Scene 1 – Rimsha's Return to Quiet Walls
The sound of the latch clicked as Rimsha pushed open the gate of her parents' home. The narrow, quiet street of the middle-class housing society in Islamabad looked the same, yet everything felt different without her parents' presence. She dragged her bags across the cemented porch, the familiar rustle of bougainvillea leaves brushing against the boundary wall.
Inside, the house smelled faintly of wood polish and old books. She set her bags down in the drawing room, her eyes scanning the familiar furniture — the sofa set her mother had bought from Aabpara market, the wooden showcase filled with crockery that was rarely used, and the wall clock ticking steadily, as if nothing had changed.
Rimsha whispered softly, almost to herself,
Rimsha (thinking): "Ghar tou wahi hai… bas log kam ho gaye hain."
She moved slowly through the rooms. The dining table was neatly covered, but she could still picture her father sitting at the head, reading the newspaper while sipping tea. The kitchen echoed with memories of her mother's soft humming while cooking.
For the first time in years, the house felt heavy with silence. She dropped onto the sofa, her heart torn between relief at being back and the loneliness of being alone.
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Scene 2 – A Neighbor's Visit
A knock on the door startled her. She hurried to open it and found Mrs. Khalid, a middle-aged woman from next door, holding a plate covered with a floral cloth.
Mrs. Khalid: "Assalam-o-alaikum, Rimsha beti! Tum waqai wapas aa gayi ho? Humne suna tha ke tum apni baji ke ghar rehti ho ab."
Rimsha (smiling faintly): "Wa-alaikum assalam, aunty. Ji, kuch dino ke liye wahin thi… ab ghar aa gayi hoon."
Mrs. Khalid handed her the plate.
Mrs. Khalid: "Yeh tumhare liye seekh kabab banaye hain. Humne socha akeli hogi, thoda khanay ka intezam ho jaye."
Rimsha: "Aap ne itni takleef kyun ki, aunty… bohot shukriya."
The woman stepped inside for a moment, her eyes scanning the quiet house.
Mrs. Khalid (gently): "Dekho beti, ghar akela zaroor hai lekin tumhari apni yaadon se bhara hua hai. Kabhi bhi zaroorat ho tou hum yahan hi hain."
Rimsha felt warmth in those words, though her chest tightened with longing. After the neighbor left, she placed the kababs on the dining table. The food smelled delicious, but her appetite was dimmed by solitude.
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Scene 3 – Thinking About the Superstore
Later that evening, as she sat near the study table once used by her father, Rimsha pulled out a notebook. She began scribbling down thoughts about her future. The conversation with Haroon replayed in her mind: "Why don't you live with us? Or maybe rent out this place?"
She shook her head.
Rimsha (thinking): "Yeh ghar mere liye sirf makan nahin hai… abbu-amma ki yaad hai. Kaise isse rent pe doon?"
But she also knew she couldn't just sit in the house all day. Her mind wandered to Amana Superstore where Imran bhai worked as manager. She had spent months learning management from him. The thought of work gave her a sense of purpose.
Rimsha (thinking): "Imran bhai ne jo sikhaya, uska faida uthana hoga. Yeh tanhai mein ghoor ghoor ke rone se behtar hai main wahan kuch waqt guzaru."
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Scene 4 – Maryam and Haroon's Routine
While Rimsha was adjusting to solitude, Maryam's life in Haroon's home was colored with both joy and responsibility. Baby Irfan, now three months old, had started making soft cooing sounds. Maryam, though still recovering, could walk slowly around the house, often carrying the baby in her arms.
One morning, as sunlight filtered through the curtains, Haroon prepared breakfast.
Haroon (placing bread in the toaster): "Maryam, tum sirf apni sehat pe dhyan do. Ghar ka kaam main aur baji dekh lenge."
Maryam (smiling faintly): "Nahi Haroon, mujhe acha lagta hai jab main thoda kaam karti hoon. Warna din bohot lamba lagta hai."
Baby Irfan gurgled in her lap, and Maryam kissed his forehead. The little one's presence brought a spark of happiness despite her body's weakness.
Later in the day, Ayesha video-called them from Lahore, eager to see her nephew. Maryam lifted the phone toward Irfan, and Ayesha's laughter echoed through the screen.
Ayesha: "MashaAllah, kitna pyara lag raha hai! Har roz badal raha hai."
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Scene 5 – Rimsha's Loneliness and Resolve
A week into her stay, Rimsha's loneliness deepened. She would sit in the drawing room in the evenings, listening to the sound of children playing cricket in the street outside. The silence inside contrasted painfully with the life outside.
One evening, she whispered to herself,
Rimsha: "Aaj agar Ammi hoti tou chai banake kehdeti, 'Beta bahar mat dekho, andar aake baitho.'"
Tears welled in her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away. She remembered her parents' wish for their daughters to stay strong.
That night, she called Imran on his phone.
Rimsha: "Salam bhai, main soch rahi thi… kya main kal Superstore aa sakti hoon? Thoda waqt nikalna chahti hoon wahan."
Imran: "Bilkul, Rimsha. Tumhari presence wahan bohot zaroori hai. Hum management ka aur experience tumhe dena chahte hain."
This gave her something to look forward to.
Scene 6 – One Month Later: Rimsha Visits Maryam
After a month, on a mild autumn afternoon, Rimsha decided to visit Maryam. She carried a small gift — a dress for baby Irfan. As she rang the bell, Maryam opened the door with a wide smile.
Maryam: "Assalam-o-alaikum, Rimsha! Andar aao, bohot din baad mil rahi ho."
Rimsha: "Wa-alaikum assalam aapi. Bas socha aaj aapko aur Irfan ko dekh loon."
She stepped inside, and immediately baby Irfan's cry filled the living room. Maryam picked him up and placed him in Rimsha's arms.
Rimsha (gently rocking the baby): "MashaAllah… kitna piyara lag raha hai. Bilkul aap pe gaya hai, aapi."
Maryam laughed softly. They sat together, sipping tea. After a few moments of silence, Maryam leaned closer.
Maryam: "Rimsha, tum mujhe sach sach batao… Superstore ka kya scene hai? Aur Imran bhai kaise hain?"
Rimsha's eyes lit up.
Rimsha: "Ji, aapi… sab acha hai. Pichle chhe mahine mein Imran bhai ne mujhe bohot kuch sikhaya hai. Accounts, supply chain, staff handling — sab. Unka style strict hai lekin fair. Maine management ke bare mein bohot samajh liya hai."
Maryam looked impressed, nodding thoughtfully.
Maryam: "MashaAllah, tumne itna seekh liya… mujhe umeed hai tum future mein aur bohot acha karogi."
After a pause, Maryam asked curiously,
Maryam: "Aur Imran ki beti, chhoti si Khadija… woh kaisi hai?"
Rimsha's lips curved into a soft smile.
Rimsha: "Woh bilkul theek hai. Abhi chaar saal ki hai. Kabhi kabhi Superstore bhi aa jaati hai. Staff usse dekh kar hansne lagta hai, sab usse pyar karte hain."
Maryam chuckled.
Maryam: "Woh bachpan ki masoomiyat hi sabse pyari hoti hai. Allah usko hamesha khush rakhe."
The sisters sat quietly for a moment, both reflecting on how life had changed. Maryam was busy nurturing her new family, while Rimsha was slowly stepping into a world of responsibilities outside the home.
Maryam (placing her hand on Rimsha's): "Mujhe tum par fakhr hai, Rimsha. Tumne apni tanhai ko apna zakhm banane ke bajaye apna raasta banaya."
Rimsha's eyes glistened with gratitude.
Rimsha: "Aapi, agar aap ka support aur duaen na hoti, tou shayad main kabhi himmat na karti."
Baby Irfan yawned in Rimsha's lap, and the house filled with a sense of quiet hope — as if both sisters, despite walking on different paths, were still bound by the strength of their bond and memories of their parents.