Chapter 1
Ayesha’s POV
“Doctor!”
A voice called from behind me. I turned around and saw a nurse hurrying toward me.
“Doctor, there’s a little boy crying in pain. He has injured his hand.”
Without wasting a second, I followed her.
A six-year-old boy was sitting on the hospital bed, holding his bleeding hand and crying.
I gently examined his wound.
“Arrey, such a brave boy is crying?” I asked, trying to distract him.
He looked at me with teary eyes.
I gave him a chocolate while carefully cleaning and bandaging his hand.
“There you go. It will heal soon. Bas medicines time par lena, okay?”
He nodded with a small smile.
After explaining the medicines to his mother, I watched them leave.
I returned to my cabin and finished the remaining paperwork. Soon, my shift was finally over.
I started gathering my belongings when suddenly-
BANG!
My cabin door burst open.
I didn’t even need to turn around.
I already knew who it was.
My best friend, Riya.
“Let’s go! We’re getting late. Aunty must be waiting,” she said.
Before I could say anything, she grabbed my hand and started dragging me outside.
“Riya! At least let me take my bag properly!”
“Stop complaining. Food comes first.”
I laughed and followed her.
Within minutes, we were on my scooty, heading home.
After thirty minutes, we finally reached home.
The moment I entered, I called out,
“Ammi!”
Ammi came out of the kitchen with a warm smile.
“Assalamualaikum, meri bachchi.”
“Walaikum Assalam, Ammi!”
I immediately ran to her and hugged her tightly.
She laughed and kissed my forehead.
“Kya hua? Aaj itna pyaar kyun aa raha hai?”
“Bas aise hi. I missed you.”
“Subah hi toh hospital gayi thi,” she said, shaking her head.
“Still,” I replied, smiling.
Behind me, Riya dramatically placed a hand on her chest.
“Wow! Aunty, no hug for me?”
Ammi laughed.
“You only come here for free food.”
“Exactly!” Riya replied proudly.
We all burst out laughing.
“Now both of you go freshen up. Dinner is almost ready,” Ammi said.
“Yes, Ammi!”
After changing, I came downstairs and immediately smelled my favorite food.
“Biryani!” I exclaimed.
Ammi smiled. “Your favorite.”
“Ammi, I love you!”
“I know,” she replied with a laugh.
Just then, two familiar voices echoed through the house.
“Ammi! We’re home!”
My younger brothers, Rehan and Sameer, walked into the dining room.
Rehan immediately dropped into a chair.
“I’m starving!”
“You’re always starving,” I said.
“Because I’m growing!”
Sameer rolled his eyes.
“Don’t listen to him, Api. He’s just greedy.”
“Traitor!” Rehan said dramatically.
I laughed as they started arguing.
A few moments later, Abbu entered the house.
“Assalamualaikum.”
“Walaikum Assalam,” we all replied together.
Abbu smiled as he looked around the table.
“Alhamdulillah. Sab ek saath hain.”
I quietly watched everyone.
Ammi serving food.
Abbu smiling.
Rehan and Sameer arguing over the bigger piece of chicken.
And Riya secretly stealing kebabs from everyone’s plates.
This was home.
This was happiness.
“Kya dekh rahi ho?” Abbu asked.
I smiled.
“Nothing.”
“lie,” he said.
I laughed. “Okay, maybe I was just feeling grateful.”
Abbu’s expression softened.
“Family is Allah’s biggest blessing, beta. Never take it for granted.”
“Ji, Abbu,” I replied softly.
Dinner continued with endless laughter and teasing.
Sameer accidentally spilled water on Rehan.
“YOU DID THAT ON PURPOSE!”
“I didn’t!”
“You absolutely did!”
Everyone burst into laughter.
“Bas karo dono,” Ammi scolded. “You’re not children anymore.”
“Yes, Ammi,” they replied together.
A few seconds later, they started arguing again.
I shook my head, laughing.
Later that night, we all gathered in the living room.
Ammi was knitting while Abbu read the newspaper.
Ayaan and Sameer were fighting over the television remote.
Riya was busy scrolling through her phone.
I sat quietly between my parents, enjoying the warmth of my family.
I rested my head on Abbu’s shoulder.
“Abbu?”
“Hm?”
“Can life always stay like this?”
He smiled gently.
“No, beta. Life changes.”
My smile faded slightly.
“But no matter what happens,” he continued, “this family will always stand together.”
His words warmed my heart.
Rehan suddenly pointed at me.
“Except Api. She’ll probably get married and leave us.”
“Reh!”
Everyone laughed as I threw a cushion at him.
“Get out!”
“See? Violence,” he said dramatically.
“I’m a doctor. I know where to hit.”
Everyone laughed even louder.
I looked around the room and smiled.
At that moment, I felt like the luckiest girl alive.
I didn’t know that this peaceful evening was the calm before a storm.
