Imaan rushed out of the house that morning, barely awake. Her eyes had opened late, the driver hadn't arrived, and with no time to spare, she took the car herself.
Just as she hit the main road, a loud thud jolted her-someone had rammed into her from behind.
For a second, she was too stunned to react. Then, stepping out of the car, she saw the rear bumper crushed and twisted. And right then, the man who had caused it stepped out.
"Are you blind? Didn't you see the car? Were you daydreaming while driving?" she snapped, her voice rising with each word.
The man stood silently, just looking at her.
Her anger flared even more.
"Oh, great. Blind and deaf! Say something, will you? What am I supposed to do now? I'm already late, and now this mess!"
"I'm really very sorry," he said finally, as if waking up. "There's a workshop just ahead. Please follow me there. I'll pay for all the damage."
With no better option, she followed him. At the workshop, the mechanic immediately launched into a list of problems and began estimating the cost.
"Madam, your name?"
"Imaan Raza," she answered, clearly irritated.
The man beside her smiled faintly, like the name meant something to him.
"And you, sir?"
"Ruwayd," he said simply. "Don't worry, I'll pay."
Imaan didn't reply. She walked out to look for a cab. Calling the driver would take too long now.
And then, it started to rain.
"Of course, it would rain today," she muttered, just as her phone rang.
"I'm almost there, Aisha. Start the meeting. I'll be there in ten," she said, trying to sound calm.
A cab finally came into view, but before she could wave it down, Ruwayd had already spoken to the driver.
"It's pouring. Please sit-I'll drop you off," he offered gently.
The driver seemed to agree. "Madam, trust me, he'll drop you first."
Frustrated but helpless, she sat in the car. Ruwayd glanced at her through the mirror a few times, but she didn't notice.
"Hello, Arham? Can you come to the gate with some cash?" she said over the phone.
As the car reached the office, she stepped out quickly.
"Ma'am, did you ask for cash?" Arham hurried to her.
"Give it to the driver-I don't have any," she said and ran inside without another word.
Ruwayd sat there, watching her disappear.
---
Later that day...
Ruwayd couldn't focus at work. He went home early, her face stuck in his mind.
You've never been like this before, Ruwayd Ali, he muttered to himself.
"Dinner's ready!" his mother's voice called out, pulling him back to reality.
---
At Imaan's home...
"Imaan, why did you drive yourself?" her father's interrogation began the moment she stepped in.
"I was late," she replied, deliberately not mentioning the absent driver.
"I've told Ahmer-he'll drop and pick you up until your car's fixed."
"But-" she started to protest, but he'd already left.
"Well, our Imaan madam can't go a single day without causing a scene," teased her sister Alizay.
Their mother and aunt burst out laughing, while Amma gave them a quiet look to stop teasing.
"I have no value in this house," Imaan huffed and stomped off dramatically.
---
One week later...
Ruwayd was driving home when he saw a crowd on the road. Curious, he slowed down.
Just then, someone ran up to his car-Imaan.
He rolled down the window, surprised.
"You?"
"Yes, me," she said breathlessly. "A woman's been hit by a car. She's bleeding-please help!"
Ruwayd rushed out, helped carry the woman into the car, and turned to Imaan.
"Where's your car?"
"Still at the mechanic's-thanks to you," she replied bitterly and climbed into the back seat.
They reached the hospital within minutes.
"Get a stretcher! Call a doctor-it's an emergency!" Imaan shouted, but no one moved.
"Ma'am, it's a police case. We'll treat her once they arrive," the receptionist said calmly.
"What? What if she dies?" she yelled, stunned.
"Calm down. Let me talk to them," Ruwayd said, stepping aside.
But Imaan wasn't done. She stood up on the reception counter, took out her phone, and began recording live:
> "Viewers, I'm at City Hospital. A woman is dying here, and the doctors won't treat her because the police haven't arrived. Where is humanity? If she dies, who is responsible?"
Hospital staff tried to stop her, but she kept recording.
( To be continued)