" The EPILOGUE "

**Islamabad, Pakistan - A bright morning outside the prison gates.**

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the city. The air was thick with the hotness of summer, sterile environment of the prison that had held her for the past three years. Today, the heavy iron gates creaked open, and she stepped out into the world, her heart racing but, her face & eyes held nothing......

Simran (سمرن), a petite girl with deep brown eyes that held Secrets, years of pain & somehow nothingness.... Her long black hair, once tied back in a neat braid, now fell freely around her shoulders, a symbol of her freedom. She wore a simple white shalwar kameez, the fabric soft against her skin, a reminder of the life she now belongs....

As she took her first steps outside, the weight of the past three years began to lift. The sounds of the bustling city filled her ears—honking cars, the chatter of vendors, and the distant laughter of children playing. It was a symphony of life that she had left behind years ago.....she paused, inhaling deeply, the fresh air filling her lungs.....

“Baji!” A familiar voice called out, breaking her reverie. It was The Driver, who had been waiting at the gates.

“ They sent you to pick me up ?? " She questioned without any emotion.

The driver only bows says nothing.......

She Exhale sharply....then Start walking towards the car, settle down on the back seat and start looking outside as the car is moving on the road with limited speed.......

As, the car moving she saw around—the new café that had opened, the changes in the city..... Everything she saw without any emotion any flick of amusement or excitement her gaze held nothing.......

But as the car stop in the Red Traffic light, her gaze fell upon a group of young women laughing and taking selfies in the other side of the road, build a park. A shadow of sadness visible in her eyes..... She had been one of them once, carefree and full of dreams. Now, she felt like a shadow... A Ghost..... A nothingness..........

But, what she knows is that........... Islamabad held nothing for her to hold onto..... it's time to leave the city......that once a home now just a place filled with pain, sadness and sentence of prison she served in......

..._______________...

...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...

**Karachi, Pakistani.... Typical Summer Morning in the Big Mansion **

A bustling kitchen in a modest yet warm mansion in Karachi. The sun is just rising, casting a golden hue through the window. The aroma of freshly brewed chai mingles with the scent of parathas sizzling on the stove....

*The kitchen is alive with the sounds of clattering dishes and sizzling food. Jameela Bua [ the head of servants of the house] stands at the stove, flipping parathas with one hand while pouring chai with the other.

A Man in his 50s but still looks like he's about 40 to 38 years old sits at the dining table, his newspaper spread out before him.... he's ready the news with focus......

A woman about 47 years old came out of main door of the house.... behind her a Maid is walking with head down holding a flower watering pot. Indicating that The Woman finishes her activity of watering flowers in the morning.....

" ARE YOU DONE... Mrs...? " (Mr Haider Shah ask with softness in his eyes & love in his voice)

" Yes, Do you know shah, we Got another White rose's plant delivered by Gardner this morning.....I was checking on it.... it's so beautiful even tho, it didn't even bloom fully...."(Zoha shah start rumbling about her activity the moment she sits besides her husband)

" Mama, you shouldn't be talking this much with such shiny eyes and happiness...baba is losing his mind I swear...." (suddenly Azan shah entered and pinch his mother's cheek said in a mischievous flirty tune)

Zoha shah suddenly blushes hard.....

" I Looked at the woman I love whole heartily..... it's not wrong...." (Haider shah looks at his younger son with raised eyebrow and said teasingly)

" Ohh, Baba it's not wrong.... it's basically romantic....( Azan laugh and said in a mischievous tune then, again pinch his mother bushy cheek and said teasingly to her) Right Mama ???"

" Shut up both of you "(Zoha begum immediately slap her son's shoulder playfully)

*Zaryab stumbles into the kitchen, her hair caged in ponytail, wearing black beggy t shirt with beggy trouser a scarf around her neck and shoulder.*

" (yawning) Do we have any eggs left? I need my protein! " ( she said to Jameela Bua who's filiping paratha.......)

*Before jameela Bua could answer Maya rushed towards her and snatch the plate of Hot Paratha that Jameela bua took of from stove and put it on place..... She looks at Bua with loving eyes and said Thank you and rush out of the kitchen without glancing over Zaryab.....*

Jameela begum shook her head.... everyone knows Maya craze over eating hot food that came off from the stove right away......she can eat it without feeling burn.....Ali and Azan calls her " COIL QUEEN " SHE even bath with around 48 Centigrade water temperature.....even in summer let alone winter......

" Yeah, child I boil your 2 eggs...with same amount of time you wanted them to cook.........." ( Jameela Bua replied to zaryab in a polite tune )

" Thank you Bua..... " (Zaryab bows dramatically with a proud smile and walks out)

" Ohh my eggs...... finally the perfect breakfast of the morning....." (zaryab dramatically sits on her chair in the dinning table and wipe fake tears)

Maya sitting on opposite side of her said teasingly) " you mean your beautiful breakfast ! careful sister in law because within just few weeks you start looking like a skeleton with skin "

*ALI HAIDER SHAH suddenly darts in behind Maya,with a cheeky grin on his face, holding a coat.........*

Ali elegantly sits besides Zaryab and slightly kiss on her forehead like it's a most normal thing to do....... Looks at his cheeky cousin and said in a serious-joking tune..." Will you stop harassing my Wife.... she's beautiful and fit not like you a fatty baby bear.... "

" I swear bro, if you really means what you say than, congratulations you officially loose your sanity........" (Noor ul Ain suddenly entered with a tray of cup cake and a lap coat on her other hand says in a disbelieve voice)

" What so bad about being loser in love.....??????? " (suddenly the voice of haider shah rang in the room....he, Zoha shah and Azan entered the dining room)

" Yeah, Noor Nothing wrong......" (Azan said while putting pressure on his words...eyes shamelessly check Noor ul ain out)

" Can you stop staring at my Sister. Please,"(Maya said in a disgusting voice)

" Don't be jealous..... your man coming over too in a week......." (zaryab said in a teasing tune)

Maya suddenly went quieter than, the blush spread all over her face.......

The dinning room echoes with laughter......

..._____________...

...!!!!!!!!!!!!!...

Thank you for reading......🎀

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