The sun peeked softly through the gauzy curtains of the master bedroom, casting golden warmth across the room. Maryam sat near the window, her hand resting on her rounded belly, gently rubbing it in rhythmic circles. She was now in the sixth month of her second pregnancy. Her face glowed with a serene calmness, the kind that only motherhood could gift.
Downstairs, Ubaid—now a four-year-old bundle of energy—was chasing after his toy car, laughing loudly as it skidded across the marble floor. The sound echoed through the spacious house, filling it with the melody of innocent joy.
Haroon entered the room, holding a glass of fresh juice in one hand and his laptop in the other.
"Drink this first, meri jaan," he said, placing the glass gently on the bedside table. "Your doctor said you need more fluids."
Maryam smiled and took the glass. "JazakAllah. You remember more than I do."
Haroon chuckled and sat beside her, placing his hand on her belly. "And how is our little guest doing today?"
"He's kicking all the time lately," Maryam whispered with a soft laugh. "Just like Ubaid used to. I think he's impatient to come out and join his bhai."
Haroon grinned. "A future cricketer, perhaps."
Meanwhile, across town, Rimsha stood in the middle of Amana Superstore, clipboard in hand, listening intently to Imran's instructions. The superstore had grown immensely over the past three years, now boasting a team of 27 employees, a wide customer base, and three fully operating levels—basement storage and packing, the ground floor for food and essentials, and the first floor for household items, toys, and apparel.
The smell of new packaging and freshly mopped floors lingered in the air, and the hum of delivery trolleys filled the background as new inventory arrived.
"Rimsha," Imran said as he pointed toward the digital inventory screen, "this new software is going to make tracking sales and stock a lot easier. It takes time to learn, but once you do, you'll be running things even better than me."
Rimsha nodded attentively. Dressed in a smart navy-blue kurti and black pants, she looked every bit the young entrepreneur. Her once timid expressions had now transformed into a calm determination. Though she had faced some rough patches during her early months of training, her confidence had grown immensely.
"You remember I told you I took commerce in college for a reason?" she said with a proud little smile. "This is why. Business has always fascinated me. It's challenging—but I love it."
Imran returned her smile warmly. "And you're doing an excellent job. Honestly, I didn't expect you to grasp all the supplier relations and backend accounts this quickly."
Rimsha laughed. "Neither did I."
A staff member approached them. "Sir, the fridge delivery is arriving in fifteen minutes. Should I tell security to allow the truck in?"
"Yes, guide them straight to the back unloading bay," Imran instructed, before turning to Rimsha. "Want to supervise this one?"
She nodded. "Of course."
As she walked away briskly, clipboard in hand, Imran watched her with a silent admiration. Her late father would have been proud. So much had changed in just three years. Life had pulled them in unexpected directions, but somehow everything was coming together now.
---
Later that evening, Maryam arrived at the superstore with Haroon and little Ubaid. She wore a simple light blue maxi dress and a dupatta wrapped gently around her head. Her baby bump was noticeable now, and her steps were slower, more deliberate.
As she entered, the staff immediately stood to greet her.
"Assalamu Alaikum, Ma'am!"
"Wa Alaikum Assalam," she replied with a motherly smile. "How is everything?"
Imran came forward, wiping his hands. "All smooth today, Alhamdulillah."
Haroon took Ubaid's hand as the boy ran toward the toy section, shouting with excitement. "Baba! Baba! Look! New cars!"
Maryam walked around slowly, observing the well-organized shelves, the helpful staff, and the line of customers at the billing counter. There was a silent pride in her heart—a sense of contentment. From an old bookstore and library to this three-level superstore… it had been a long journey. She still remembered the first discussion in the car, the late-night brainstorming, and the chaotic shelf installations. And now, everything was so… polished.
She turned to Imran. "I heard Rimsha is handling the accounts now?"
Imran nodded. "Yes, and she's already handling payroll and inventory reports independently."
"That's great." Maryam smiled. "I always wanted her to become something more than just my younger sister."
Imran lowered his voice slightly. "She has become a businesswoman, thanks to your vision. And now this place—Amana Superstore—is a symbol of all your combined efforts."
Maryam looked away, touched. "All thanks to Allah. We just dreamed. He fulfilled."
---
That night, back home, Haroon and Maryam were preparing for bed. Ubaid had fallen asleep in his small cot, hugging his favorite plush elephant.
Maryam slipped under the covers, sighing deeply as she rested her head on the pillow.
"Do you ever think," she whispered to Haroon, "how different life would've been if we hadn't started this superstore?"
Haroon leaned closer, stroking her hair. "Of course. I think about it all the time."
"We might have just continued our lives, quietly, not knowing what we were capable of building…"
"But Allah chose this for us," Haroon said, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. "And we accepted the test. Look how far we've come."
Maryam turned toward him, eyes half-shut. "Do you remember how I used to doubt myself in the beginning?"
"And now you're mentoring others," he replied.
A soft silence followed. Only the ticking clock and Ubaid's faint breathing could be heard. The home was warm, quiet, filled with blessings.
Haroon gently reached over and wrapped an arm around her. "Close your eyes, Maryam. You've done enough today."
She smiled faintly. "Good night."
"Good night," he whispered.
And slowly, they both drifted into peaceful sleep, unaware of the even greater joys and challenges awaiting them in the days to come…
---
[End of Chapter 42]