Episode: 4
Scene 1
It was already 12 noon. Maryam was exhausted from looking for a job; she was walking slowly along the road.
Afrah: "Hey! Maryam, you here?"
She suddenly ran into Maryam. They both stopped in front of a large restaurant.
Maryam: "Can't I ask you the same? You already know… I've been out since morning looking for work."
She was fixing her hair again and again as the wind kept blowing.
Afrah: "Oh my dear! Come, I'll introduce you to Aimer."
She tried to pull her forcefully.
Maryam: "What! You came with him? Have you gone crazy?"
She planted her feet firmly on the ground.
Afrah: "He isn't that kind of boy. Come on! This restaurant is huge, the food is amazing. Please!"
She kept insisting.
Maryam: "Stop, please!"
Afrah grabbed her arm and dragged her.
They had entered the restaurant. It was quite famous for its luxury. High-class people were walking all around them.
Maryam: "I don't want to stay here. Let's leave."
She was feeling extremely uncomfortable.
Afrah: "Look around! It's so lively here, no one cares who we are."
Aimer: "Afrah! I've been looking for you… who is she?"
He pointed at Maryam.
Afrah: "She is my very good friend, Maryam."
She smiled.
Aimer: "Oh! Hello Maryam!"
He extended his hand.
Maryam: "Hmm."
She just nodded.
Aimer: "Come, our table is this way."
There were several dishes arranged on the table.
Afrah signaled Maryam to sit.
Aimer: "So Maryam, what do you do?"
He smiled.
Maryam: "What do you mean? I—"
Afrah: "She's a pharmacist!"
She said with a wide smile.
Maryam: "What?!"
She was shocked.
Aimer: "Wow! That's great!"
Maryam wanted to say something but Afrah stopped her with her hand.
Maryam: "I think I should leave."
She suddenly stood up.
Afrah: "Looks like I have to go too… sorry!"
She stood up as well.
Outside, Maryam spoke angrily:
Maryam: "Why did you lie? Why did you tell him I'm a pharmacist?"
Afrah: "Did I say something wrong? What else was I supposed to say? What's the harm?"
Maryam: "You know I had to leave my studies after Baba died. It was my dream but…"
She grew sad.
Afrah: "Sorry… if it hurt you. Come on, let's eat something good."
She held Maryam's arm and walked.
Maryam: "Again?!"
She said, surprised.
Scene 2
Abaan sat by the river taking deep breaths, perhaps enjoying the air. Greenery spread everywhere—an atmosphere full of peace.
He often came here.
As soon as he closed his eyes, he saw Maryam—
Those messy hair…
That innocent face…
Those wounded hands…
"Who are you… really?"
He questioned himself silently.
"No Abaan! There's no place for these thoughts in your heart. Do you want to think about her even in your peaceful moments? No, this can't happen!"
He tried to reason with himself.
He stood up and began walking, as if wanting to escape his thoughts.
A short distance away, his secretary Shameer was secretly following him.
Shameer: "Abaan sir! If you keep doing this, of course I and Baba will worry. You don't talk to anyone…"
He spoke while fiddling with a tree branch.
Abaan took out his phone and called an elderly servant at home:
Abaan: "Tell him not to follow me. Please. I'm fine."
Scene 3
"What are you doing? Please stop!"
Maryam ran when she saw her belongings lying outside her house. Her things were being thrown out mercilessly.
Landlord: "You haven't paid two months' rent. I thought you would, but now I've lost hope. I heard you don't even have a job anymore!"
Maryam: "I'll pay soon, please… where will I go at this hour? It's getting dark!"
She was helpless.
Suddenly someone pushed her and she fell.
At that moment a heavy, firm voice echoed:
"STOP."
Everything went silent.
A tall man in a suit stood behind Maryam. Wearing a mask, a muffler around his neck…
His coat and hair moved with the wind.
For Maryam, he was a stranger—yet strangely peaceful.
Landlord: "Who… who are you?"
The man: "This place looks illegal. Anyway, you only want the rent, right?"
He took out a chequebook.
"Here. And never throw anyone out like this again!"
The landlord was stunned.
It was a huge amount.
The man: "Put her things back inside."
He walked away without looking back.
Maryam ran after him:
Maryam: "Wait! Who are you? Wh—?"
She was panting.
She lost herself for a moment in his eyes.
He walked away without saying a word.
Scene 4
Maryam lay on her bed, thinking about that man:
"Who were you? An angel? So rich… How will I ever repay this… oh…"
She covered her face, embarrassed.
Scene 5
It was 9 p.m.
Abaan was sitting on the sofa reading a book.
Maid: "Sir, may I come in?"
Abaan: "Of course."
Maid: "Sir, Mr. Nosherwan is calling you."
Scene 6
Nosherwan was sitting on the couch in the study room, drinking coffee.
Nosherwan: "Where were you today? You didn't go to the office. And who was with Liyana? We already talked about this. What are you trying to prove?"
Abaan: "Did I do something wrong? Everything happened exactly as you wanted. She was a good visit guide."
Nosherwan: "What? If she had been some businesswoman, would you behave the same?"
Abaan: "You wouldn't either!"
He replied calmly.
Nosherwan: "I want you both to be together."
Abaan: "Today I finally see that you are truly a good businessman."
He said sarcastically.
Nosherwan: "Think about yourself. In the Mehar family, elders' decisions are respected. Even your mother came into this house through an elders' decision."
Abaan couldn't stop himself:
Abaan: "That's exactly why you left her alone in her illness…!"
He couldn't finish the sentence.
He stormed out angrily.
Scene 7
It was 9 a.m.
Maryam cleaned the house, then opened the fridge—only one egg and bottles of water.
There was nothing else to eat.
She searched everywhere but found nothing. Finally she drank water and hurried out.
The cold was so harsh everyone was shivering.
Maryam walked along the road trembling.
Scene 8
Whenever Abaan entered the office, everyone immediately became busy; their admiration for him was obvious.
Girls were fans of him, and even boys respected him a lot.
"May I come in, sir?"
A girl wearing a stylish top, holding a file—very pretty—stood at the door.
Abaan: "Yes."
He typed rapidly on his laptop without looking at her.
Girl: "Sir, this is the Malik Industries file. We received it today."
She kept fixing her hair and dress.
Abaan: "I'm not handling it. Send it back."
His eyes stayed on the laptop.
Girl: "But sir… there hasn't been any meeting about it yet. Mr. Nosherwan refused to take the meeting."
Abaan finally looked up, surprised:
"What?"
Girl: "Y-yes…"
She got lost in his eyes for a moment.
Abaan: "Alright, you may go."
He went back to typing.
Outside she muttered:
"'You may go'? He didn't even look at me properly. Am I not pretty?"
She checked herself in the glass window.
Girl: "Hey… how do I look?" she asked her colleague.
Colleague: "You look fine. Everyone doesn't have the same taste."
He fixed his collar.
Girl: "What?"
She smiled angrily.
"Go to hell!"
And stormed off.
Just then an employee called:
Employee: "Hello sir! A girl has come to meet you."
Abaan: "Okay."
Scene 9
Maryam reached the same restaurant where she had helped a woman earlier. That woman was the owner of the restaurant. As soon as Maryam entered, she recognized her immediately.
Woman: "You're the same girl from that day, right?"
Maryam, trembling: "Y-yes. My name is Maryam."
Woman: "Come, sit here. I'll bring some hot soup."
There were only a few customers.
Maryam: "I don't have money…" she said shyly.
Woman smiled:
"Who takes money from guests? You're my guest."
She went to the counter.
Soon she returned with soup.
"Here, hot soup."
She sat beside her.
Maryam: "This tastes so good… my mother used to make it like this."
She suddenly stopped.
Woman: "She's… not here anymore?"
She asked softly.
Maryam quickly changed the topic:
"I'm sorry… I need a job. Can you—"
Woman: "I'm old now; there's too much work for me. You can help me. Please. Come from tomorrow. And listen…"
She stood up.
"Here, take this money. Consider it half your salary. You'll need it."
Maryam stood immediately:
"I'm sorry, but how can I take money without working?"
Woman: "Because it's yours."
She placed the money in her hand.
Maryam smiled:
"Then okay… I'll start working right now!"
She rushed into the kitchen.
Customers kept coming and going, and Maryam stayed busy—
Cleaning tables, washing dishes, taking food to customers.
Scene 10
Abaan adjusted his coat as he walked down the stairs towards the café.
There were only two employees; the café was almost empty.
Secretary Shameer:
"Sir, a beautiful girl is waiting for you."
Abaan's eyes fell on Liyana—dressed elegantly, smiling.
Shameer (dramatically):
"Abaan sir! This is the beautiful girl!"
Abaan: "What are you saying…"
He mumbled and stepped back.
Liyana: "Hi! How are you? Sorry, I came without telling you."
She appeared confident.
They sat. The waiter served coffee.
Abaan: "Sorry… you had to wait."
Liyana: "It's okay. I came without informing you anyway. Besides, I like waiting.
Your café is nice… and the coffee too."
She looked around while sipping coffee.
Liyana: "If you're free tonight, we can have dinner?"
Abaan: "Sorry…"
Liyana: "Okay, if not today, then some other time."
Abaan turned his chair slightly:
"Liyana… whenever I meet a girl, it's only for business. I'm sure you understand that."
He stood up and walked away.
Shameer, from afar:
"Wow, seriously… rich people really lack nothing!"
Liyana smiled to herself:
"I like your attitude…"
Scene 11
It was 4 p.m.
Afrah left the grocery store and was walking slowly.
Suddenly, she saw a woman coming out of a big building across the street.
The woman got into a car.
Afrah's heart trembled:
"Mom? Was that… mom? Am I dreaming?"
She ran, but the car had already left.
She stared for a long time.
"That was mom… this can't be my imagination!"
Afrah rushed home and started searching through everything.
She scattered the whole house.
At last, she found her old diary.
"Here's the picture!"
Her eyes filled instantly.
Same face… same woman.
"Mom!"
Her face lit up with joy.
Scene 12
It was 6 p.m. The restaurant noise was slowly fading; customers had thinned out.
Maryam, tired, was fixing tables and chairs before walking toward the kitchen.
Maryam: "Give it to me… I'll do it."
She said softly. Miss Zarmina was cooking—she was both the owner and a motherly figure to Maryam.
Zarmina smiled,
"No, thank you… you've worked a lot today. You must be tired."
Maryam sighed lightly,
"I get more tired when I'm free. Anyway, there are no customers now… seems like this food is for someone special?"
She leaned on the counter, speaking casually.
Zarmina laughed while stirring the pot,
"Yes, very special. He loves my soup. He must be arriving any moment. And yes, I made some for you too."
Maryam looked down and murmured,
"He… must be coming."