Scene One
One Week Later – A Quiet Morning at Home
One full week had passed since the grand opening of Amana Mall.
The initial rush, the cameras, the congratulatory calls, the late-night reviews—all of it had slowly settled into a new rhythm. Life had not become easier, but it had become fuller.
It was a calm Islamabad morning.
Sunlight filtered through the curtains of Imran and Rimsha's bedroom. Rimsha was folding laundry on the bed while Imran sat near the window, holding a cup of tea, unusually quiet.
Rimsha looked at him.
"Aaj bohat khamosh ho," she said gently. "Koi tension hai?"
Imran smiled faintly, still looking outside.
"Tension nahi," he replied. "Bas soch raha tha."
"Kis baare mein?" Rimsha asked, sitting beside him.
Imran took a slow sip of tea, then finally spoke.
"Tumhein yaad hai," he said, "jab Amana Superstore sirf ground plus two floors ka tha?"
Rimsha smiled instantly.
"Kaise bhool sakti hoon? Ground floor grocery, first floor garments, second floor electronics. Aur hum dono khud shelves check karte thay."
Imran chuckled softly.
"Haan," he said. "Aur aaj…"
He gestured vaguely with his hand.
"Aaj Amana Mall ground plus seven floors ka hai."
Rimsha's smile deepened, but her eyes filled slightly.
"Seven floors," she repeated softly. "Kabhi socha bhi nahi tha."
Imran turned toward her now.
"Rimsha," he said, his voice low but heavy with emotion, "kabhi kabhi mujhe lagta hai yeh sab sapna hai. Agar Ammi ka sabr, tumhara saath, aur Allah ki rehmat na hoti… toh shayad hum yahan tak kabhi na pohanchte."
Rimsha placed her hand over his.
"Yeh sirf imarat nahi hai, Imran," she said. "Yeh har us raat ka jawab hai jab tum thak kar bhi haar nahi maante thay."
Imran nodded slowly.
"Superstore ek business tha," he said. "Mall ek zimmedari hai."
---
Scene Two
Flashback Conversation – Remembering the Early Days
Later that afternoon, Imran and Rimsha sat in the TV lounge while Fatima played with her dolls on the carpet.
Imran leaned back against the sofa.
"Tumhein yaad hai," he said suddenly, "jab pehli dafa expansion ka idea aya tha?"
Rimsha laughed softly.
"Yaad hai. Tum ne kaha tha, 'Bas ek aur floor bana lete hain.'"
Imran smiled.
"Aur tum ne kaha tha, 'Imran, agar banana hai toh theek se banao.'"
Rimsha raised her eyebrows playfully.
"Maine bilkul theek kaha tha."
Imran laughed, then grew serious again.
"Ground plus two se ground plus seven tak ka safar… sirf paison ka nahi tha," he said. "Har floor ke saath ek naya darr bhi jud gaya tha."
Rimsha nodded.
"Har floor ke saath ek nayi dua bhi."
Fatima looked up suddenly.
"Ammi," she asked innocently, "mall itna bara kyun hai?"
Rimsha pulled her into her lap.
"Taake logon ko sab kuch ek hi jagah mil jaaye," she said softly.
Fatima thought for a moment.
"Phir meri school friends bhi aa sakti hain?" she asked excitedly.
Imran laughed.
"Bilkul aa sakti hain, Mall ki choti malikani."
Fatima giggled proudly.
---
Scene Three
Kulsoom Aunty – Pride Without Words
In the evening, Kulsoom aunty sat on the veranda, her tasbeeh moving slowly between her fingers. She watched the lights of Amana Mall glowing in the distance.
Maryam sat beside her with a cup of green tea.
"Ammi," Maryam said gently, "ab kaisa mehsoos hota hai jab log Amana Mall ka naam izzat se lete hain?"
Kulsoom aunty smiled faintly.
"Mujhe mall par fakhr nahi," she said quietly. "Mujhe apne betay aur bahu par fakhr hai."
Maryam's eyes softened.
"Hameed bhai hotay toh bohat khush hotay," Maryam said.
Kulsoom aunty closed her eyes briefly.
"Woh khush hi hain," she replied calmly. "Allah ke paas."
---
Scene Four
Fatima at School – Unexpected Fame
The next morning at City School, Fatima stepped out of the car holding Rimsha's hand.
As soon as they entered the school gate, whispers followed.
"Yeh Amana Mall wali Fatima hai," one child said.
"Mere Abu kehte hain woh mall bohat bara hai," another added.
Fatima looked confused.
"Ammi," she whispered, "log mujhe kyun dekh rahe hain?"
Rimsha bent down to her level.
"Bas is liye ke tumhare Ammi Abu ne kuch acha kaam kiya hai," she said gently. "Magar yaad rakhna, tum sirf Fatima ho. Aur wahi rehna."
Fatima nodded seriously.
In the classroom, her teacher, Ms. Sana, smiled warmly.
"Good morning, Fatima," she said. "Aaj hum sab ke liye ek special day hai."
Fatima blinked.
"Miss, kyun?"
Ms. Sana replied,
"Because some of your classmates want to know about Amana Mall."
The children turned toward Fatima excitedly.
Fatima felt shy.
"Main sirf slides pe khelti hoon," she said honestly.
The class burst into laughter.
---
Scene Five
Show and Tell – A Child's Innocent Pride
During Show and Tell, Ms. Sana gently encouraged Fatima.
"Tum kuch share karna chahti ho?" she asked.
Fatima stood up slowly.
"Mera mall bohat bara hai," she said simply. "Wahan lights hoti hain, aur ice cream bhi."
One boy raised his hand.
"Kya tum rich ho?" he asked bluntly.
Fatima frowned, thinking hard.
"Mujhe nahi pata," she said. "Magar meri dadi mujhe kehti hain share karna."
The teacher smiled proudly.
"That's a very good answer," Ms. Sana said.
After school, several parents approached Rimsha.
"Your daughter is very grounded," one mother said. "Aaj kal ke bachay itne simple nahi hotay."
Rimsha smiled politely.
"Hum koshish karte hain," she replied. "Ke fame ghar ke darwaze par hi reh jaaye."
---
Scene Six
Evening Reflections – Growth and Responsibility
That night, Imran returned home late from the mall. He found Rimsha sitting with Fatima, helping her color a drawing.
Imran sat beside them.
"Aaj school kaisa tha?" he asked Fatima.
Fatima beamed.
"Miss ne kaha main achi hoon."
Imran smiled.
"Bas wahi rehna."
Later, when Fatima slept, Imran spoke quietly.
"Tum ne dekha," he said to Rimsha, "success sirf hamari nahi rahi. Fatima tak pohanch gayi hai."
Rimsha nodded.
"Is liye humein aur zyada sambhal kar chalna hoga," she said. "Seven floors ka bojh sirf steel ka nahi hota."
Imran looked thoughtful.
"Ground plus two floors mein hum sirf dukandaar thay," he said. "Ground plus seven floors mein hum rehnuma ban gaye hain."
Rimsha placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Aur rehnuma ko sab se pehle apna ghar sambhalna hota hai."
Imran smiled softly.
---
Closing Scene
Night View – Seven Floors of Gratitude
Later that night, Imran stepped out onto the balcony. From there, Amana Mall stood tall, its seven floors shining calmly against the dark sky.
Rimsha joined him quietly.
"Tum phir soch rahe ho," she said.
Imran nodded.
"Ground plus two floors… aur aaj ground plus seven," he said.
"Yeh sirf taraqqi nahi… yeh Allah ka imtihan bhi hai."
Rimsha replied softly,
"Aur hum dono ka wada… ke hum is imtihan mein akelay nahi chalenge."
They stood there silently.
Below them, the city slept.
Above them, seven floors of dreams stood firm—
not on concrete alone,
but on patience, humility, and faith.
---
End of Chapter