“But dad I really need it ” “No Aleesha you don’t need a smartphone at this age”, her father shut her down. Fine I’ll get it by myself “, she yelled and left the room.
Aleesha Khan is a 16 year old teenager. She belongs to a middle class practicing Muslim family .Her father Sajid owned a dry fruits business and her mother Hafsa was a homemaker. She also had a younger brother. Both her parents were extremely hardworking and always gave their children whatever they wished for; but smartphone was something her father never approved of, which made Aleesha upset .
2 years passed by. Aleesha was now in her last year of school. She, like any other teenager, was fond of good clothes and vanity.
One evening Aleesha and her friends hung out at a nearby bakery and were discussing their lives after school . Suddenly one of her friend screamed OMG!!!!! She showed them her new post on Instagram and the gigantic number of likes she got made her scream so loud, that she might lose her voice .The other girls were too happy to see their friend’s life time achievement and congratulated her .
On the way back home Aleesha pondered how her friends are so famous on Instagram and here she is using a Nokia 6210 with no camera ….dingggg donngggg..she rang the doorbell and ran straight into her room she threw the bag on her bed and checked her money bank.
1,2,3,4,8 …..8 thousand rupees !! she exclaimed in joy only 2 thousand more and i can finally get a smartphone she said with pride .
Aleesha was so obsessed with smartphone that she has been collecting this money by making heart throbbing sacrifices .she would not spend even a penny from her ramzaan eidi, she resisted buying that Huda beauty lipstick which she was dying to buy all these great deeds because a smartphone is worth all the pain .
That night at the dinner table as Aleesha was lost in her own world of new mobile
“I think we can ask help from my brother” her mother suggests. ” lets see if things don’t work out then I’ll ask ” replied sajid .
Aleesha was brought back to the real world by this conversation .she knew that their business was in loss and that was the cause for his father’s agony.
She once told her father “why don’t you also sell things at higher price like others do “. sajid explained ” its not right to cheat people especially when something as basic as food is included its something which keeps us alive and we cant steal someones rizq for our profit beta”
my dear he continues ” god sees everything good or bad .There are no secrets with god and everyone will receive their reward to whatever they have done ” ..but dad said aleesha ..sajid cut her down and consoled her ” you don’t worry Aleesha everything will be fine ” now get back to sleep .
As aleesha recalled her conversation her mom asked her to put her plate in the basin and go to sleep .
In her room ,she looked at her Quran and prayed for everything to be fine in their business and went back to sleep .
In the morning , aleesha was the academic topper of her school and she was informed to be receiving a cash prize of RS 2200 .she was overwhelmed as now she can get herself a smartphone .As the school ends aleesha misses her bus back home as she was busy chatting with her friends .
Aleesha had no other option but walk back home until she gets a rickshaw .on her way she stopped at a fast food stall to grab some Manchurian .she was binging over the food when a little boy of about 6 years was staring at her food . she felt creepy and turned around but the hunger in those innocent eyes made her melt .she gave him the machurian and felt pleased and grateful for her life .
The boy ate the Manchurian and ran towards an middle aged lady who was dressed in a dirty saree ,covering her head and with a little baby in her lap.seeing the pathetic Condition of the lady and the misery of their life aleesha realised the blessings of god on her and her family .
Aleesha didn’t know what she was doing and took the 8 thousand rupees from her bag and gave it to the lady and left .” may all your wishes come true” she heard the lady saying as she left .
” you are so late ” her mom screamed.” I missed my bus mom ” aleesha yelled and back to her room .she wanted to tell her mom but decided to remain quiet as she didn’t wanted to lose this divine feeling of gratefulness .
One month passed , aleesha!!! hafsa !!! sajid shouted in joy . This was the first time in months that he was so happy . “what happened?” asked hafsa . “I’ll tell you everything but first have this sweets”
he says . he later tells his family that he has got partnership with the most famous mart in the city and this would clear all their losses.they all were overjoyed to hear this. they thanked god for all his blessings and celebrated the moment .
Aleesha was running in the school corridor to submit her assignments and she dashed into a 1st grader .the boy looked familiar to her but she wasn’t able to remember him .
“I must have seen him somewhere” Aleesha thought .”Ohh he is the one i gave Manchurian that day ” she recalled the little boy who ran into the lady .
He is enrolled into school now . she felt so proud of her self that her money came as a blessing for someone and this feeling was more worthwhile than any smartphone .
Aleesha learned that her little secret with god was a blessing in disguise for both the families.
Sana Khanam
Manchrial, TS
