Your life is someone else's dream!

One day Ashish came back from school and eagerly asked “Dad, can I get new shoes? I want to participate in the race which will be held day after tomorrow at school". Ahmed looked at the boy and smiled "Dear Son, I will do everything I can do for you. I will buy new shoes for you tomorrow" Ashish ran into the field and hopped with joy. It was like he found a treasure. Ahmed looked up and thought to himself, “How will I live up to the promise I made to my son. I do not have a single penny”

Ahmed’s family was very poor and he sold kites for their survival. He looked for the savings pot his wife left behind before she died of an ailment. She used to skip her one time meal and save the extra penny into the savings pot. However, he found the pot broken and recalled that he used up all the money to pay for his son’s school this year. Tears rolled down from a father’s eyes who loved his son deeply but could not fulfill his one small, innocent wish.

Next day, Ahmed woke up early in the morning. He packed his bag and gathered a bunch of kites. In the scorching heat, bare foot, he started walking towards the city. He prayed to God, “Please help me today, so I can gather enough money to pay for my son’s shoes”. The sun shined bright on his face. His feet were seared but his heart was on fire. Having spent a day in the city, no one cared to buy kites from him. People ridiculed him for using up their sidewalk to carry out his old fashioned trade. He was starving all day and was disappointed in a city where white collar jobs were profound and layman jobs were looked down.  

With a heavy heart, he picked up the kites and made his way back.

On the way back to his village, a man came up to him and asked, “Do you sell these kites?” Ahmed said “Yes, would you like to buy one?” The man said “Yes, I would like to buy all of them.” Ahmed was startled. “Sir, are you sure you want to buy all the kites?” The man said “Yes, I work in a school and I would like the students to fly these kites. I want to illustrate them outside the books and look outside the window to dream higher in life, even sky is not the limit” Ahmed was astounded. He sold all the kites to this man. He earned enough money to buy shoes for his son’s race. He directly went to the store and bought a lovely pair of shoes. His heart was overjoyed but his body was weak this time as he made his way back to the village”       

Ashish opened the door “Son, here’s your shoes, your father wanted them to be sent to you today itself” Ashish said “Thanks uncle, but where is my dad?”  His uncle said “I’m sorry son. He is no more. On his way back, he collapsed. We never knew that he suffered from Cancer for a very long time. He never told us. We asked him why he did not get treated and he said, your future was more vital to him and he did not want to burden you with any debts incurred from his treatment, this is the least he could do for you” Ashish broke into tears as he looked at the shoes bought by a father who loved him more than his own sufferings and life.

Sometimes, we forget to be thankful to God for what we have and stop complaining about what we don’t have. Sometimes, we forget to thank those around us who are struggling each day and working hard just to see a smile on our face.

Your life is someone else’s dream. Live it gratefully.