Aahil, Osman and Rohail were three best friends. As the holy month of Ramazan was about to end, all the three boys gathered in the community park in their neighbourhood. They were very excited to tell each other about their Eid preparation.

Osman and Aahil belonged to well-off families, however, Rohail came from a more modest background.

“Mum bought me four dresses for Eid. We have four holidays, so I will wear a new dress each day. I just have to buy shoes and sandals,” Osman told them. He then turned to his friends and asked, “So, how far along are your preparations?”

“Well, I have bought three dresses for the three days of Eid,” Aahil replied and turned to Rohail. “So Rohail, what colours and how many dresses have you bought?”

Rohail was silent, then he replied in a hushed tone, “I have bought only one dress. My parents cannot afford more.”

Osman and Aahil remained silent and looked at each other. The uneasy and odd situation made Rohail get up and leave, while the two friends sat there. When Rohail reached home, he insisted to his mum that he needed two more new clothes, but she refused and explained that they couldn’t afford anymore.

Rohail was upset and didn’t talk to anyone after that. On Eid day, after Eid prayers, he greeted his father coldly and walked back alone to his home very fast so that he didn’t have to meet anyone.

On the way, his cousin approached him and wished him Eid, to which he answered quite rudely, “Khair mubarak.”

His cousin asked, “Why are you so upset?”

Rohail replied, “I am not happy with what I have for Eid. This dress is not nice, and I don’t have other new clothes like my friends, who have at least three each.”

His cousin responded, “Oh, I see, but do you know the dress I am wearing is from last year?”

“Really? Well, I don’t remember. But are you happy about it?” Rohail asked.

“Of course, I am. My dad tells me that we are happy when our heart is happy, and it can be happy with the smallest of things. It doesn’t need any brand-new expensive stuff to be happy.”

His cousin continued, “I am also happy in this outfit because by wearing this and not buying new clothes for Eid, I did not burden my parents financially. In these hard times when everything is so expensive, I know they are having a hard time meeting our basic needs. So why should I make things more difficult for them by insisting I want a new dress when I have nice clothes to wear. I don’t need a new outfit to be happy. Happiness comes from within us and from our relationships with our loved ones, not though the things we have.”

Rohail felt ashamed and realised that he was wrong, and how he had disappointed and hurt his parents.

Upon arriving home, he apologised to his parents for his rude behaviour over something so trivial. Just then, the doorbell rang. Rohail opened the door and found a present on the doorstep. He was surprised. He brought the present inside and showed it to his parents. They opened it and found a very nice outfit along with a letter addressed to him. The letter was from Osman and Aahil, expressing their apologies and stating that they were unaware of his situation. They invited Rohail to their Eid party in the evening and requested him to wear the dress they had bought for him.

Rohail felt embarrassed because he had not only hurt his parents, but had also been rude to his friends.

In the evening, when he went to Osman’s house where the party was organised, Osman and Aahil ran to him and hugged him. They apologised for being so insensitive, while Rohail apologised for his rude behaviour.

It’s true, Eid is the time when we must empathise with others and show kindness and generosity to others, so that everyone can enjoy this special time.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 13th, 2024