Journey of hope
Zain’s father used to ride a bicycle every day to sell newspapers in the areas surrounding the city. He would often meet a retired DSP (Deputy Superintendent of Police), who would offer him tea and advise him, saying, “Educate your children, otherwise while you sell newspapers today, your children will end up selling chickpeas tomorrow.”
Whenever Latif tried to talk about his children’s education, the DSP would ignore him and never listen to him completely. As years passed, Latif’s black beard turned white while selling newspapers, but his children kept studying diligently.
Latif’s eldest son passed the CSS examination and became a Commissioner. That day, Latif was extremely happy. Carrying sweets along with newspapers, he went straight to meet the DSP. But the DSP was not sitting in his usual place, so Latif called him out.
That day, the DSP looked upset. He took the newspaper from Latif and started heading back home. Latif said, “Sir, won’t you offer me tea today?” The DSP replied sarcastically, “Poor people shouldn’t be given too much importance.”
Latif smiled and said, “You are right. Don’t offer me tea, but please accept these sweets. I brought them especially for you.”
The DSP asked, “What are the sweets for?”
Tears welled up in Latif’s eyes as he said, “Sir, my son has passed the CSS exam.”
The DSP could not even look him in the eye. Softly, he said, “I have diabetes, I don’t eat sweets.”
Latif replied, “But you drink sweet tea every day…”
The DSP murmured to himself, “I spent so much money on my son, yet he could not pass… and the son of a newspaper seller has become a Commissioner.”