The Government’s Best Friends

The Government’s Best Friends

In the heart of the city stood an old coffee shop, a place people fondly called *The Corner of Friendship.* It was a spot where politicians, officials, and ordinary citizens often crossed paths. Some came to talk business, others to argue, and many simply to vent about the government.

On a quiet evening, two longtime friends sat across from each other—Rehan and Fahad. Their bond went back to university days. Life, however, had pulled them into very different worlds. Rehan had become a politician, now serving as a member of the provincial assembly. Fahad had chosen a quieter path as a schoolteacher, immersed in books and the dreams of his students.

Rehan leaned back, stirring his coffee. “Fahad, have you ever noticed something? The government has best friends too.”

Fahad raised an eyebrow. “Best friends? For the government? I thought all it had were flatterers and opportunists.”

Rehan chuckled. “No, no. Real friends. The government has three of them: the people, time, and promises.”

### The People — The First Friend

Fahad tilted his head, intrigued. “Go on. Explain.”

“The people,” Rehan began, “are the government’s first and most important friend. When the people are content, the government stands strong. But when they grow angry, even the tallest structures of power begin to shake. The people clap when they’re happy, and they throw stones when they’re not.”

Fahad sipped his tea thoughtfully. “True, but people also forget their own role. It’s easy to blame the government. But what about when citizens break the rules, offer bribes, or dodge taxes? Isn’t that part of the problem too?”

Rehan laughed. “Exactly! That’s the irony. The people can be loyal friends, but at times they act like fierce critics. The government has no choice but to live with both sides of this friendship.”

### Time — The Second Friend

Rehan leaned forward. “The second friend is time. Time is the most precious ally, but also the most ruthless. If the government makes the right decisions at the right moment, it earns praise. But once the moment slips away, even good decisions feel meaningless.”

Fahad nodded. “Time is the truest examiner. It doesn’t bend for anyone. It reveals whether leaders truly served their people or simply enjoyed power.”

Rehan tapped the table. “Exactly. Time doesn’t wait. It keeps moving forward. If a government wastes it, time simply shifts to someone else who will use it better.”

### Promises — The Third Friend

“And then,” Rehan continued, “the third friend is promises. No government can exist without them. Promises are what give people hope. But the moment they’re broken, they turn from friends into the worst enemies.”

Fahad smirked. “Ah yes, promises. They’re easy to make, harder to keep. Citizens vote because of promises. They dream because of promises. And often, they wake up disappointed.”

Rehan sighed. “That’s the dangerous part. Promises walk with every government. But the difference is simple—true promises bring dignity, false promises bring disgrace.”

### The Turning Point

The two friends sat in silence for a moment, finishing their cups. Then Fahad spoke softly, “Rehan, you’ve named the government’s best friends, but here’s the real question: does the government actually take care of them? The trust of the people, the value of time, the honesty of promises—that’s the real measure of leadership.”

Rehan’s smile faded. His friend’s words struck deeper than he expected. “You’re right. Sometimes I fear we, as politicians, forget what these friends mean. We make promises without thinking that behind them are people’s lives, children’s futures, whole generations waiting. And when we waste time, we waste destinies.”

Fahad placed a hand on his shoulder. “If governments truly treated these three as their closest allies, nations could transform. But if they betray them, those same friends become rebels—and no government survives a rebellion from its own companions.”

Rehan turned toward the café window. Outside, the street was alive with people rushing home, each carrying the weight of their own struggles. He thought about Fahad’s words and realized that perhaps the greatest mistake leaders make is taking their best friends for granted.

### The Resolution

Night had fallen, and the café was nearly empty. Fahad stood, stretching his arms. “Come on, my friend. The coffee’s gone, and so is the lesson. Let’s head home.”

Rehan smiled faintly, rising to his feet. “No, Fahad. Tonight wasn’t just coffee—it was a reminder. You’ve shown me that the government’s best friends aren’t just abstract ideas. They’re responsibilities. The trust of the people, the urgency of time, and the truth of promises—those are the only companions worth keeping.”

The two friends walked out into the cool evening air, side by side as they always had been. But in Rehan’s heart, something had changed. He made a silent vow to himself: he would never again betray those three friends.

Because he now knew, more than ever, that when the government honors its best friends, it honors its people—and when it betrays them, it loses everything's