The Midnight Intruder:How Abdul Samad Outsmarted a Thief

The Midnight Intruder and Abdul Samad’s Sixth Sense

BY:Ubaid

Rabia Farooq, from Dera Ismail Khan, loved detective novels. But the real hero of this tale is young Abdul Samad, a boy who not only read such stories with passion but also possessed an unusually sharp sixth sense of his own. He lived with his father and grandmother in a modest home, where life was simple but not without challenges.

One chilly winter afternoon, Abdul Samad’s father went to the bank to withdraw fifty thousand rupees for his mother’s medical treatment. The family needed this money urgently to pay hospital expenses. As fate would have it, a sharp-eyed criminal lurking nearby noticed him collecting the cash. He decided to follow Abdul Samad’s father discreetly through the bustling marketplace. The crowd gave the thief cover, and by the time father and son reached home, the man already had a sinister plan forming in his mind.

Inside the house, Abdul Samad’s father carefully placed the bundle of notes into his wooden wardrobe, locked it, and slid the key under his pillow. He hoped this hiding spot would keep the money safe until the next day. But little did he know, someone outside was watching and waiting for the right moment.

That night, when everyone had retired to bed, the stillness of the house was suddenly interrupted. At around midnight, the doorbell rang sharply. Abdul Samad’s father, startled and cautious, got up and approached the door.

“Who is it?” he called out.

A man’s voice replied, soft and pitiful: “Brother, I am a poor laborer. I wash dishes at a hotel and am returning home after work. The night is freezing cold, and I cannot bear it anymore. For God’s sake, please lend me a sweater or an old blanket. Otherwise, I fear I may collapse before reaching home.”

From her bed, the grandmother muttered anxiously: “We don’t know who this is. Just send him away!”

But the stranger spoke again, his tone full of despair: “Please, I beg of you. My home is far outside the city. I am shivering with fever and cannot go on like this. A simple old shawl would be enough to help me reach safely.”

Hearing these words, Abdul Samad’s father’s heart softened. He thought of the man’s misery and decided to help. He grabbed a thick woolen sweater from inside and, without fully opening the door, pushed it forward through a narrow gap.

That was all the thief needed. With a sudden violent shove, he forced the door wide open and stormed into the house. A sharp knife glistened in his hand as he pressed it against the father’s neck.

“Hand over all the money immediately,” the intruder hissed, “or I will end your life right here!”

Terrified but determined to protect his family, the father led the thief to the wardrobe. Unlocking it, he opened the doors—only to find the shelves completely empty. The fifty thousand rupees had vanished.

Abdul Samad, who had been awake in his bed, quickly intervened. With calmness beyond his years, he spoke:

“Abu, don’t worry. Uncle Naeem came earlier tonight. You know his daughter’s wedding preparations are going on, and he was in desperate need of money. He asked for help, so I gave him all the fifty thousand rupees. I’m sorry, I didn’t wait for your permission.”

His father turned to him in shock. “But, my son… no neighbor has come here today!” he said in disbelief.

Before he could continue, Abdul Samad interrupted again firmly: “Yes, Abu, he came about an hour ago. I gave him the money myself. It’s gone already.”

Hearing this, the thief grew restless and frustrated. He searched the wardrobe, the drawers, and then the entire house in anger. But there was nothing valuable to be found. At last, in desperation, he barked at the father:

“Then give me whatever cash you have in your pocket!”

Reluctantly, the father handed over his wallet, which contained only about four hundred and fifty rupees. Furious and disappointed, the thief stormed out into the night, vanishing as suddenly as he had appeared.

Only when the door slammed shut did Abdul Samad’s father look at his son in wonder. How had the money disappeared from the wardrobe without his knowledge?

The answer revealed itself soon enough. The boy’s famous sixth sense had saved them. The moment he heard the midnight knock, his instincts told him that danger was at the door. Moving swiftly, he had unlocked the wardrobe, taken out the bundle of fifty thousand rupees, placed it into a plain envelope, and hidden it deep inside the refrigerator’s vegetable compartment—under layers of onions, carrots, and green chilies.

It was a simple yet brilliant idea. No intruder would ever think to search among vegetables for a bundle of cash. And indeed, the thief had left empty-handed, save for a few hundred rupees.

In the end, Abdul Samad’s quick thinking and calm bravery preserved the money that was meant for his grandmother’s treatment. His father and grandmother could not stop praising him for his intelligence and courage.

That night, Abdul Samad realized that sometimes life presents challenges just like the mystery novels he so loved to read. But unlike the stories in books, this was real—and his sharp mind had turned fiction into reality.

The lesson was clear: vigilance, presence of mind, and a little bit of courage can protect not just wealth, but life itself. And Abdul Samad, the young detective at heart, had proven that even in the darkest hours, cleverness can light the way.