Scene One
Private Room No. 7 – Afternoon Calm
The afternoon sun entered softly through the half-drawn curtains of Private Room No. 7, spreading a gentle warmth across the quiet space. The room no longer felt like a hospital room—it felt like a small world of its own, wrapped in calm, prayers, and newborn silence.
Rimsha lay on the bed, propped slightly with pillows. Her face looked pale but peaceful, a softness settled into her expressions that had not been there before motherhood. Beside her, in the transparent baby cot, Fatima slept quietly, her tiny chest rising and falling in a perfect rhythm.
Kulsoom aunty sat on the chair near the bed, her dupatta neatly placed over her head, her eyes fixed lovingly on her granddaughter. Every few moments, she leaned forward just to be sure Fatima was comfortable, adjusting the blanket by a centimeter, as if even air touching the baby too strongly worried her.
Maryam sat on the couch opposite the bed, holding a cup of tea that had long gone cold. Her attention shifted between her younger sister and the newborn, her eyes filled with gratitude and quiet happiness.
Outside the room, life continued. Voices echoed faintly from the corridor, trolleys rolled past, nurses moved from room to room. But inside Room No. 7, time felt slower.
There was a soft knock on the door.
Kulsoom aunty straightened immediately.
"Aao," she said gently.
The door opened, and Dr. Hira stepped inside, wearing her white coat, her calm, reassuring smile exactly as it had been since the very first checkup months ago.
"Assalamualaikum," Dr. Hira greeted warmly.
"Walikum Assalam," Kulsoom aunty and Maryam replied together.
Rimsha smiled weakly.
"Assalamualaikum, doctor."
Dr. Hira walked closer, washing her hands and putting on gloves.
"Good afternoon, Rimsha," she said kindly.
"Kaise ho aaj?"
Rimsha nodded softly.
"Behtar hoon," she replied.
"Thori kamzori hai, lekin dil bilkul theek hai."
Dr. Hira smiled approvingly.
"Yeh bilkul normal hai," she said.
"Delivery ke baad thakan rehna lazmi hota hai."
---
Scene Two
Doctor's Examination
Dr. Hira first checked Rimsha's vitals—blood pressure, pulse, temperature. She worked carefully, speaking gently throughout.
"Relax raho," she said softly.
"Sab theek lag raha hai."
Kulsoom aunty watched every movement closely, her fingers unconsciously tightening around the edge of her shawl.
After checking Rimsha, Dr. Hira moved towards the baby cot.
"And ab humari choti si princess," she said with a soft smile.
Maryam stood up instinctively, moving closer.
Dr. Hira gently uncovered Fatima's tiny feet, checking reflexes, breathing, and general response. Fatima stirred slightly, making a soft sound before settling again.
"MashAllah," Dr. Hira said.
"Bilkul healthy baby hai."
Kulsoom aunty let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.
"Allah ka shukar," she whispered.
Dr. Hira straightened up and removed her gloves.
She looked at Rimsha again, her expression reassuring.
"Rimsha," she said calmly,
"Tumhari recovery bohat achi chal rahi hai."
Rimsha's eyes searched her face.
"Doctor… sab theek hai na?" she asked quietly.
Dr. Hira nodded.
"Bilkul," she replied.
"Hum tumhein aglay 24 ghantay aur observe karain ge. Agar sab isi tarah theek raha, to tumhein kal discharge kar diya jaye ga."
For a moment, the room was silent.
Then Maryam smiled broadly.
"Sach?" she asked.
"Kal ghar?"
Dr. Hira smiled back.
"Haan," she confirmed.
"Bas thori si ehtiyat aur rest chahiye."
Kulsoom aunty's eyes filled with emotion.
"Doctor," she said gratefully,
"Allah aapko hamesha khush rakhay."
Dr. Hira placed a gentle hand on Rimsha's arm.
"Apni beti ka khayal rakhna," she said kindly.
"Aur baby ko bhi."
She gave final instructions regarding medication, feeding schedule, and rest, then nodded politely.
"I'll check again tomorrow," she said.
"Take care."
As Dr. Hira left the room, the door closed softly behind her.
---
Scene Three
Relief and Gratitude
For a few seconds, no one spoke.
Rimsha closed her eyes briefly, a faint smile on her lips.
"Ghar…" she whispered.
"Kal ghar jaa sakti hoon."
Maryam walked closer and held her sister's hand.
"Dekha," she said warmly.
"Allah ne sab asaan kar diya."
Kulsoom aunty wiped her eyes.
"Tum bohat himmat wali ho," she said softly to Rimsha.
"Meri bahu bohat strong hai."
Rimsha smiled shyly.
"Ammi, yeh sab aapki duain hain."
Kulsoom aunty reached into her purse and took out a tasbeeh, whispering words of gratitude.
"Allah tera aur Fatima ka hamesha hifazat karay," she murmured.
Maryam glanced at the door.
"Baaki sab cafeteria mein hain," she said.
"Main jaa kar unhein bata deti hoon."
Kulsoom aunty nodded.
"Haan jao," she said.
"Sab intezar kar rahe hon ge."
---
Scene Four
Hospital Cafeteria – Shared News
The hospital cafeteria buzzed softly with activity. Families sat around tables, cups of tea in hand, some laughing quietly, some anxious, some tired.
At a corner table, Imran sat with his father Hameed sahib, Haroon, and the two boys, Ubaid and Irfan. Trays of untouched snacks lay on the table.
Imran kept checking his phone, his leg bouncing with restlessness.
"Maryam abhi tak nahi aayi," Haroon noted.
"Doctor ka round hoga," Hameed sahib replied calmly.
"Thora waqt lagta hai."
Just then, Maryam entered the cafeteria.
The moment Imran saw her, he stood up.
"Maryam!" he said quickly.
"Kya kaha doctor ne?"
Everyone looked up at once.
Maryam smiled.
"Good news hai," she announced.
Imran's breath caught.
"Kya?" he asked anxiously.
Maryam spoke clearly, her voice steady.
"Dr. Hira keh rahi hain ke Rimsha bilkul theek recover kar rahi hai," she said.
"Fatima bhi bilkul healthy hai."
Imran closed his eyes for a brief second.
"Alhamdulillah," he whispered.
Maryam continued.
"Bas 24 ghantay aur observation," she said.
"Agar sab theek raha, to kal discharge."
Ubaid clapped his hands.
"Kal ghar!" he exclaimed happily.
Irfan grinned.
"Phir baby ghar aa jaye gi!"
Haroon smiled, placing a hand on Imran's shoulder.
"Congratulations," he said warmly.
"Sab theek ho raha hai."
Hameed sahib nodded with satisfaction.
"Allah ka shukar hai," he said.
"Ghar phir se roshan ho jaye ga."
Imran finally smiled fully, relief washing over his face.
"Main jaa kar ammi ko batata hoon," he said.
Maryam nodded.
"Woh already jaanti hain," she replied.
"Main bas aap sab ko batanay aayi thi."
---
Scene Five
Back to Room No. 7
Maryam returned to the room quietly.
Inside, Rimsha was watching Fatima sleep, her fingers gently resting near the baby's tiny hand. Kulsoom aunty sat beside her, humming a soft lullaby.
Maryam smiled at the peaceful sight.
"Sab khush hain," she said softly.
"Imran bohat relieved lag raha tha."
Rimsha smiled faintly.
"Mujhe bhi sakoon mil gaya hai," she replied.
Kulsoom aunty looked at Maryam.
"Kal ghar ki tayari shuru karni ho gi," she said thoughtfully.
"Bachi ke liye."
Maryam nodded.
"Haan," she said.
"Kal naya safar shuru hoga."
Rimsha looked at her daughter, her eyes filled with hope.
"Fatima," she whispered,
"Tum sab ki khushi ho."
The room settled again into silence—a peaceful, hopeful silence—where the promise of going home hung softly.
The hardest moment had passed.
Now, only love, care, and a new beginning waited ahead.