A tragic incident took place in Tahir's neighborhood—one that shook his daughters so deeply that fear settled permanently in their hearts. They began to hesitate before stepping outside the house. Despite Tahir's countless efforts, the terror refused to leave their minds. Eventually, even going to school, coaching, or the madrasa became frightening for them.
The reason behind this fear was an incident involving a Pashtun woman named Noreen, who lived nearby with her two sons, Rehmat Ali and Bilal Ali. Noreen's husband was an extremely suspicious man. Tahir's daughters often went to Noreen to learn Quranic lessons. Because she was Pashtun, she recited prayer intentions in her native accent. The girls learned those pronunciations from her, and whenever they recited them before Tahir, he could not help but smile. The girls were deeply attached to Noreen.
Noreen's husband owned a car workshop close to their home. Whenever he left for work, he would lock Noreen inside the house. Around noon, he returned briefly to unlock the door so his sons could go to the madrasa.
Beneath Noreen's house lived an eighty-five-year-old elderly man—the grandfather of Yasmeen and Hamid. His wife had passed away, and his daughter-in-law refused to feed him due to his age. As a result, neighbors often sent him food. On her husband's instruction, Noreen sometimes sent meals to the old man through Rehmat Ali.
One day, when Rehmat Ali was away with his father, the elderly man came to Noreen's gate. He was burning with fever and asked for tea, medicine, or money for a doctor's visit. Suddenly, Noreen's husband arrived and saw the old man at the gate. He asked the reason, gave him some money, and sent him away.
Once inside, he accused Noreen of having an affair with the elderly man and claimed she spoke to him behind his back.
The truth, however, was very different. Noreen's husband himself was involved with another woman. Since Noreen was his cousin, he faced strong family opposition to a second marriage. To justify his intentions, he fabricated accusations against Noreen, using them as an excuse.
Noreen's Pashtun pride, honor, and long-suppressed anger erupted. After her husband left, she embraced her children tightly. Then she called Tahir's daughter to her. Placing her two sons in the child's care, she said softly,"Take care of them. If something happens to me, call my father. His house is not far."
The children of the neighborhood, including Tahir's daughter, knew where Noreen's father lived.
After kissing her sons again, Noreen took the petrol her husband had kept for his motorcycle and a box of matches. She went into the room and took a step that would change many lives forever.
Her screams tore through the air. Flames rose, and panic spread. In the courtyard, Tahir's daughter, Rehmat Ali, and Arbaz stood frozen in terror, crying uncontrollably.
When smoke began pouring out of the room, the screams drew neighbors—women and children—who gathered in fear. Hamid and Tahir's daughter ran to call Noreen's father. By then, Noreen's husband was also informed. He had never imagined such a reaction. He believed Noreen would cry and then remain silent.
When he arrived, Noreen's father and the neighbors broke open the door. Noreen lay severely injured. With great difficulty, she told her father about the accusation her husband had placed upon her.
She was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance, but she passed away on the way.
Noreen's father took his grandsons with him and said to Noreen's husband,"You are responsible for my daughter's death."
Later, Noreen's husband married the same woman. His second wife treated Noreen's children cruelly—beating them and forcing them to do all the household work.
At the time of the incident, Tahir was at his job. Since all the children had witnessed everything with their own eyes, they were deeply traumatized—especially Tahir's daughters. Noreen's screams echoed in their ears long after the incident.
When Tahir returned home that night, his daughters told him everything, crying bitterly. For an entire week, they refused to step outside the house.
Even now, whenever they see the burned walls of Noreen's home, the memories return—and their tears follow.
Some tragedies do not end with death.They continue to live inside the hearts of those who witnessed them.