Scene One
Fourteen Days Later – Healing in Motion
Days continued to pass.
Not quickly.
Not easily.
But steadily.
Fourteen days had gone by since Hameed uncle's burial. The sharpness of grief had softened—not disappeared, but settled into a quieter place inside the house. Tears came less often now. Silence no longer felt unbearable. The family had begun to move forward, step by step, holding one another without speaking about it too much.
Imran returned home on time most evenings. Kulsoom aunty had started sitting in the TV lounge again instead of staying alone in her room. Rimsha had returned to a routine—home, Fatima, meals, prayers, sleep.
Life hadn't become normal.
But it had become livable.
That evening, as the sun dipped behind the buildings of Islamabad, the house prepared for visitors.
Family.
---
Scene Two
Maryam's Family Arrives
The doorbell rang just after Maghrib.
Rimsha looked up instinctively.
"I'll open it," she said, adjusting her dupatta.
As the door opened, familiar faces filled the doorway.
"Assalam-o-Alaikum!"
"Wa Alaikum Assalam!"
Maryam stood at the front, her face instantly lighting up as she saw Rimsha. DSP Haroon stood beside her, calm and warm as always. Ubaid and Irfan stood just behind them, excitement clear in their eyes.
"Khala!" Ubaid exclaimed, stepping forward.
Rimsha smiled widely for the first time in days.
"Ao, ao," she said warmly. "Andar aa jao."
Fatima, standing beside Rimsha, stared for a second—and then squealed.
"Khalaaa!" she shouted, clapping her hands.
Maryam bent down immediately and lifted her.
"Meri jaan!" she laughed. "Tum toh aur badi ho gayi ho."
Kulsoom aunty came forward slowly.
Maryam stepped toward her respectfully.
"Assalam-o-Alaikum Ammi."
Kulsoom aunty placed her hand on Maryam's head.
"Khush raho beta," she said softly. "Acha laga tum sab ko dekh kar."
Imran joined them from the TV lounge.
"Assalam-o-Alaikum Haroon bhai," he said.
"Wa Alaikum Assalam," Haroon replied, placing a hand on Imran's shoulder. "Kaise ho?"
Imran nodded. "Behtar hoon."
It wasn't a complete truth—but it was progress.
---
Scene Three
TV Lounge – Familiar Warmth
Everyone gathered in the TV lounge.
The seating felt natural—as if the room itself remembered how this family used to sit together before grief entered their lives.
Ubaid and Irfan took their usual place on the carpet, already arguing quietly about a toy.
"Yeh meri car hai!"
"Nahi, meri!"
Haroon cleared his throat gently.
Both boys froze.
"Sorry," they muttered together.
Maryam smiled faintly.
Kulsoom aunty sat near the window, her shawl wrapped neatly around her shoulders. Imran sat beside her—not distant, not withdrawn.
Rimsha moved quietly toward the kitchen.
"Main chai bana leti hoon," she said.
Maryam nodded. "Main madad kar doon?"
"Nahi nahi," Rimsha replied quickly. "Tum baitho."
Maryam smiled—but didn't insist. Not yet.
---
Scene Four
Kitchen – Tea, Cookies, and Comfort
The kitchen filled with soft sounds—cups clinking, water boiling.
Rimsha laid out biscuits on a tray, placing them carefully.
She poured tea slowly, her movements relaxed.
This time, there was no heaviness in her chest while doing so.
Only calm.
She carried the tray into the TV lounge.
"Chai tayar hai," she announced softly.
Maryam took a cup.
"Tumhari chai ka taste mujhe hamesha yaad rehta hai," she said.
Rimsha smiled. "Tumhari aadat hai zyada tareef karne ki."
Haroon sipped quietly.
"Waqai achi hai," he added.
Kulsoom aunty watched them, a faint smile touching her lips.
The room filled with gentle conversation—nothing heavy, nothing forced.
Just family.
---
Scene Five
Dinner Time Approaches
As the evening deepened, Rimsha stood up quietly and glanced toward the clock.
Dinner time.
She walked into the kitchen, checking the ingredients she had prepared earlier.
Chicken already washed and marinated. Rice soaking.
She rolled up her sleeves slightly.
Behind her, the sound of footsteps.
Maryam entered the kitchen.
Rimsha turned. "Tum yahan kyun aa gayi?"
Maryam smiled.
"Tumhein akela kaam kartay dekh kar chain nahi aata," she replied casually.
Rimsha shook her head. "Main sambhal leti hoon."
Maryam reached for an apron.
"Aaj nahi," she said. "Aaj hum dono mil kar banayenge."
Rimsha paused—then nodded.
"Achha," she said softly.
---
Scene Six
Kitchen – Two Sisters, One Rhythm
The kitchen came alive.
Rimsha heated oil in the pot while Maryam chopped onions without being asked.
"You yaad hai," Maryam said suddenly, "jab hum ammi ke saath pehli dafa khud chicken bananay lage thay?"
Rimsha laughed quietly.
"Haan," she replied. "Aur hum ne namak double daal diya tha."
"Ammi ne kuch nahi kaha," Maryam smiled. "Bas chup chaap kha liya."
They shared a quiet laugh.
Rimsha stirred the curry slowly.
Maryam rinsed the rice and placed it in the pot.
No instructions were exchanged.
No explanations needed.
They moved in perfect, familiar coordination—like they had done all their lives.
For a few minutes, grief stayed outside the kitchen.
---
Scene Seven
Dinner Ready – Calling the Family
The aroma of chicken curry spread through the house.
Rimsha tasted the curry and nodded.
Maryam fluffed the rice.
"Ho gaya," Maryam said.
Together, they plated the food.
Rimsha carried the serving bowls toward the dining area.
Maryam followed.
Rimsha stood at the doorway of the TV lounge.
"Dinner tayar hai," she announced gently.
Ubaid jumped up immediately.
"Yesss!"
Irfan followed, dragging his feet dramatically.
"Bhook lagi hai," he complained.
Haroon stood and guided Kulsoom aunty gently.
"Ammi, aaiye."
Imran stood beside his mother, offering support.
Everyone moved toward the dining table.
---
Scene Eight
Dining Table – A Family Meal Again
The dining table filled up.
Plates were placed. Water poured.
Rimsha and Maryam served together, moving around the table smoothly.
"No, pehle Ammi ko," Rimsha said softly.
Kulsoom aunty nodded gratefully.
"Allah tum dono ko khush rakhe," she said.
The family began eating.
Conversation flowed lightly.
Ubaid spoke about school.
"Humari class mein naya teacher aaya hai," he said. "Bohat strict hai."
Haroon raised an eyebrow. "Strict hona buri baat nahi."
Maryam smiled. "Tumhein toh har teacher strict lagta hai."
Imran smiled faintly, listening.
Fatima banged her spoon on the table happily.
"Rice!" she announced proudly.
Rimsha laughed and fed her carefully.
Kulsoom aunty ate slowly—but she ate.
Maryam noticed.
So did Rimsha.
Their eyes met briefly.
No words were exchanged.
They didn't need to be.
---
Closing Scene
After Dinner – A Gentle Shift
As dinner ended, plates were cleared.
The room felt warm—not just from food, but from presence.
Haroon leaned back slightly.
"Kaafi arsey baad aisa lag raha hai," he said thoughtfully, "ke ghar ghar jaisa lag raha hai."
Imran nodded quietly.
Rimsha stood near the doorway, watching her family.
Her sister.
Her husband.
Her children.
Her mother-in-law.
Loss still lived in this house.
But tonight, so did laughter.
So did togetherness.
Fourteen days had passed.
The family had stabilized.
Not because the pain was gone—
But because they had learned how to carry it… together.
---
End of Chapter