**Scene 1: The Waiting Game**
*(Najma Residence Courtyard – 10:15 AM)*
The men returned from Eid prayers, their crisp *sherwanis* glinting in the sunlight. Irfan checked his watch for the tenth time.
**Irfan** (grumbling): *"Butcher Bhai said 10 AM. Karachi time, I suppose?"*
**Imran** (smirking): *"Relax. He'll come when the *chai* in his thermos runs out."*
Khadija and Hamza darted around Gulabo's empty pen, now strewn with rose petals from their games.
**Khadija** (pouting): *"Abbu, when will Gulabo become *qurbani*?"*
**Amina** (clutching Maryam's leg): *"Cow… gone?"*
**Maryam** (softly): *"She's helping us remember Prophet Ibrahim, jaan."*
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**Scene 2: The Butcher's Symphony**
*(Backyard – 3:00 PM)*
The butcher arrived in a cloud of motorcycle exhaust, his cleaver clanging against a steel toolbox.
**Butcher Bhai** (wiping sweat): *"*Maf kijiye*, Sahib! Three *nikahs* this morning—Allah's busy day!"*
**Imran** (muttering): *"And we're his *side project*?"*
The ritual began. Maryam turned pale as the butcher recited the *tasmiya*, his blade swift.
**Ayesha** (whispering to Maryam): *"Look away. First time… it's heavy."*
**Maryam** (gulping): *"In Canada, meat just… appears in plastic."*
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**Scene 3: The Hide and Seek**
*(Driveway – 4:30 PM)*
The cowhide lay stretched, glistening. Imran dialed Shaukat Khanum Foundation.
**Imran** (on phone): *"Haan, ji. Address mil gaya? *Jaldi ajao*—stray dogs fancy leather."*
**Irfan** (eyeing the hide): *"Could've made seven sofas. *Philanthropy kills interior design*."*
The foundation's van arrived promptly, startling everyone.
**Driver** (grinning): *"Cancer patients say *dua* for you. *Receipt, Sahib*?"*
**Maryam** (murmuring): *"Skin for smiles… strange math."*
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**Scene 4: The Meat Matrix**
*(Garage – 5:00 PM)*
Ammi directed like a general, partitioning meat on tarps.
**Ammi**: *"One-third poor, one-third relatives, one-third us. *Tola* scales, beta—no *American eyeballing*!"*
**Maryam** (holding clipboard): *"How do we… *know* who's poor?"*
**Ayesha** (laughing): *"They'll find *us*. Karachi's need has GPS."*
Khadija labeled packets with stickers: *"For Chachi Fizza! For Begum Auntie's driver!"*
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**Scene 5: Meat Marathons**
*(City Streets – 6:30 PM)*
Irfan's car crawled through traffic, meat packets stacked like Jenga.
**Imran** (at a mansion gate): *"*Salaam, Chaudhry Sahab*! Eid Mubarak. *Special delivery*!"*
**Chaudhry** (smelling packet): *"*Kya baat hai*! Your wife's *biryani* better follow!"*
Meanwhile, Maryam and Ayesha faced a growing crowd at their gate.
**Old Woman** (grabbing Ayesha's hand): *"*Allah tumko khush rakhe*, beti. My grandkids… *three days hungry*."*
**Maryam** (startled by gratitude): *"They… they kissed my feet?"*
**Ayesha** (gently): *"Here, that's a *thank you*."*
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**Scene 6: Midnight Reflections**
*(Living Room – 1:00 AM)*
The house hummed with the silence of exhaustion. Ammi brewed *suleimani chai* as the adults slumped on sofas.
**Maryam** (staring at henna-stained hands): *"Today… I felt Allah's economy. How giving *multiplies*."*
**Irfan** (nodding): *"You gave Gulabo's life meaning. More than just… meat."*
**Khadija** (sleepwalking in): *"Ammi… I dreamt Gulabo's in Jannah. Eating *rainbow grass*…"*
**Ayesha** (carrying her): *"*Insha'Allah*. Now *you* eat sleep."*
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**Scene 7: The Unseen Threads**
*(Bedroom – 2:00 AM)*
Maryam watched moonlight pool on Amina's face, her lashes fluttering with dreams.
**Irfan** (softly): *"You okay? Today was… a lot."*
**Maryam** (teary smile): *"It's messy. Loud. *Perfect*. Like… family."*
Outside, Karachi hummed—firecrackers, distant laughter, the echo of a million prayers.
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