ نے میرا دل کبھی ٹوٹنے نہیں دیا۔"
Haroon, hearing her, turned and replied with a smile:
Haroon:
"اور کبھی دوں گا بھی نہیں۔"
They stepped out of the study room together, turning off the warm yellow light behind them.
Night outside was freezing—
but inside, everything was peacefully warm.
---
END OF CHAPTER