Scene One
Amana Superstore – The First Shock
The morning rush at Amana Superstore felt different.
Imran stood near the billing counter, watching customers move in and out, but his mind wasn't present. His phone buzzed continuously—messages from suppliers, reminders from accounts, missed calls from unknown numbers.
Sara hurried toward him, her face tense.
"Sir, main aap se baat kar sakti hoon?"
Imran nodded and stepped aside.
"Sir, frozen items ka supplier ne aaj delivery cancel kar di hai. Keh rahe hain ke pichlay dues clear nahi hue."
Imran closed his eyes briefly.
"Accounts se baat hui?"
"Bilal keh rahe hain ke agar hum aaj payment kar dein to kal delivery possible hai."
Imran exhaled slowly. Cash flow was already tight.
"And AC ka kya?" he asked.
"Ground floor ka AC phir se band ho gaya hai. Customers complain kar rahe hain."
For a moment, everything felt like it was collapsing at once.
"Okay," Imran said finally. "Main office mein aa raha hoon."
As Sara left, Imran rubbed his temples.
Abbu… yeh sab bohat mushkil hai.
---
Scene Two
Midday Video Call – A Partner Beyond the Office
Imran locked himself in the office and dialed Rimsha on video call.
She answered from home, Fatima sitting in her lap, chewing on a biscuit.
"Assalamualaikum," Rimsha said softly.
"Walikumassalam," Imran replied, forcing a smile. "Tum busy ho?"
"Tumhari awaaz se lag raha hai ke tum zyada busy ho," she said gently.
He sighed.
"Supplier ne delivery rok di hai. AC ka masla bhi phir se aa gaya hai. Customers naraz ho rahe hain."
Rimsha listened carefully, her expression calm.
"AC ke liye temporary solution?" she asked.
"Ice coolers lagwa diye hain, lekin enough nahi lag raha."
"Okay," she nodded. "Frozen items ka kya margin hai aaj kal?"
Imran blinked. "Tum yeh kyun pooch rahi ho?"
"Bas batao."
"Profit kam hai… zyada complain bhi hoti hain expiry ki."
Rimsha thought for a moment.
"Toh aaj aur kal frozen items ko side pe rakho. Focus karo grocery aur essentials pe. Customers ko notice lagwa do ke delivery kal hogi."
Imran stared at her.
"Tum ghar pe baith ke bhi store chala rahi ho," he said quietly.
Rimsha smiled faintly.
"Hum dono ka hai yeh store," she replied. "Tum akelay bojh kyun uthao?"
Fatima suddenly reached toward the phone.
"Papa!" she said happily.
Imran smiled genuinely for the first time that day.
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Scene Three
Late Night Call – Fear Without Filters
It was past midnight when Imran called again.
Rimsha answered immediately, half-asleep.
"Kya hua?" she asked softly.
"Neend nahi aa rahi," he admitted. "Lagta hai sab haath se nikal raha hai."
Rimsha sat up.
"Tum fail ho jao ge?" she asked calmly.
He stayed silent.
"Imran," she said firmly, "agar tum fail bhi hue… tum akelay nahi giro ge."
Her words hit him harder than any criticism.
"Tumhara saath mere liye sab se badi himmat hai," he whispered.
"And tumhari himmat meri," she replied.
The call ended—but the fear didn't feel as heavy anymore.
---
Scene Four
Kulsoom Aunty – Memories That Refuse to Fade
That afternoon, Kulsoom aunty sat alone in her room, holding an old wedding album.
Her fingers traced a faded photograph—her younger self, shy, standing beside Hameed sahib in a simple nikah ceremony.
"Tum kitnay seedhay thay, Hameed," she murmured.
Fatima toddled into the room, holding a small toy.
"Dadi!" she called, climbing onto the bed.
Kulsoom aunty quickly wiped her eyes.
"Aa jao, meri jaan."
Fatima snuggled into her lap, resting her head against her chest.
Kulsoom aunty held her tightly.
"Tumhari dadi bhi kabhi aisi hi choti si thi," she whispered.
She remembered her marriage—simple meals, shared struggles, silent sacrifices.
No grand romance.
Just companionship.
"Tera Abbu bohat mehnati tha," she said to Fatima softly. "Bilkul tumharay papa jaisa."
Fatima didn't understand—but she smiled.
And that smile healed something old.
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Scene Five
A Growing Bond – Two Hearts, One Comfort
Over the next few days, Fatima became inseparable from her grandmother.
She followed Kulsoom aunty everywhere—into the kitchen, the prayer room, even sitting beside her during afternoon naps.
"Ammi, Fatima aap ko chhor hi nahi rahi," Rimsha laughed one day.
Kulsoom aunty smiled genuinely.
"Mujhe bhi us ke baghair chain nahi milta," she replied.
At night, Fatima insisted on sleeping beside her grandmother.
Kulsoom aunty stroked her hair gently.
"Allah ne mujhe phir se maa bana diya," she whispered to Rimsha one evening.
Rimsha felt tears rise—but they were warm, comforting tears.
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Scene Six
Maryam's Guidance – Faith as an Anchor
Maryam visited Rimsha one afternoon while Imran was at the store.
They sat in the TV lounge, tea cups untouched.
"Tum thak gayi ho," Maryam said, observing her sister closely.
Rimsha nodded.
"Imran har baat mujh se discuss karta hai," she said. "Kabhi lagta hai main bhi bojh mehsoos karne lagi hoon."
Maryam held her hand.
"Imtihan jab aata hai na," she said softly, "Allah sirf musibat nahi deta… saath sabr bhi deta hai."
Rimsha looked at her.
"Tum kaise itni strong ho?" she asked.
Maryam smiled faintly.
"Main bhi kamzor hoti hoon," she replied. "Bas namaz ke baad apni kamzori Allah ke hawalay kar deti hoon."
She paused.
"Tum bhi apna role nibha rahi ho. Lekin apna khayal rakhna bhi ibadat hai."
Rimsha nodded slowly.
---
Scene Seven
The Biggest Test – A Risky Decision
One evening, Bilal called Imran urgently.
"Sir, agar hum supplier ka pura payment aaj kar dein, toh discount mil sakta hai. Lekin cash flow bohat tight ho jaye ga."
Imran felt his chest tighten.
He stepped aside and video-called Rimsha again.
"Risk lena pade ga," he said.
Rimsha listened.
"Kitna risk?" she asked calmly.
"Teen din ka."
She closed her eyes briefly.
"Phir le lo," she said finally. "Magar Allah pe chhor ke."
Imran swallowed.
"Agar ghalat hua toh?"
"Toh phir hum mil ke sambhalen ge," she replied.
That night, Imran signed the payment.
Hands shaking.
Heart praying.
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Scene Eight
Quiet Victories
Three days later, the delivery arrived on time.
Sales picked up.
Customers returned.
Sara smiled for the first time in weeks.
"Sir, decision sahi tha."
Imran nodded—but his eyes filled.
He called Rimsha.
"Ho gaya," he said simply.
"Alhamdulillah," she replied.
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Closing Scene
Strength in Togetherness
That night, Kulsoom aunty prayed longer than usual.
Fatima slept in her arms.
Rimsha stood beside Imran at the window.
"Abhi bhi darr lagta hai?" she asked.
He nodded.
"Lekin ab akela nahi lagta," he replied.
Inside the house, faith, love, and patience quietly held everything together.
The test had shaken them.
But it had not broken them.
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End of Chapter