Ahmer’s eyes were full of tears, begging to stop his father from scolding. Ahmer was dressed in a dark green shirt and beige pants, with a bag heavier than his weight on his shoulders. His father, a 40-year-old man, was walking to and fro beside this boy with a stern expression and wearing a blue apron of a mechanic over his old and ragged clothes.

“Show me how you punched him? Is this why I send you to school? Is this why I work hard day and night to send you to this school so you beat kids? Is this what I have taught you?” his father shouted at the top of his lungs while walking on the side of the road.

This forced many to look in their direction. The sympathetic looks of the audience made Ahmer angry.

This was all happening because of what had happened yesterday. Ahmer had gotten into a fight with his classmate, Maaz. It all started when Maaz mocked Ahmer in front of the whole class about his family and his background. Ahmer couldn’t bear someone mocking his family, so he punched Maaz on the face, giving him a black eye.

His father now reached out to hit Ahmer, which was when Ahmer turned around and said, “Enough, baba! If someone dared to say anything bad for my family, I will not remain silent and listen. As for the school, they will always hold us responsible for any act we do, because we are not rich like Maaz. We do not have grand vehicles like all the rich people. Nor do we have guards who are always there with Maaz. We are not even considered as normal beings as I am studying there on a scholarship for “underprivileged” students. That’s what we are called and considered only,” Ahmer started sobbing on the road. Now he didn’t care how many people were turning their heads to see him.

He sat on the footpath. His head bent and covered in his knees. He was crying. His father’s expression immediately changed from serious to a sympathetic one. Despite the fact that Ahmer was his son, he had hardly seen his son crying in front of him or maybe he was too busy making a living that he totally forgot his children also need attention. He and his family had struggled a lot financially and it was the hard work of Ahmer that had gained him the underprivileged scholarship. He sat beside his son bringing him closer and hugging him.

“God has made some people rich and others poor. He tests some by giving them wealth and others by taking wealth from them. We should all learn to be grateful in both circumstances. I know I have always taught you to stand up for yourself and even for anything wrong that you see around,” his father explained.

Ahmer was looking straight into his father’s eyes, listening to him intently. “You shouldn’t react to things others say. However, instead of hitting them, you should use your actions to prove them wrong. Yes, you are the son of a mechanic and it is a reality that you should accept wholeheartedly, but be proud that your father is earning honestly by doing hard work. So son, work hard and prove the people wrong, instead of hitting them,” his father hugged Ahmer tightly as he finished.

This made Ahmer smile. He hugged back his father.

“And next time you should also listen to me before scolding me,” Ahmer said in between his tears.

They both laughed hard on this statement.

Published in Dawn, Young World, February 26th, 2022