Scene 1 – The Call
The evening in Islamabad carried a soft calm — the kind of silence that descends after a long working day. The faint hum of ceiling fans blended with the ticking of the clock in Maryam's living room. She had just tucked Ubaid and Irfan into bed after dinner and was folding a few of their school uniforms when the landline phone rang.
The ring was sharp, urgent, cutting through the house's calm.
Maryam walked briskly to the phone and picked it up.
"Assalamu Alaikum… Maryam here," she said softly.
From the other side came Inspector Haseeb's voice — breathless, low, and tinged with worry.
"Wa Alaikum Assalam, Maryam bhabhi. Please… don't be alarmed. It's about DSP Haroon."
Her heart skipped a beat. "Haroon? What happened? Is he… alright?"
"He's in surgery right now," Haseeb replied quickly. "He was injured during a crossfire with the robbers near Balakot. Alhamdulillah, he's alive, but the doctors are operating on his arm and shoulder. We need you to come to Shifa Medical Complex, emergency ward. I'm there now."
For a moment, Maryam's voice refused to come out. Her fingers went cold around the receiver. The room seemed to blur. "In… in surgery?" she stammered.
"Yes. The operation's still going on," Haseeb continued. "Don't panic, bhabhi. He's stable, but the wound was deep. Please come as soon as you can."
Maryam whispered, "Ya Allah…" as the phone slipped slightly from her trembling hand. The receiver swung loosely, thudding against the wall.
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Scene 2 – The Visitors Arrive
At that very moment, Imran and Rimsha had just parked outside her house after hearing the same news bulletin on television. Imran stepped out of the car quickly and knocked at the door, worry etched across his face. Rimsha followed, clutching her dupatta tightly.
Inside, Maryam stood frozen near the table, staring blankly at the swaying phone receiver. The boys had come running out of their room after hearing the sound of the knock.
"Ammi? Kya hua?" Ubaid asked, tugging at her arm.
Maryam didn't respond. Her lips moved in silent prayers.
Imran entered and caught sight of her pale face. "Maryam baji, kya hua? We saw the news about Haroon bhai. Did someone call?"
Rimsha gently took the dangling receiver from Maryam's hand and placed it back to her ear. "Hello? Hello, who's speaking?"
From the other side, Haseeb's steady voice replied, "Inspector Haseeb. Please tell bhabhi we're at Shifa Medical Complex, emergency wing. The operation is still underway."
Rimsha noted the address quickly, repeating it out loud for Imran to hear. "Shifa Medical Complex, emergency wing."
Maryam finally blinked and whispered, "Haroon... hospital... surgery…" before her knees gave way slightly. Imran rushed forward and caught her before she could fall, helping her sit on the sofa.
"Baji, please steady yourself," Imran said softly. "He's a fighter. Allah ka karam hoga. Let's go right now."
Rimsha fetched her dupatta and bag. Ubaid and Irfan clung to their mother's arms, frightened by the tension around them.
"Ammi, we're coming too," Ubaid said.
Maryam hesitated for a moment, then nodded faintly. "Yes… we'll all go."
Imran helped her lock the house, and they all got into his car — the silence between them heavy, broken only by Rimsha's soft recitation of Ayat-ul-Kursi as they drove through the dimly lit streets.
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Scene 3 – The Hospital Corridor
The Shifa Medical Complex emergency wing was bathed in the sterile white of fluorescent lights. The air smelled of antiseptic, fear, and whispered hope.
Imran parked hurriedly, and they rushed through the glass doors. Inside, Inspector Haseeb was pacing near the operation theater, his uniform still dusty from the mountain operation.
As soon as he saw Maryam, he stepped forward. "Bhabhi… he's in there."
Maryam's eyes filled instantly. "Is he conscious?"
"Not yet," Haseeb replied gently. "The doctors said they're trying to stop internal bleeding from the shoulder wound. Bullet passed through but caused a lot of tissue damage. He lost some blood."
Maryam pressed her hands to her mouth. "Ya Allah reham…" she murmured.
"Please sit, bhabhi," Rimsha urged softly, guiding her to the waiting area. The chairs were cold metal, the ticking clock loud in the silence.
Ubaid and Irfan sat beside Rimsha, watching the glowing red "Operation in Progress" sign above the theater door. Ubaid leaned close to his younger brother and whispered, "Don't worry, Irfan. Abbu will be okay. Allah sab theek karega."
Irfan nodded, small eyes wide with worry. "Ammi ro mat," he said softly, crawling into her lap.
Maryam hugged him tightly. "Main nahi ro rahi, beta," she said through a trembling voice. "Bas dua kar rahi hoon."
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Scene 4 – In the Waiting Area
Hours passed like slow drops of rain. The sound of nurses' footsteps and muffled announcements echoed through the corridor. Every time the operation theater door opened and a nurse walked out, Maryam's eyes darted toward her.
Rimsha stood near the wall, folding her arms tightly. "Imran, it's been over two hours," she whispered.
Imran nodded. "Surgery for bullet wounds takes time. Haroon bhai's a strong man. He's been through worse in the field."
Haseeb sat a few chairs away, head bowed, occasionally rubbing his forehead. "He saved three officers in that firefight," he murmured. "Didn't even call for backup till the suspects were down."
Maryam listened silently, her eyes fixed on the operation room door. Memories of Haroon's laughter, his strong voice, the way he'd walk in proudly in uniform flooded her heart. She closed her eyes, whispering a dua:
> "Ya Allah, mere Haroon ko sehat de. Woh hamare bachon ka sahara hai. Unke zakhmon ko bhar de, unki zindagi lambi kar de."
Ubaid looked at Rimsha and asked, "Khala, Abbu ko chot lagi hai kya?"
Rimsha kneeled beside him. "Haan, beta, thodi chot lagi hai, lekin doctor uncle theek kar rahe hain. Allah unko jald sehat dega."
Imran walked over and ruffled both boys' hair. "Tum dono bahadur ho, bilkul apne Abbu ki tarah," he said softly.
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Scene 5 – The Doctor's Brief Appearance
The clock struck 11:40 p.m. when the theater door opened briefly. A doctor in scrubs stepped out, pulling off his gloves. Everyone stood up at once.
"Doctor saab?" Maryam's voice trembled. "Woh… Haroon…?"
The surgeon, Dr. Faisal, gave a reassuring nod. "He's stable, Alhamdulillah. The bullet had passed through, so we've cleaned and stitched the wound. We're still controlling blood loss, but his vitals are steady. It'll take another half hour before we can shift him to recovery."
Maryam felt her knees weaken with relief. "Shukriya, doctor saab… Allah aapko ajar de," she said tearfully.
Dr. Faisal gave a small smile. "Pray for him. He's a brave man. I'll update you again soon."
The doctor disappeared back inside, leaving them all exhaling a breath they didn't realize they were holding.
Imran placed a gentle hand on Maryam's shoulder. "See? I told you — Allah never leaves the brave unguarded."
Maryam nodded, her face still pale but calmer. "Haroon zinda hai… Alhamdulillah."
Rimsha quietly handed her a tissue. "Be strong, Maryam baji. He'll need your smile when he wakes up."
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Scene 6 – Silent Prayers
The hospital corridor dimmed as the night grew older. Nurses changed shifts, janitors mopped floors, and the faint aroma of coffee floated from the staff pantry. The "Operation in Progress" light finally turned off, replaced by a quiet hum of machinery inside.
Rimsha had the boys half-asleep in her lap, their heads resting on each other's shoulders. Imran sipped cold tea from a paper cup, his eyes fixed on the closed door.
Maryam stood near the window, looking out at the still night. A tear rolled down her cheek, catching the glow of a fluorescent light. She raised her hands once more.
> "Ya Rab, tu sab kuch jaanta hai. Tu mere Haroon ko bachale. Mere bachon ka sahara tu hi hai."
The silence that followed was not empty. It was filled with hope, faith, and the quiet rhythm of waiting — the kind that only families of those who serve ever truly understand.
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Scene 7 – The Door Opens
At 12:30 a.m., the operation theater door opened again. The nurse stepped out and announced, "Patient's surgery is complete. He's being shifted to the ICU for observation."
Everyone stood. Maryam pressed her hands together, whispering, "Alhamdulillah." Tears glistened in her eyes, but this time, they were of relief.
Imran exhaled deeply, his face lighting up with a faint smile. Rimsha looked up at the ceiling, whispering, "Shukar hai, Ya Allah."
Ubaid rubbed his sleepy eyes and asked, "Ammi, Abbu theek ho gaye?"
Maryam smiled through her tears and kissed his forehead. "Haan beta, Allah ne sun li."
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End of Chapter