Behind the Curtain

“They promised us light... but left us in the dark.”

The night was alive with hope. Streets were filled with people waving flags, dancing to loud slogans, and chanting the name of their “saviour.” The politician stood tall on the stage, his hand raised high, voice filled with confidence:

“I will change your lives. I will bring justice. I am one of you!”

People cheered. In the crowd, an old man cried with joy. A young boy, Raza, barely 12, looked up at his father and said, “Will we finally have a home, Baba?” His father nodded, believing—truly believing—that things were about to change.

They didn’t.

The Man Behind the Mask

His name was Malik Farooq, a rising star in politics. A man of charm, dressed in simple clothes, walking through muddy streets, hugging the poor, eating at roadside stalls. Cameras followed him everywhere. He said all the right words. “Corruption must end. The poor must rise. The system must be fixed.”

And people believed.

But behind the curtain, Malik was no different from the ones he used to criticize. The moment he took office, his promises faded like smoke. The man who wore a kurta in public began wearing suits in private meetings with foreign investors. The same man who once cursed the elite began building mansions, sending his children abroad, and awarding contracts to his cousins.

The Hungry Stay Hungry

In the village where Raza lived, nothing changed.

The school still had no roof. The hospital still had no doctor. The roads were still broken, and water still came only once a week. But on the news, Malik Farooq claimed, “We’ve developed 60% of rural areas. No child will go without education.”

Raza’s father died two years later—no ambulance came in time.

The Game of Promises

Every five years, the cycle repeats.

New faces, new parties, new promises—but the script remains the same. Politicians arrive before elections with smiles, gifts, food bags, and big dreams. They touch the hands of the poor only to win their votes, then disappear into luxury.

They divide the people—on the basis of religion, ethnicity, language, or party color. They feed them hate so they don’t ask real questions. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, they attend the same parties, toast the same champagne, and sign secret deals that only help them.

Media as a Mask

The media, which should expose the truth, often becomes part of the lie. Some channels show only what politicians want. Journalists who dare to speak out are silenced, threatened, or labeled “traitors.”

People see a crafted image, not the real person. The truth is buried under shiny slogans and filtered footage. The masses are not informed—they are entertained.

The Price of Silence

The biggest weapon these politicians use is the silence of the people. They know that once the speeches are over, the crowd will go back to their daily struggles and forget. They know that hunger is louder than anger.

But sometimes, one spark is enough.

Raza’s Awakening

Years later, that little boy—Raza—is now a grown man. He works in a small bookstore, but he reads everything. He knows history. He knows politics. And he knows the truth.

One day, as another election begins and Malik Farooq’s posters flood the city, Raza picks up a marker and writes on one of them:

“Ask what he gave you, not what he promised.”

People stop. They read. One man smiles bitterly. A woman nods slowly. A boy takes a picture and shares it online.

That night, Raza writes his first article. It goes viral. Thousands read it. Some cry. Some wake up.

The Real Change

Real change doesn’t come from one speech or one leader. It comes from people who ask hard questions. From youth who refuse to be fooled. From citizens who remember what was promised and demand answers.

Politicians are not gods. They are not saviors. They are servants—and servants must be held accountable.

Conclusion

The biggest tragedy is not that politicians lie. It’s that we let them. We celebrate their lies, defend their mistakes, and forget our pain in exchange for fake hope.

But the curtain is slowly being pulled back. The truth is rising. The people are learning.

And once they see what’s behind the curtain—there’s no going back.