Scene One
9:00 PM – A Quiet Evening at Maryam's Home
The clock on the wall ticked softly as the house settled into its night rhythm. Dinner had ended a short while ago, dishes were washed, and the familiar calm of the evening wrapped itself around Maryam's home.
In the TV lounge, Maryam sat comfortably on one end of the sofa, a warm cup of coffee resting in her hands. She scrolled through short videos on her phone—some family clips, some motivational talks, and a few cooking ideas she had saved for later. Across from her, Haroon leaned back slightly, his attention fixed on the television where the evening news played in a steady, serious tone.
The anchor spoke about traffic updates, political statements, and weather forecasts, but Haroon's mind was only half there. He sipped his coffee slowly, eyes on the screen, yet thoughts moving elsewhere—work responsibilities, patrol schedules, and the quiet weight of being both a father and a protector.
Maryam glanced at him occasionally, noticing the familiar crease on his forehead that appeared whenever he was thinking deeply. She didn't interrupt him. Years of companionship had taught her the value of silence between them.
The house felt safe, warm, and grounded.
---
Scene Two
Hesitation at the Doorway
From the hallway, two small figures appeared.
Ubaid and Irfan stood just outside the TV lounge, whispering urgently to each other. Their school uniforms had been changed long ago, replaced with comfortable night clothes, but the excitement of the day still clung to them.
"You bolo," Irfan whispered, nudging Ubaid gently.
"Nahi, tum bolo," Ubaid replied, shaking his head. "Papa tumhari baat zyada sunte hain."
Irfan frowned. "Tum bare ho. Tum bolo ge toh papa serious lein ge."
They both peeked into the lounge. Their parents looked relaxed, which made the moment feel both perfect and terrifying.
"Abhi nahi bolein ge toh phir kab?" Irfan murmured.
Ubaid took a deep breath. "Theek hai… lekin agar papa ne mana kar diya toh?"
Irfan swallowed. "Phir bhi poochna toh hai."
They pushed each other lightly one last time and finally stepped into the TV lounge together.
---
Scene Three
A Father Notices
Haroon noticed them immediately.
Years in the police force had sharpened his instincts. He could tell from their posture alone that something was on their minds. Ubaid stood a little straighter than usual, hands clasped together. Irfan kept shifting his weight from one foot to the other, eyes darting between his parents.
Haroon muted the TV.
"Kya baat hai?" he asked calmly. "Tum dono kuch kehna chahte ho?"
Maryam looked up from her phone, instantly attentive. She smiled gently at the boys, trying to ease their nerves.
"Kya hua?" she asked softly.
Ubaid glanced at Irfan, who gave him a small nod.
Ubaid cleared his throat. "Papa… woh… school picnic ka."
Haroon raised an eyebrow slightly. "Picnic?"
"Yes papa," Irfan jumped in quickly. "Hamari school ne announce ki hai."
"Next month," Ubaid added. "Nathiya Gali."
For a moment, the room was silent.
Haroon leaned back slightly, folding his arms. He didn't interrupt. He simply listened, letting his sons speak freely.
"Dates abhi confirm nahi hain," Irfan continued, eager. "Lekin teachers ne bata diya hai."
"Sab bachay jaa rahe hain," Ubaid said carefully. "Aur hum bhi jana chahte hain."
Maryam watched Haroon closely, trying to read his reaction. She knew this look—the one where he absorbed information carefully before responding.
Haroon nodded slowly. "Hmm."
That single sound made both boys tense.
---
Scene Four
The Deferred Answer
Haroon looked at both of them, his gaze firm but not unkind.
"Main ne tum dono ki baat sun li hai," he said evenly.
The boys leaned forward slightly, hopeful.
"Lekin is waqt main koi jawab nahi doon ga," Haroon continued. "Hum baad mein is topic par baat karein ge."
The words landed softly—but heavily.
"Baad mein?" Irfan asked quietly.
"Yes," Haroon replied. "Abhi jao. So jao. Kal dekhein ge."
Ubaid nodded respectfully. "Theek hai papa."
Irfan tried to hide his disappointment. "Good night papa."
"Good night," Haroon replied.
Maryam smiled at them. "Good night beta."
The boys turned and walked back toward their rooms, their excitement now mixed with uncertainty.
As soon as they disappeared down the hallway, Maryam turned toward Haroon.
"Aap ne haan bhi nahi kaha… aur naa bhi nahi," she said gently.
Haroon exhaled slowly. "Kyun ke abhi faisla karna theek nahi."
Maryam nodded. She understood. Haroon never gave careless permissions—especially when it came to their children's safety.
"Un ka dil bohot laga hua hai," Maryam said softly.
"I know," Haroon replied. "Isi liye soch samajh ke jawab doon ga."
The TV remained muted. The coffee had grown cold.
---
Scene Five
Ubaid's Thoughts – A Restless Mind
In his bedroom, Ubaid lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
Haroon's words echoed in his mind.
Baad mein baat karein ge.
He turned onto his side, pulling the blanket up slightly.
"Shayad papa mana kar dein," he thought.
He remembered stories from classmates—bus rides, mountain air, laughter, photos. He wanted to be part of it, not the one left behind with excuses.
But another thought followed.
Papa hamesha hamari safety ke baare mein sochte hain.
Ubaid sighed. Being the elder one meant understanding things earlier than others. He tried to convince himself to be patient.
"Kal dekhte hain," he whispered to himself.
Slowly, sleep crept in, carrying unanswered questions with it.
---
Scene Six
Irfan's Quiet Hope
In the adjacent room, Irfan lay curled on his side, clutching his pillow.
"Papa ne naa nahi kaha," he whispered into the quiet.
That single fact gave him hope.
He imagined Nathiya Gali—the trees, the cool air, the bus full of friends. He imagined telling Fatima about it later, telling Ayesha someday when she was older.
Shayad papa haan keh dein, he thought hopefully.
He closed his eyes, holding onto that small possibility.
Within minutes, his breathing softened as sleep took over.
---
Scene Seven
Parents in Silence
Back in the TV lounge, Haroon finally turned the TV off completely.
Maryam placed her phone aside and looked at him.
"Aap kya soch rahe hain?" she asked.
Haroon leaned back, rubbing his temples lightly. "Safety… zimmedari… aur un ki khushi."
Maryam nodded. "Aap jo bhi faisla karein ge, sahi hi hoga."
Haroon looked at her, a faint smile appearing. "Tum hamesha mujh par bharosa karti ho."
Maryam smiled back. "Is liye kyun ke aap bachon ke liye kabhi ghalat faisla nahi karte."
They sat there for a while longer, the house wrapped in quiet.
Upstairs, two boys slept with unanswered hopes.
Downstairs, two parents carried the weight of decision.
And somewhere between silence and sleep, the night held its breath—waiting for tomorrow.