The Other Way

The Other Way – Story No. 2878

Nader had a gold watch, a precious gift from his grandfather.

“Sir! Please, just give me two hundred rupees. You can deduct it from my wages. For God’s sake, have mercy on me, I am poor!” Nasser’s eyes were filled with tears as he clutched the feet of Seth Qamaruddin, pleading desperately.

Seth kicked him aside and shouted, “Let your mother die if she must. Get out of my sight. Why should I keep servants who are cursed like you? I am dismissing you. Do not ever show me your face again.”

The servants of Seth began pushing Nasser out of the mansion, shoving him roughly as he cried helplessly. Despite his small frame, he struggled to keep standing, but they finally succeeded in throwing him outside and slammed the massive doors behind him.

Nasser’s mind, barely ten years old, raced in panic. Where will I get the money for my mother’s medicine? The thought made his head spin.

He ran to his four uncles, hoping for help, but each of them gave the same cold answer: “We ourselves are struggling with difficulties.” They all offered excuses for their poverty, leaving him with no solution.

Now, only one path remained. Time was short. He hurried to Seth Qamaruddin’s mansion, climbing the wall carefully. Nasser knew the secret passages of the mansion well; he had been working there for the past four months and had memorized all the hidden routes and rooms.

About ten minutes later, he reached the room of Seth’s son, Nader. Nasser knew that Nader owned a gold watch, a priceless gift from his grandfather. He quickly searched through drawers and cupboards, moving silently toward the wardrobe. There it was — the gold watch, gleaming in the dim light.

At that exact moment, Nader entered the room and saw Nasser holding his watch. Nader screamed, raising an alarm. Nasser was immediately handed over to the police.

Even the police showed no mercy. They locked Nasser behind the iron bars of a jail cell. He begged them, “Please, I need to see my mother and get her treatment. She is very sick.” Surprisingly, the officers allowed his request, understanding the urgency, but the time lost could not be regained.

When Nasser finally returned to his small, hut-like home, he was met with a heart-wrenching sight — his mother’s lifeless body lay on the floor. Overcome by grief, Nasser let out a piercing scream and collapsed onto her body. The small child, so full of love and desperation, could not bear the loss. In that moment of unending sorrow, Nasser joined his mother in eternal sleep, his small frame curled over her lifeless form.

The story of Nasser is one of tragedy and helplessness, highlighting the cruelty of circumstances where even good intentions are punished by the harshness of society. His desperate attempt to save his mother from illness and poverty led him into danger, yet his pure-hearted motive could not be punished any less cruelly. The gold watch, a symbol of wealth and privilege, became the reason for a child’s suffering.

It is a story that reminds us how society’s rigid structures and a lack of compassion can destroy innocent lives. Nasser’s courage, desperation, and love for his mother were pure, yet circumstances forced him into impossible choices. He took the “other way,” a path that was fraught with danger, out of necessity, not greed. In the end, fate was merciless, and the innocent child and his mother were both lost.

This tale, though deeply sorrowful, calls on us to reflect on compassion, empathy, and the responsibility of society toward its vulnerable members, especially children. It is also a cautionary reminder that sometimes, even the most courageous actions cannot overcome the rigid barriers imposed by wealth, power, and social indifference.