Chapter 1
Ali was a simple and hardworking boy. He had many dreams, but the biggest one of all was cricket.
Ever since childhood, he had loved the game with all his heart. Every day after returning from school, he spent hours playing cricket with his friends. Whenever a match was on television, Ali would leave everything behind just to watch it.
Over time, his passion turned into an obsession.
He had already decided that he would soon talk to his father and ask him to enroll him in a cricket academy. Deep inside, Ali believed that one day he would become a famous cricketer and represent Pakistan on the international stage.
Ali was the eldest son in his family. He had two younger brothers. His father, a government employee, was the sole provider of the household. Life was peaceful, and the family managed well.
But sometimes, life changes everything in a single moment.
One day, Ali’s father suffered a sudden heart attack.
The family rushed him to the hospital, but fate had other plans.
Ali’s father passed away.
The news shattered the entire family.
Before Ali could even recover from the shock, a mountain of responsibilities fell onto his shoulders.
In the beginning, relatives and neighbors offered their support. Everyone came to comfort the family and promised to help whenever needed.
However, as time passed, people became busy with their own lives.
Now the family had to survive on a small pension.
With inflation rising every day, college fees, household bills, and the expenses of his younger brothers became increasingly difficult to manage.
Ali’s mother often looked worried.
“Son, if you can find a job somewhere, it would help ease the burden on the family,” she would say sadly.
Ali would simply nod in silence.
For him, cricket had become nothing more than a distant dream.
Every day after college, he went out searching for work. He visited shops, offices, and businesses, but disappointment followed him everywhere.
“Sorry, son. We don’t need any workers right now.”
He had heard those words so many times that they became painfully familiar.
Days passed, and life grew harder.
Then one day, when Ali returned home from college, he noticed that his aunt had come to visit.
He greeted her with a smile.
“Assalam-o-Alaikum, Khala.”
“Wa Alaikum Assalam, beta. How are you?” she asked warmly.
As they talked, Ali’s eyes fell on a girl sitting beside his aunt.
It was Fatima—his aunt’s daughter.
For the first time, he truly noticed her.
Fatima greeted him with a gentle smile.
Ali returned the greeting, and soon they began talking.
Before they realized it, hours had passed.
Despite meeting properly for the first time, both of them felt as if they had known each other for years.
From that day onward, something changed in Ali’s routine.
Whenever he returned from college, he always found an excuse to visit his aunt’s house.
And every time, there was only one reason behind it.
Fatima.
But Ali had no idea that Fatima would not only become a part of his love story, but also the greatest test of his life—a test that would change his future forever.
To Be Continued...
