Scene 1: The Hospital Room – Silence Before Dawn
The night was thick with silence inside the private room of Services Hospital, Lahore. Only the rhythmic hum of the ventilator and the occasional beeping of monitors broke the stillness. Sara lay motionless on the hospital bed, her pale face framed by medical tape and IV lines. Her chest rose and fell weakly under the white blanket, every breath a struggle that spoke of the battle she had fought for more than two days.
On the bench against the wall, Inspector Haroon and Noman sat slumped, both lost in restless sleep. Haroon's cap rested loosely on his lap, and his phone lay on the side table, its screen dark. Noman's head leaned against the wall, his arms folded tightly across his chest as if shielding himself from some invisible storm. His face was lined with fatigue, eyes red from crying and sleepless nights.
Near the door, SHO Jibran Aziz sat upright on a chair, his sharp eyes scanning the room every few minutes. He was on duty, committed, but his mind was heavy with unanswered questions. What had Sara endured? Who was behind this? And when would she speak? These questions looped endlessly in his head.
The clock on the wall ticked toward the 52-hour mark since Sara had been admitted. Her condition had stabilized the previous day, yet she remained unconscious, locked in some dark realm between life and death.
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Scene 2: A Flicker of Life
It happened suddenly, almost like a miracle.
Sara's fingers twitched.
The soft movement caught no one's attention at first—everyone was too tired, too consumed by their own thoughts. But then her eyelids fluttered, just slightly, as though a faint wind was brushing against them from within. The motion grew stronger. Her lashes trembled, and slowly, with great effort, her eyes began to open.
Her gaze was unfocused at first, swimming in the harsh white light of the ceiling lamp. Her lips parted, a faint rasping sound escaping her throat—a whisper of life returning.
She wanted to speak. Something urgent, something buried deep in her fractured memory, clawed its way toward her lips. But the weight of exhaustion silenced her voice.
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Scene 3: The Nurse Spots Her
At that moment, the door creaked open, and Nurse Iqra stepped in, holding a small tray of medications. She moved briskly toward the IV stand, humming softly to herself. Then she froze.
The eyes of the young woman on the bed—Sara's eyes—were open.
"Oh my God!" Iqra gasped, the tray clattering on the side table as she rushed to the bedside. "Madam… you're awake!"
Sara blinked slowly, her lips trembling as she tried again to speak, but the sound came out broken, like a whisper lost in the wind.
Iqra didn't waste another second. She spun on her heels and bolted out the door, her shoes echoing down the corridor. "Doctor Ayesha! Doctor! She's awake!"
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Scene 4: The Doctor Arrives
Within moments, Dr. Ayesha, the lead physician handling Sara's case, appeared at the door, her white coat flaring behind her like wings. She strode inside, carrying her stethoscope, her expression calm but alert.
"What's her response level?" she asked sharply as she approached the bed.
"She opened her eyes, madam, and tried to speak," Iqra replied, breathless.
Dr. Ayesha leaned over Sara, her voice soft but firm. "Sara? Can you hear me? Blink twice if you can hear me."
Sara blinked twice, slowly but clearly.
"That's good," Ayesha murmured, placing the stethoscope on Sara's chest, listening to her heartbeat. Her pulse was weak but steady. "She's conscious, but too fragile to speak yet."
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Scene 5: Haroon and Noman Awaken
SHO Jibran, who had risen when the nurse came rushing back, now moved toward the bench. He shook Haroon gently.
"Haroon… wake up. It's time."
Haroon stirred, rubbing his eyes. "What happened?" His voice cracked with sleep.
"She's awake," Jibran said simply.
The words hit Haroon like a surge of electricity. He sprang to his feet. At the same moment, Noman woke too, his senses slow to register reality.
"What…? Did you say… Sara?" His voice trembled.
"Yes," Jibran confirmed, his tone heavy with relief. "Your sister has opened her eyes."
Noman stumbled toward the bed, his legs almost giving way beneath him. Haroon followed closely, trying to keep his composure but feeling the same flood of emotions rise inside him.
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Scene 6: A Brother's First Glimpse
When Noman reached her bedside, time seemed to stop.
There she was—his little sister, her face pale but alive, eyes half-open, staring at him with a faint, fragile awareness. He had imagined this moment a thousand times over the past two days, praying for it, bargaining with God in silent desperation. And now it was real.
"Sara…" His voice broke. He took her hand in both of his, gripping it as though afraid she might slip away again. Warmth met his skin—weak, but real.
"I'm here," he whispered, tears welling in his eyes. "It's me… Noman. Bhai is here. You're safe now."
Sara's lips moved again, forming shapes without sound. Noman leaned closer, trying to catch even a whisper.
"Don't speak," he said softly, his forehead pressing against her hand. "Just stay with me. Please."
For a long moment, he stayed like that, his shoulders shaking, silent sobs wracking his frame. Every memory of their childhood came flooding back—the fights over toys, the laughter echoing through their small home, the promises he had made to protect her. And now this.
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Scene 7: Haroon's Restraint
Behind him, Haroon stood quietly, his heart heavy yet professional instincts taking over. This was a critical moment, but not the time for questions. He stepped forward and addressed Dr. Ayesha in a low voice.
"Doctor, when can we take her statement?"
"Not now," Ayesha replied firmly, her eyes never leaving Sara. "Her vitals are still unstable, and speaking could exhaust her dangerously. Give her at least 12 more hours."
Haroon nodded reluctantly, his frustration hidden beneath his stoic expression. The case depended on Sara's words, but her life mattered more.
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Scene 8: SHO Jibran's Call
SHO Jibran moved to the corner, dialing a number on his phone. When DSP Farooq answered, Jibran's voice carried both relief and restraint.
"Sir, she's awake. Still weak, but stable. Doctor says no statement yet."
On the other end, Farooq exhaled deeply. "Good news at last. Inform her brother… and keep tight security there."
"She's already with Noman," Jibran replied. "Haroon is here too."
"Alright," Farooq said. "Update me if anything changes."
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Scene 9: The Silent Conversation
Back at the bedside, Noman gently brushed a strand of hair from Sara's forehead. She looked at him, eyes glassy but filled with something—pain, perhaps, or gratitude. Maybe both.
In that gaze, words passed without sound:
You came for me.
I'll never leave you again.
A single tear slipped from the corner of her eye, and Noman caught it with his thumb. "You're safe now," he whispered again, his voice breaking on every syllable. "I promise you… I won't let anything happen to you again."
Sara blinked slowly, her eyes closing as fatigue pulled her back into a soft sleep. Noman stayed there, holding her hand as if anchoring her to life.
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To Be Continued in Chapter 61…