Scene One
Morning Headlines – A Sudden Shift in the Market
Imran stood near the billing counters at Amana Superstore, sipping his tea, eyes moving between the customers and his phone. The usual morning rush had started—housewives, office-going men, delivery boys, and elderly customers who trusted Amana like their own kitchen pantry.
Suddenly, Sara almost ran toward him.
"Sir… news dekhi?" she asked, slightly breathless.
Imran frowned. "Kya hua?"
She handed him her phone.
The headline read:
"Bismillah Mart Sealed by Government Authorities Over Low-Quality and Expired Products."
Imran read it twice.
"Sealed?" he repeated quietly.
"Yes sir," Sara nodded. "Food authority aur district administration dono aaye thay. Customers complain kar rahe thay kaafi time se."
Imran leaned against the counter, absorbing the information.
One down.
He didn't smile.
He didn't celebrate.
He simply closed his eyes for a second.
Competition kam hua hai, he thought, lekin yeh kisi ki barbadi pe khushi ka mauqa nahi.
Bilal joined them.
"Sir, customers already pooch rahe hain," he said. "Log keh rahe hain ke ab sirf hum aur do supermarts bache hain area mein."
Imran straightened himself.
"Hamari zimmedari aur barh gayi hai," he said firmly. "Quality compromise nahi honi chahiye—ek din ke liye bhi nahi."
Sara nodded with respect.
"Ji sir."
His phone buzzed.
Rimsha calling.
He answered.
"Tum ne suna?" he asked.
Rimsha exhaled softly on the other side.
"Haan," she said. "Allah ka qanoon bohat sakht hai, Imran. Jo milawat karta hai, us ka hisaab hota hai."
"Ab log zyada expect karein ge hum se," Imran said.
"And that's good," Rimsha replied calmly. "Hum sirf zinda rehne ke liye nahi bane… hum misal banne ke liye bane hain."
Her words stayed with him.
---
Scene Two
A Graveyard Visit – Kulsoom Aunty's Silent Conversation
That afternoon, Kulsoom aunty wrapped her white dupatta carefully and stepped out of the house with Rimsha.
They reached the quiet graveyard where Hameed uncle rested.
Kulsoom aunty walked slowly, her steps measured, heart heavy yet steady.
When she reached the grave, she knelt down carefully.
"Hameed…" she whispered.
Rimsha stood a few steps away, giving her space.
Kulsoom aunty touched the soil gently.
"Tum kehtay thay na ke mushkil waqt mein sabr sab se bara hathyaar hota hai," she said softly. "Main seekh rahi hoon."
Her voice trembled.
"Tum nahi ho… lekin tumhari nishaniyan zinda hain," she continued. "Tumhara beta… tumhari poti… aur yeh ghar."
She closed her eyes, tears slipping silently.
"Kabhi kabhi lagta hai main akeli ho gayi hoon," she admitted. "Phir Fatima mujhe 'dadi' kehti hai… aur mujhe yaad aa jata hai ke Allah ne mujhe bilkul tanha nahi chora."
Rimsha's eyes filled with tears as well.
Kulsoom aunty raised her hands in dua.
"Ya Allah," she prayed, "mere shohar ko jannat-ul-firdous ata farma… aur humein itni himmat de ke hum uske baad bhi sahi raaste pe chal sakain."
When they stood up to leave, Kulsoom aunty looked lighter—like a burden had shifted from her heart to the heavens.
---
Scene Three
A New Beginning – Fatima's First Day at Preschool
The next morning, the house buzzed with excitement.
Fatima wore a tiny blue uniform of City School Preschool, her hair tied in two small ponytails.
She looked at herself in the mirror and giggled.
"Mama… school," she announced proudly.
Rimsha laughed while fixing her shoes.
"Ji meri princess, aaj school."
Kulsoom aunty watched from the bed, eyes shining.
"Ubaid aur Irfan bhi isi school mein parhtay hain," she said. "Tum bhi un ki tarah bari ho jaogi."
Fatima nodded seriously.
"Main parhoongi," she said.
At the school gate, Maryam was already waiting with Ubaid and Irfan.
The boys smiled when they saw Fatima.
"Yeh bhi humari school mein?" Ubaid asked happily.
"Ji," Rimsha replied. "Ab tum dono is ka khayal rakhna."
Fatima clutched Rimsha's hand tightly.
"Mama… saath," she said nervously.
Rimsha bent down, kissed her forehead.
"Main yahin hoon," she said gently. "Aur phir dadi bhi hain."
The teacher smiled warmly.
"Fatima beta, chalo class mein," she said.
Fatima hesitated, then walked in—turning once to wave.
"Bye mama."
Rimsha's heart swelled.
Maryam squeezed her hand.
"Dekha?" she said softly. "Zindagi chalti rehti hai."
---
Scene Four
Market Pressure – A New Kind of Challenge
That same evening, Imran sat in a meeting with suppliers.
One of them leaned forward.
"Sir, ab jab Bismillah Mart band ho gaya hai, demand barh gayi hai," he said. "Rates revise karne parain ge."
Imran didn't respond immediately.
"Quality aur ethics pe hum compromise nahi karein ge," he said finally. "Agar koi supplier pressure daalay ga, hum alternate dhoondh lein ge."
The man nodded, slightly taken aback.
After the meeting, Imran called Rimsha on video.
"Tension barh rahi hai," he admitted. "Market bhi aur log bhi."
Rimsha listened calmly.
"Tum sirf react mat karo," she said. "Strategy banao."
She smiled softly.
"Ab hum sirf survive nahi kar rahe… hum future plan kar sakte hain."
Imran looked at her thoughtfully.
"Tum kya soch rahi ho?" he asked.
"Ek din," she said, "Amana Superstore sirf aik dukaan nahi ho gi… balkay aik brand."
He smiled.
"Tum hamesha door ka sochti ho."
"Kyun ke Allah ne humein yahan tak laaya hai," she replied. "Yeh end nahi ho sakta."
---
Scene Five
Dreams at Night – Beyond Survival
That night, after dinner, the house was quiet.
Kulsoom aunty slept peacefully.
Fatima clutched her teddy bear, dreaming of school.
Imran and Rimsha sat together in the lounge, lights dim.
"Kabhi kabhi mujhe darr lagta hai," Imran confessed. "Ke main sab sambhaal nahi paoon ga."
Rimsha held his hand.
"Darr rehna buri baat nahi," she said. "Bas us darr ko rukawat mat banne dena."
She paused.
"Main chahti hoon ke hum ek din Fatima ko batayein… ke hum ne sirf mushkil waqt nahi kaata… hum ne us se kuch banaya."
Imran nodded slowly.
"Main chahta hoon ke Amana logon ke liye sirf shopping ki jagah na ho… balkay bharose ki jagah ho."
They sat in silence for a moment.
Not broken.
Not lost.
Just dreaming.
Outside, Islamabad's night breeze moved softly through the trees.
Life had tested them.
Grief had shaken them.
But now—they were no longer just surviving.
They were moving forward.
---
End of Chapter