Scene One
Dawn at Amana Mall – A New Name, Old Prayers
The first rays of sunlight fell gently on the glass façade that now carried a bold new name:
AMANA MALL
Workers moved briskly, adjusting banners, wiping glass doors, aligning flower arrangements. The smell of fresh paint mixed with brewed tea from the staff corner.
Imran stood outside, hands folded behind his back, staring at the building.
What once had been a modest superstore was now a living, breathing mall.
Rimsha joined him, adjusting her dupatta against the cool morning breeze.
"Yaad hai," she said softly, "jab yahan sirf ek counter aur do aisles thay?"
Imran smiled faintly.
"Yaad hai… aur yaad hai jab Abbu ne kaha tha, 'kaam chhota ho ya bara, niyyat bari honi chahiye'?"
Rimsha nodded.
"Aaj unki niyyat zinda hai."
Inside, Kulsoom aunty slowly walked through the entrance, supported lightly by Maryam. Her eyes moved across the space—shops, lights, people preparing.
She stopped near the kids' zone entrance.
"Hameed hotay," she whispered, "to sab se pehle yahin kharay hotay."
Maryam squeezed her hand.
"Woh aaj bhi yahin hain, Ammi… duaon mein."
---
Scene Two
Before the Crowd – Family Huddle
In the staff lounge, the family gathered briefly before the official opening.
Haroon adjusted Ubaid's collar.
"DSP ke beta ho," he teased, "camera se ghabrana nahi."
Ubaid grinned.
"I'll salute the media," he joked.
Irfan bounced excitedly.
"Mujhe video games chahiye!"
Fatima, dressed in a tiny pink frock, clung to Kulsoom aunty's hand.
"Dadi… jhoola?" she asked.
Kulsoom aunty smiled, eyes moist.
"Haan beta. Aaj tumhara din hai."
Imran cleared his throat.
"Sun lo sab," he said, voice serious. "Aaj sirf opening nahi hai. Aaj hum logon ke bharosay ka imtihaan hai."
Rimsha added calmly,
"Media, public, competitors… sab dekh rahe honge. Hum bas wahi rahenge jo hum hamesha se thay."
Maryam nodded.
"Sach aur sabr."
Imran looked at Rimsha, holding her gaze for a moment longer than usual.
This wasn't just business.
This was us, he thought.
---
Scene Three
The Grand Opening – Cameras, Crowds, and Cheers
By mid-morning, the crowd had grown thick. Local reporters, vloggers, families, and curious shoppers filled the entrance.
A reporter adjusted her mic.
"Today, Islamabad witnesses the transformation of Amana Superstore into Amana Mall—a story of resilience and quality."
The ribbon stretched across the entrance of the Kids' Zone—bright, colorful, alive.
Imran stepped forward.
"Aaj hum yeh ribbon apne bachon se cut karwayenge," he announced.
"Kyun ke yeh jagah unhi ke liye hai."
Ubaid, Irfan, and Fatima were guided forward.
Fatima looked confused, holding the small scissors with both hands.
"Cut karna hai," Rimsha whispered, smiling.
Fatima looked up.
"Mama saath?"
Rimsha nodded, placing her hand over Fatima's.
Together, the three children cut the ribbon.
Applause erupted.
Cheers echoed.
Kulsoom aunty closed her eyes briefly, tears rolling down.
"Shukar hai," she whispered. "Shukar."
The doors opened.
The mall welcomed its first official guests.
---
Scene Four
Public Recognition – Praise with Pressure
Inside, people flooded in—rides spinning, kids laughing, screens glowing in the mini cinema.
Media surrounded Imran and Rimsha.
"Mr. Imran, how does it feel to compete with established malls?"
"Mrs. Rimsha, is this a family-run model?"
"What makes Amana Mall different?"
Imran answered calmly.
"Hum competition mein nahi," he said. "Hum zimmedari mein hain."
Rimsha added,
"Yeh mall sirf shopping nahi—safe space, family space hai."
Cameras flashed.
Sara whispered urgently to Imran,
"Sir, social media pe live reviews aa rahe hain. Mostly positive… but ek blogger ne parking issue highlight kiya hai."
Imran's jaw tightened.
"Abhi?" he asked.
"Abhi," Sara nodded.
Pressure had arrived—on day one.
---
Scene Five
A New Challenge – Cracks Under Spotlight
Later, in a quiet corner office, tension finally surfaced.
"Tumne parking plan approve kyun kiya jab maine kaha tha revise karein?" Rimsha asked, voice controlled but firm.
Imran rubbed his forehead.
"Time nahi tha," he replied. "Opening delay ho jati."
"Delay better hoti than embarrassment," Rimsha said quietly.
Imran snapped unintentionally,
"Tum ghar se decisions de rahi ho, ground reality main dekh raha hoon!"
Silence fell.
Rimsha looked at him—hurt, not angry.
"Tumhein lagta hai main yahan nahi hoon?" she asked softly.
"Tumhein lagta hai main sirf wife hoon, partner nahi?"
The words hit harder than any criticism.
Imran looked away, breathing heavily.
"I'm under pressure," he said. "Sab mujh se expect kar rahe hain."
Rimsha replied,
"Main bhi expect karti hoon… ke tum mujhe apni team samjho."
The challenge wasn't external.
It was between them.
---
Scene Six
Kulsoom Aunty – From Grief to Guidance
That evening, Kulsoom aunty called both of them to sit.
Her voice was calm, steady—very unlike the fragile woman of months ago.
"Hameed aur main," she began, "jab pehla karobar shuru kiya tha, hum bhi laray thay."
Imran looked surprised.
"Laray thay?" Rimsha asked softly.
Kulsoom aunty smiled faintly.
"Boht. Kyun ke khauf hota hai jab kuch pyara khatra mein ho."
She looked at Imran.
"Beta, mard hone ka matlab yeh nahi ke sab akele uthao."
Then at Rimsha.
"Aur aurat hone ka matlab yeh nahi ke sirf sabr karo."
She placed her hands over theirs.
"Partnership mein jeet tab hoti hai jab ego nahi, niyyat barqarar rahe."
Imran felt his eyes burn.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly to Rimsha.
She squeezed his hand.
"I'm here," she replied.
Kulsoom aunty leaned back, exhausted but peaceful.
"Shayad," she murmured, "mera kaam ab sirf yaadein sambhalna nahi… raah dikhana bhi hai."
---
Scene Seven
Evening Calm – After the Storm
As night fell, the mall lights glowed beautifully.
Kids' laughter echoed.
Fatima slept in Kulsoom aunty's lap, tired but happy.
Ubaid and Irfan excitedly discussed rides.
Maryam stood beside Rimsha.
"Tum dono ne bohat bara din dekha," she said.
Rimsha nodded.
"Aur bohat bara sabak bhi."
Imran joined them, looking at the crowd.
"Success ke saath awaaz tez ho jati hai," he said.
"Lekin ghar ki awaaz sunni zaroori hoti hai."
Rimsha smiled faintly.
Together, they looked at Amana Mall—not as a building.
But as a journey.
---
Closing Scene
A Mall Opens, A Family Grows
That night, when the mall doors finally closed, something else opened quietly within the family.
Understanding.
Balance.
Faith.
Amana Mall had entered the city.
But more importantly—
A family had learned to stand taller, together.
---
End of Chapter