Zarar Ahmed Beg was sitting in his office when accountant Abdul Haseeb entered. “Assalamu Alaikum, Sir! My son has been very ill for several days. His fever won’t go down. Please grant me a few days off, as he needs to be admitted to the hospital…”
“And… and… so you can take proper care of him?” Zarar interrupted. “But Abdul Haseeb, think—if I keep giving all employees leave whenever they ask, how will the office function?”
“Sir, please! I will be very grateful. Just a week’s leave. If my son recovers sooner, I’ll return immediately. I won’t delay a moment,” Abdul Haseeb pleaded.
“Alright… fine,” Zarar replied reluctantly
Soon after, Khurram Firdousi entered, shivering with fever. “Assalamu Alaikum, Sir! I’ve had a high fever since morning, and now I’m dizzy too. I cannot sit here like this. Please allow me to leave and rest. If I don’t recover, I won’t be able to come tomorrow either,” he said.
“Fine, go. Yes, go,” Zarar waved him off, though clearly annoyed.
Afterward, Zarar’s mood worsened. He was extremely particular about office affairs and disliked giving leaves unnecessarily. As he began his lunch, clerk Allah Bakhsh entered hesitantly. “Sir… I…
“Is your child ill? Are you sick? Do you want leave?” Zarar asked, frowning.
“No, Sir! It’s my daughter’s wedding. I need leave and some advance salary too. You can deduct it later from my pay. The expenses are high; the groom’s side demanded a large dowry…” Allah Bakhsh explained.
“Allah Bakhsh! Take your leave and the advance. Now, leave me alone. Tell the secretary that no one should come in,” Zarar said firmly.
That evening, Zarar returned home. His housekeeper, Khansa Ma, had prepared dinner. His wife had passed away years earlier, and he lived with his son, Abrar Ahmed Beg, who was studying at university. “Has Abrar returned?” he asked.
“Yes, sir. He’s eaten and gone to his friend’s place. He’ll be back soon,” Khansa replied.
After dinner, Zarar sat in his study, frustrated by the day’s events. He called his old friend, Mujahid Afridi, for advice. “Afridi! I’m thinking of shutting down my firm. Employees keep asking for leave. When they take leave, the work pressure increases. I pay full salaries, sometimes too much for minimal work. I don’t know what to do!”
“Give me 24 hours. I’ll find a solution,” Afridi replied.
The next day, Afridi called back, excited. “I’ve thought of a brilliant solution! Zarar Ahmed Beg, you’ll be amazed!” he said.
Within a month, fifteen employees—including Abdul Haseeb, Khurram Firdousi, and Allah Bakhsh—received termination letters. Confused, they arrived at the office the next day to find several robots had replaced them. The robots immediately took over all office work efficiently. Tasks that required five humans were completed faster by one machine.
“Wow! Now these machines perform better than humans. They work 24/7, take no leave, and save the firm money!” Zarar exclaimed, thanking Afridi repeatedly. The office ran flawlessly. Employees no longer worried about leave or work pressure, while the robots had no errors or fatigue.
Years passed. Abrar went abroad for studies, leaving Zarar increasingly lonely. The office kept him busy during the day, but at home he deeply missed his son. At first, he considered calling him, but instead sent a message:
“Dear son, at this stage of life, I wish for someone to stay with me, listen to me, and care for me. I feel very lonely. I hope you understand.”
Soon, he received a reply: “Babajan, don’t worry. InshaAllah, your loneliness will soon be gone.”
A few days later, Zarar received a large, heavy parcel. The note read: “This will stay with you, listen to you, and ensure you never feel lonely.” Trembling, he opened the parcel to find a talking robot. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he hugged it, feeling comforted and less lonely.
About the Creator
Sudais Zakwan
Sudais Zakwan – Storyteller of Emotions
Sudais Zakwan is a passionate story writer known for crafting emotionally rich and thought-provoking stories that resonate with readers of all ages. With a unique voice and creative flair.
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