Scene One
Elite Invitations – A Different Kind of Pressure
It had been barely ten days since Amana Mall became the quiet talk of Islamabad's business and social circles.
That evening, Rimsha sat at the dining table, scrolling through her phone while Imran reviewed some files beside her. Fatima was coloring silently, humming to herself.
Rimsha frowned slightly.
"Imran," she said, turning the phone screen toward him, "yeh dekho."
Imran adjusted his glasses and read the message.
> 'You are cordially invited to the Elite Business Circle Dinner at Serena. Dress code: Formal. Limited seats.'
Imran exhaled slowly.
"Phir se."
Rimsha nodded.
"Kal hi do aur invitations aaye hain. Private clubs, closed networking dinners, exclusive memberships."
Imran leaned back.
"Yeh woh duniya hai," he said thoughtfully, "jahan entry sirf success se nahi milti… image se bhi milti hai."
Rimsha looked concerned.
"Tumhe jana chahiye?"
Imran shrugged.
"Business ke liye shayad zaroori ho. Magar mujhe dar lagta hai… kahin hum apni zameen na bhool jayein."
Fatima suddenly looked up.
"Ammi," she asked innocently, "elite kya hota hai?"
Rimsha smiled gently.
"Elite woh hotay hain jo samajhtay hain ke woh baqi sab se upar hain," she said softly.
"Magar hum nahi banna chahte na, Fatima?"
Fatima shook her head seriously.
"Main sirf Fatima banna chahti hoon."
Imran smiled, but a shadow of worry crossed his face.
---
Scene Two
At the Elite Dinner – Polite Smiles, Sharp Eyes
Two nights later, Imran stood in a perfectly tailored suit inside a lavish hall. Crystal chandeliers sparkled above, soft music played, and conversations hummed like controlled whispers.
A man approached him confidently.
"Mr. Imran, right?"
"I'm Naveed Qureshi, real estate investor."
Imran shook his hand.
"Pleasure."
Naveed smiled thinly.
"Amana Mall… impressive growth. Ground plus seven floors in such a short time—rare."
"Allah ka fazal," Imran replied calmly.
Naveed leaned in slightly.
"Success attracts… attention. And expectations."
Imran met his gaze.
"I'm aware."
Another man joined them.
"Have you considered joining the Capital Business Circle?" he asked.
"Membership opens doors."
Imran smiled politely.
"Doors ke saath zimmedariyan bhi hoti hain."
The men exchanged glances.
"You'll need influence now," Naveed said softly. "Not just honesty."
Imran excused himself, his heart heavy.
Outside, he took a deep breath.
"Pressure ka naya level," he muttered.
---
Scene Three
Fatima at School – Too Much Attention
The next morning at City School, Fatima sat quietly at her desk.
Two girls whispered nearby.
"Uske Abu mall ke malik hain," one said.
"Woh bohat rich hogi," another replied.
During recess, a boy snatched her pencil.
"Tumhare paas aur hongay," he said casually.
Fatima's eyes filled with tears.
"No," she whispered, "yeh mera favorite hai."
When the teacher intervened, Fatima stayed silent.
Later, Ms. Sana called Rimsha.
"Mrs. Imran," she said gently, "Fatima is becoming unusually quiet. Attention usay confuse kar rahi hai."
Rimsha's heart tightened.
At home, Rimsha sat beside Fatima.
"Beta," she asked softly, "school mein kya ho raha hai?"
Fatima hesitated, then spoke.
"Sab log mall ke baare mein poochte hain," she said sadly.
"Main mall nahi hoon, Ammi."
Rimsha hugged her tightly.
"Tum bilkul theek kehti ho," she whispered.
"Tum sirf meri beti ho."
---
Scene Four
The Hidden Challenge – Numbers That Don't Add Up
Late that night, Imran sat alone in the mall's office, staring at spreadsheets.
Security expenses. Maintenance costs. Energy usage.
Something felt off.
He called Tahir, the chief engineer.
"Tahir bhai," Imran said quietly, "generator fuel consumption expected se zyada kyun hai?"
Tahir hesitated.
"Sir… kuch equipment overnight unnecessarily chalta rehta hai."
"Security breach?" Imran asked sharply.
"Not exactly," Tahir replied. "Magar internal negligence ho sakti hai."
Imran rubbed his temples.
"Mall bara ho gaya," he muttered. "Magar har floor ke saath risk bhi barh gaya hai."
He called Rimsha.
"Rimsha," he said softly, "humein security aur finances dono ko dobara review karna hoga."
Rimsha replied firmly,
"Kal hi."
---
Scene Five
Unexpected Call – Insurance Proposal
The next afternoon, Rimsha sat in the mall office when the receptionist informed her:
"Madam, PakSecure Insurance ke representatives aaye hain."
Imran joined her moments later.
Two well-dressed professionals entered.
"Mr. Imran, Mrs. Rimsha," one of them said confidently,
"I'm Adeel Khan, Senior Manager at PakSecure Insurance."
He placed a folder on the table.
"With your expansion," Adeel continued,
"equipment insurance, staff insurance, public liability—all are now essential."
Imran exchanged a glance with Rimsha.
"Hum ne pehle kabhi insurance nahi li," Imran said honestly.
Adeel nodded.
"Amana Superstore ke liye shayad zaroorat nahi thi.
Amana Mall ke liye… risk ka scale badal chuka hai."
Rimsha leaned forward.
"Staff coverage bhi?" she asked.
"Especially staff," Adeel replied.
"Accidents, medical emergencies, legal protection."
Imran sighed.
"Yeh bhi zimmedari ka hissa hai," he said quietly.
---
Scene Six
Family Discussion – Protecting More Than Walls
That night, the family sat together.
Kulsoom aunty listened quietly as Imran explained everything.
"Insurance lena kamzori nahi hoti," she said firmly.
"Yeh hikmat hoti hai."
Maryam nodded in agreement.
"Tum logon ne imarat khari kar li," she said,
"ab logon ko bhi mehfooz karna hai."
Fatima looked up.
"Dadi," she asked, "insurance matlab?"
Kulsoom aunty smiled.
"Matlab Allah ke baad hum apni taraf se bhi hifazat karte hain," she explained.
Fatima nodded thoughtfully.
---
Scene Seven
A Gentle Promise
Later, when everyone slept, Imran and Rimsha stood on the balcony.
"Elite log, school pressure, financial risks," Imran said quietly.
"Kabhi kabhi lagta hai success bohat shor karta hai."
Rimsha replied softly,
"Is liye humein apni awaaz aur bhi halki rakhni hogi."
Imran looked at her.
"Tum meri sab se strong insurance ho," he said with a faint smile.
Rimsha smiled back.
"Aur tum meri."
Below them, Amana Mall stood brightly lit—
beautiful on the outside,
challenged within,
but guarded now by awareness, unity, and care.
---
End of Chapter