Scene One
Early Morning – The Weight of Two Worlds
Fajr azaan echoed softly through the quiet neighborhood.
Imran opened his eyes before the alarm rang.
For a moment, he lay still, staring at the ceiling, listening—not just to the azaan, but to the silence beside him. The space where his father's morning cough used to be. The place where Hameed uncle would already be awake, sitting with tasbeeh in hand.
Imran sat up slowly.
Life had changed.
Now, there were two worlds resting on his shoulders.
Amana Superstore.
And this home.
No matter how capable one tried to be, no one could replace a husband… or a father.
He rose quietly, performed wudu, and offered Fajr prayer. His dua lingered longer than usual.
"Ya Allah… mujhe himmat de… aur Ammi ko sabr."
---
Scene Two
Kitchen – Silent Support
Rimsha was already awake.
She stood near the stove, warming milk for Kulsoom aunty and preparing breakfast. Her movements were gentle, careful—like someone constantly afraid of breaking fragile silence.
Imran entered the kitchen.
"Tum itni subah uth gayi?" he asked softly.
Rimsha turned and smiled faintly.
"Tumhein office bhi toh jaana hota hai," she replied.
He sat down at the small table.
"Aaj late ho sakta hoon," he said. "Supplier meeting hai."
Rimsha nodded. "Main sab sambhal loon gi."
Imran looked at her—really looked.
She had lost her father too.
Yet here she was, holding the house together without complaint.
"Rimsha…" he began, then stopped.
She looked up.
"Kya hua?"
He shook his head slightly.
"Bas… shukriya."
Rimsha smiled, eyes soft.
---
Scene Three
Bedroom – Kulsoom Aunty's Silent Longing
Kulsoom aunty lay on her bed, awake but weak.
The pillow beside her was untouched.
She stared at it for a long moment, then slowly reached out and placed her hand there.
"Tum hotay toh mujhe daant detay," she murmured softly.
"Ke main apni dawa waqt par kyun nahi leti…"
Her sugar levels had been unstable for days.
She felt tired. Often dizzy. Her appetite came and went like her patience.
Rimsha entered quietly.
"Ammi… uth gayi hain?"
Kulsoom aunty nodded faintly.
"Mujhe bilkul bhook nahi," she said.
Rimsha sat beside her.
"Doctor ne kaha hai, bina khaye dawa nahi leni," she reminded gently.
Kulsoom aunty closed her eyes.
"Hameed hota toh mujhe zabardasti khila deta," she whispered.
Rimsha's throat tightened.
"No one," she said softly, "can take his place, Ammi."
Kulsoom aunty opened her eyes, tears forming.
"Bas isi liye dil zyada dukhta hai."
---
Scene Four
Breakfast Table – Holding Normalcy
The breakfast table was simple.
Toast.
Boiled egg.
Tea.
Imran tried to keep things normal.
"Ammi, thora sa anda le lein," he said gently.
Kulsoom aunty hesitated.
"Bas aik niwala," she replied.
Rimsha watched carefully.
"Main chai thori si meethi kar deti hoon," she said.
Kulsoom aunty nodded.
She ate slowly.
Imran felt a small sense of relief.
At least she was eating.
After breakfast, Imran stood up, adjusting his shirt.
"Ammi, main office ja raha hoon," he said.
Kulsoom aunty looked at him.
"Zyada thakna mat," she advised. "Tumhare baba ke baad… tum hi ho."
Imran swallowed.
"Main jaldi aa jaunga," he promised.
He left—carrying guilt and responsibility together.
---
Scene Five
Amana Superstore – A Man at Work
The superstore buzzed with life.
Staff moved quickly. Shelves were restocked. Customers flowed in.
Imran stood near the accounts desk, reviewing inventory reports.
"Sir," a supervisor said, "supplier ka issue hai dairy section mein."
Imran nodded.
"Main dekhta hoon."
He moved with focus and authority.
Here, he was the manager.
Strong.
Decisive.
Reliable.
But even in the middle of business discussions, his mind drifted home.
Did Ammi take her medicine?
Did Rimsha eat properly?
Was Fatima asleep?
During lunch break, he checked his phone.
A message from Rimsha:
Ammi ne dawa le li hai. Sugar check ki, thori high hai.
He replied immediately:
Doctor ko call kar lo. Main shaam ko le jaunga.
Balancing both worlds wasn't easy.
But it had to be done.
---
Scene Six
Afternoon – Neighbors' Visit
Back at home, Rimsha answered the door.
"Assalam-o-Alaikum."
Two neighboring ladies stood there.
"Wa Alaikum Assalam beta," one said softly. "Hum bas poochne aaye thay."
Rimsha welcomed them inside.
They sat in the lounge, speaking in hushed tones.
"Allah sabr de," one woman said. "Aapki saas ka bohat nuksaan hua hai."
Kulsoom aunty joined them slowly.
The women spoke kindly, offering prayers and comfort.
"Hum roz dua karte hain," another neighbor said.
Kulsoom aunty nodded, her eyes distant.
Visits helped—but when people left, the emptiness returned stronger.
---
Scene Seven
Evening – Maryam's Arrival
Just before Asr, the doorbell rang again.
This time, Rimsha smiled.
Maryam stood outside.
"Assalam-o-Alaikum."
"Wa Alaikum Assalam," Rimsha replied warmly. "Tum toh bina bataye aa gayi."
Maryam smiled. "Dil kar raha tha."
She went straight to Kulsoom aunty.
"Ammi, kaise hain aaj?"
Kulsoom aunty held her hand.
"Tum aati ho toh dil halka ho jata hai," she said.
Maryam sat beside her, listening quietly.
Sometimes comfort didn't need solutions—only presence.
Rimsha served tea.
Maryam looked around the house.
"Tum bohat sambhal rahi ho sab," she said softly.
Rimsha shook her head.
"Bas koshish hai."
---
Scene Eight
Private Conversation – Sister to Sister
Later, in the kitchen, Maryam spoke quietly.
"Tum apna khayal bhi rakha karo," she said.
Rimsha sighed.
"Yahan sab se zyada zarurat Ammi ko hai."
Maryam nodded.
"Lekin tum theek nahi rahogi, toh koi bhi theek nahi rahega."
Rimsha smiled weakly.
"Tum hamesha sach bolti ho."
Maryam smiled back.
---
Scene Nine
Night – A House That Still Misses
Imran returned late.
He checked on Kulsoom aunty first.
She was asleep—but restless.
He covered her with a blanket.
Then he sat in the lounge, exhausted.
Rimsha brought him water.
"Din kaisa gaya?" she asked.
"Lamba," he replied honestly.
They sat quietly.
No one spoke of Hameed uncle.
Yet his absence filled every corner.
Imran looked around.
"Aaj samajh aaya," he said softly, "ke koi bhi… husband ki jagah nahi le sakta."
Rimsha nodded.
"Bas hum unki kami ko kam kar sakte hain," she said.
Imran leaned back, eyes closed.
Outside, the night deepened.
Inside, the family continued—holding each other, carrying loss, and learning, day by day, how to live with it.
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End of Chapter