From Tea Stall to Triumph The Inspiring Journey of Ali

The Journey of Ali

BY: Ubaid

Riaz Ahmed had just closed his eyes when his mother’s familiar voice echoed in his ears, “Wake up, son. It’s time to go to work.” For him, the nights always seemed as short as a blink, but the days stretched out endlessly like a hundred years.

In the town of Chak 44, there was a small but very famous tea stall known as Langray ka Hotel—The Lame Man’s Hotel. The hotel was built at a crossroads, easily visible from all four directions. People came from faraway villages just to enjoy its tea. Its owner, despite his disability, was a cheerful man. Every night after 10 o’clock, he would sit among the customers and narrate old folktales and stories from the elders. Because of this, the place was less like a tea shop and more like a traditional village chopaal—a gathering spot where people shared stories, laughter, and wisdom.

In this busy little hotel, Ali worked as a helper. His life revolved around endless instructions, customers calling from one side, and the owner’s constant scolding from the other. He often muttered to himself, “If I have to work, then why so much anger? Work should be done with peace.” But no one ever cared to listen. His days passed in a cycle of “Yes, sir… coming, sir…” repeated until night fell, only for another day to begin the same way.

Ali often tried to make sense of the world beyond the hotel. Whenever he saw someone reading a newspaper, he would ask curiously, “Sir, what’s written in today’s paper?” The owner would laugh and reply, “First let me read properly, then I’ll tell you. Now go, bring me tea.” But Ali never gave up. He kept asking whoever he found with a newspaper, eager to know about the world through its printed words.

Years slipped away like sand through fingers. Ali, once a 10-year-old child, had now turned 15. Then came the month of Ramadan. On the eve of fasting, the hotel owner called Ali and said, “Son, the moon of Ramadan has been sighted. From tomorrow, as every year, the hotel will remain closed. Find some other work for a month.”

These words hit Ali like a storm. He walked home quietly, ate nothing, and went straight to bed, his heart heavy with worry. The next morning, his mother woke him and said softly, “Son, not every job is about food and tea. Why don’t you try working as a laborer for a while?” Her words gave him a little relief. At least, he thought, this way the fire of the household stove would keep burning.

So Ali stood at the local laborer’s corner, where daily workers waited for someone to hire them. Soon, a big vehicle stopped nearby. A gentleman stepped out and asked warmly, “Son, would you like to work?” Ali immediately replied, “Yes, sir. What kind of work do you want me to do?” The man explained, “A truck hit the wall of my school. I need someone to help repair it. Will you come with me?”

At the mention of the word school, Ali’s eyes welled with tears. He had never stepped inside one, though he had always dreamt of it. He couldn’t even reply to the man’s question about wages—his joy was too overwhelming. For the next few days, he worked on repairing the school wall with dedication.

When the work was finished, the school’s headmaster called him inside. He paid Ali his wages and added, “Son, our school’s watchman is ill. If you want, you can work here temporarily as a guard. It will help us, and you’ll also earn.” For Ali, this was more than a job—it was a door opening toward a dream.

Ali accepted the offer. Soon, he became familiar with the school’s environment. The sound of children reciting lessons, the smell of chalk, the discipline of classrooms—all of it made him feel alive. One day, he gathered courage and asked a teacher, “Sir, after school, when you teach tuition to other children, may I also sit and learn?” The teacher looked at him with surprise and then smiled warmly. “Ali, you are still so young. If you truly want to study, nothing can stop you. You can go very far.”

Thus began Ali’s educational journey. Slowly, he learned to read and write. The nights that once ended in exhaustion now became nights of study under a dim lamp. His job as a watchman not only gave him survival but also gifted him education.

Years passed. Ali remained in that school, but he was no longer just a watchman. Behind the scenes, he pursued his studies in private academies. He passed exams one after the other until, after 12 long years, he had completed his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree. None of his colleagues at the school knew about it—except for one kind teacher, Master Ghulam Hussain.

Then one day, fate brought an opportunity. The headmaster asked Ali to fetch a newspaper. With old excitement, Ali bought the paper and eagerly opened it. His eyes immediately fell upon the job advertisements. Among them was a prominent post—Head Clerk at the Government College.

Ali’s heart leapt with joy. He rushed back and exclaimed to the headmaster, “Sir, please help me get this job!” The headmaster and other teachers burst out laughing. “Ali, have you gone mad? This post is for a graduate. You are just a watchman. How can you even dream of such a big post?”

Ali looked at them calmly and replied, “Sir, perhaps you don’t know. Along with this job, I have been studying privately. I have passed my B.A. exams. I am not the same illiterate boy who once asked about newspapers. I am ready for this post.”

The teachers were stunned. Only Master Ghulam Hussain stepped forward and said, “Yes, what Ali says is true. He is no longer just a watchman. He is an educated man, and above all, he is a proud son of this nation.”

Ali’s journey did not stop there. From a tea-stall helper to a school guard, from a student in the shadows to a graduate aiming for higher posts—he proved that determination and hard work can break every barrier.

Yet, whenever Ali thought about life, he often smiled and said, “No matter how far I go, I still remember the taste of tea from Langray ka Hotel.”