Scene 1 — Islamabad International Airport, Departure Gate A
The morning sun fell across the wide glass façade of Islamabad International Airport, giving the entire space a soft golden glow. Large digital boards flickered with flight numbers, destinations, and timings. The security personnel moved briskly, luggage wheels clattered on the polished floors, and the air smelled of fresh coffee from a nearby kiosk.
Haroon walked beside Maryam, carrying his official ATS backpack slung over one shoulder. Behind them, Ubaid walked proudly, holding his father's small travel pouch, while little Irfan gripped his mother's dupatta tightly, his eyes full of mixed excitement and sadness.
Haroon's team from ATS was already gathered near the main departure corridor—sharp, disciplined, and serious. They were escorting the Prime Minister Khalil Khalid Yousufi's delegation to Türkiye for an official eleven-day visit.
Maryam looked at Haroon again and again, unable to hide the worry in her eyes.
He noticed. He always noticed.
Haroon: "Maryam… don't worry this much. It's an official duty, not a war."
Maryam: "Duty tou har bar safe hoti nahi Haroon… aap khud ATS ke chief ban gaye hain… responsibility aur khatra dono barh gaye hain."
Haroon smiled, touching her cheek lightly.
Haroon: "Allah ke hawale. Main wapas aaunga. Tumhare paas. Bachon ke paas. Hamesha ki tarah."
Ubaid stepped forward, puffing his chest like he always did when trying to act mature.
Ubaid: "Papa I will take care of Mama… and Irfan. Don't worry."
Haroon placed his hand on his elder son's shoulder.
Haroon: "That's my brave boy."
Irfan, smaller and softer in nature, didn't wait—he suddenly threw his arms around Haroon's waist.
Irfan: "Papa please jaldi wapis aa jana… mujhe homework bhi aap se karwana hota hai…"
Haroon lifted Ifran in his arms and kissed his forehead.
Haroon: "Wada karta hoon, jaldi aaunga."
Maryam's eyes glistened, but she kept her composure.
A nearby ATS officer approached respectfully.
Officer Bilal: "Sir, PM's aircraft boarding will begin in 15 minutes. Security sweep complete."
Haroon nodded.
Haroon: "Good. Team ko ready rakho."
Maryam looked at the officers and then back at Haroon.
Maryam: "Phir yehi waqt hai?"
Haroon exhaled deeply, holding her hands.
Haroon: "Haan… bas Allah ka naam lo."
She squeezed his hands tightly.
Maryam: "Allah aap ko hifazat mein rakhe."
Haroon leaned down, kissed her forehead, and then stepped back.
Haroon: "I'll call from Istanbul."
The final announcement echoed:
"Passengers traveling on PK-8070 to Istanbul, please proceed to departure gate A-3."
Haroon straightened his uniform jacket, gave one last look at his family, and turned toward his team.
Ubaid and Irfan waved both hands high in the air.
Maryam watched until he disappeared into the security area.
Only then did she whisper, too softly for anyone but Allah to hear:
Maryam: "Khair se jaana… aur khair se lauta dena, Ya Rab."
---
Scene 2 — Parking Area, Outside the Airport
The family walked out slowly, the boys unusually quiet.
Irfan held Maryam's hand while walking toward the car where Imran was standing, leaning against the door, waving at them.
Imran: "Chalain? Bachay bhookay lag rahay hain."
Ubaid perked up.
Ubaid: "Mama… burger?"
Maryam smiled faintly.
Maryam: "Nahi beta, pehle ghar chalein, phir dekhenge."
Imran watched Maryam carefully. Her silence worried him.
Imran (softly): "Baji, Haroon bhai Allah ki hifazat mein jayenge. Aap fikr na karein."
Maryam forced a small smile.
Maryam: "Janti hoon… bas dil ko samjhati rehti hoon."
They all got inside the car, and the drive back home began quietly.
---
Scene 3 — Amana Superstore, Opening Time 10:00 AM
At the exact same time Haroon was boarding the aircraft, Rimsha was standing in front of Amana Superstore with keys in her hand. She wore a neat blue kurta with her hair tied back, looking fresh but slightly stressed.
She checked her watch—9:59 AM.
Rimsha (talking to herself): "Bas aik minute aur… phir Allah malik."
Imran had asked her earlier in the morning to open the store alone because he had gone to drop Maryam and the kids at the airport. The staff stood behind her—two cashiers, one security guard, and one cleaning boy.
As the clock turned 10:00, she unlocked the shutters.
Ratt-tatt-tatt…
The security guard pulled the shutters up, letting in bright sunlight. The store lights flickered on automatically, row after row glowing warm yellow.
Cashier Raza: "Baji… aaj bohat customers expected hain. Zamzam rice ka new stock aaya hai na."
Rimsha: "Haan, usay display par rakhwana hai. Aur sabzi section bhi check karwana hai. Rate list board par lagwa dein."
She started walking through the aisles, inspecting everything carefully. The fresh vegetable smell, the refrigerated hum of dairy sections, the shining shelves—it all made her proud.
She whispered to herself:
Rimsha: "Allah ka shukar… store roz se behtar chal raha hai."
Just then, the door opened. A few early customers walked in—housewives, elderly men, and two students buying snacks.
Rimsha greeted them warmly—she had a natural charm, a polite smile, and a sweet tone. Customers liked her presence.
---
Scene 4 — Afternoon at Amana Superstore
By noon, the store was crowded. Rimsha was helping customers, resolving stock issues, guiding the staff, and writing orders for wholesalers.
Suddenly, Imran arrived—breathing a little fast, wearing a white kurta.
He walked inside and found her arranging the breakfast cereal section. He stopped for a moment.
Unknowingly, he smiled.
There was something about the way Rimsha worked—focused, gentle, respectful—that pulled him toward her. And today, more than ever, he felt it deeply.
Imran: "Assalamualaikum."
Rimsha turned, a small frown of confusion, then a smile.
Rimsha: "Walaikum assalam. Aap aa gaye? Sab theek tha na airport par?"
Imran: "Haan… Haroon bhai apni flight pakar chuke hain. Bachay theek hain. Maryam baji bhi…"
He paused.
Rimsha waited.
Imran: "…thodi worried thi."
Rimsha nodded softly.
Rimsha: "Kaun si biwi nahi worried hoti apne shohar ke liye? Especially jab wo ATS ke chief hon…"
Imran looked at her again, studying her expressions, her thoughts, the sincerity in her tone.
Imran: "Aap itni samajhdar hain… isliye to store itna acha chal raha hai."
Rimsha blushed lightly and hid her smile.
Rimsha: "Acha chaliye… compliments ka waqt baad mein rakhein. Pehle yeh bataiye… aap lunch kar ke aaye hain? Ya bhookay hain?"
Imran: "Sach bolun? Bhook laga raha hai."
She sighed.
Rimsha: "Theek hai… staff room mein chai bana deti hoon. Aap bethiye."
Imran watched her walking away.
Something inside him whispered—she's special.
---
Scene 5 — City School (Ubaid and Irfan's School Day)
Back at school, classes were in full swing. Ubaid was sitting in the front row of Grade-5, solving a math exercise with full concentration.
His teacher, Miss Hina, walked past and noticed.
Miss Hina: "Excellent work, Ubaid. You are again ahead of the entire class."
Ubaid smiled shyly.
In another classroom, Irfan sat in Grade-3, raising his hand eagerly.
Irfan: "Miss, yeh question ka answer 34 hota hai na?"
The teacher laughed.
Teacher: "Yes, Irfan beta. Very good! Tum tou roz roz behter hotay ja rahe ho."
Both brothers were good students—intelligent, disciplined, and hardworking.
And today, both studied even more seriously.
Because their father was on duty.
Because they wanted to make him proud.
---
Scene 6 — Afternoon At Home
Maryam had returned home after dropping Haroon. The living room felt emptier. His prayer cap on the shelf, his watch on the dresser, his files on the side table—everything reminded her of him.
She stood near the window, staring outside, hands folded.
Maryam (whispering): "Ya Allah… mere Haroon ko hifazat se rakhna…"
Just then the doorbell rang. Maryam wiped her eyes and opened the door.
It was Rimsha and Imran, carrying a few grocery bags.
Rimsha: "Baji, yeh kuch fruits aur dry snacks le aaye hain. Bachay school se aayein ge toh kha lenge."
Maryam forced a grateful smile.
Maryam: "Shukriya… Bohat shukriya."
Imran looked at her respectfully.
Imran: "Baji, darwaza aur dil dono khula rakhein… Haroon bhai zaroor theek wapas aayenge."
Her eyes softened.
Maryam: "InshaAllah."
---
Scene 7 — Evening News, Living Room
The kids returned from school and filled the house with chatter again.
Ubaid excitedly ran to his mother:
Ubaid: "Mama! Main ne maths test full marks liye!"
Irfan added quickly,
Irfan: "Aur maine science message sabaq galti ke baghair parh liya!"
Maryam hugged both proudly.
Maryam: "MashAllah beta… Papa ko call kar ke bataein ge jab unka phone aye ga."
At 7:05 PM, the news channel showed a clip of the Prime Minister boarding the plane and waving.
Haroon could be seen briefly behind him with his ATS team.
Maryam: "Dekho! Papa!"
Both boys jumped excitedly.
Ubaid: "Mama, Papa tou bilkul hero lag rahe hain!"
Irfan: "Haan Mama, woh sab ko protect kar rahe hain!"
Maryam kept watching the screen, her heart swelling with pride and fear at the same time.
---
Scene 8 — Late Night, Maryam's Prayer Corner
The silence of night wrapped the house softly. Ubaid and Irfan slept peacefully. Maryam spread her prayer mat in her room.
She raised her hands in dua:
"Ya Allah, apne fazal se mere shohar ki hifazat farma.
Unhein sehat, aman aur barkat se wapas laa.
Unki mehnat, unki wafadari, unki imandari ka hamesha ajar ata farma.
Mere bachon ko ilm, hifazat, aur kher ata farma…"
Tears slipped down her cheeks.
But her voice remained firm.
Because her faith was stronger than her fear.
---
Scene 9 — Istanbul, Same Night (Haroon's POV)
The delegation had landed safely. Haroon stood outside the airport in the cold Turkish breeze, coordinating the security convoy.
One officer asked:
Officer Bilal: "Sir, sab theek?"
Haroon nodded.
Then looked at his phone.
No signal yet.
He whispered to himself:
Haroon: "Maryam… bacho… main theek hoon. Jaldi call karun ga."
The Turkish night air carried the distant sound of city traffic.
Duty had begun.
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END OF CHAPTER