The Voting Day

From the early hours of the morning, the village of Sunfield had a different atmosphere. Every corner of the speakers bloomed: "Your voice, your rights. Vote carefully and choose the right person." The villagers seemed to wake up earlier than usual - because today was election day.

Uncle Rashid waved his quilt and called out, "Daughter-in-law, bring me tea! Let me vote first." He was one of the village's senior citizens and had seen almost seven national elections in his life. However, this time the excitement was extraordinarily high. Why? For the first time, two young candidates fought: Zayn and Martin.

Zayn returned to the village after completing his studies in the city, full of dreams of serving his community. His father was a respected school teacher and was known for his honesty. Zayn was well-spoken and soft, and lit up hope in his heart. Meanwhile, Martin was the son of the current local chairman. He became a nearby politician, quick, smart, clever, surrounded by several opportunists who treated politics as business. He knew how to manage people and had strong connections that helped him quickly gather resources.

Maya, a local student, told her friend. "Who are you voting for?" She asked. "I vote for Zayn. He has promised to open a training centre for women." Her words gave others courage, especially girls who had never chosen before.

The Campaign Center was established at the Old State Elementary School. People were already waiting at 8 a.m. The elderly, women, and young first-time voters were enthusiastic. Activists on both sides moved around with microphones — "Vote for Zayn! He will bring change!" or "Support Martin! He knows how to deliver!"

Lemonade and roasted peanuts were sold outside the campaign centre. Local drummers performed rhythmically to enhance the festive mood. The weather was pleasant too, with a cool breeze keeping spirits high.

During the voting process, a small issue occurred. An elderly woman had a spelling mistake in her voter ID. The chairman was initially frustrated, but after confirming that he had voted in the previous election, he allowed her to vote. The smile on her folding face was pure satisfaction.

Neither Zayn nor Martin visited the polling station. Both remained at their respective campaign camps. They agreed on one thing: "Candidates should not appear in the booths to avoid unnecessary controversy."

By 4 p.m., voting had concluded. The whole village was alert and eagerly waiting for the outcome. The teahouses and courtyards were transformed into mini-debate zones where people speculated about who might win.

As night fell, the counting began at the polling station. Two hours later, the news spread like wildfire — Zayn was leading by 1,278 votes!

Zayn's supporters broke out in joy and applause. Zayn himself was overwhelmed. Tears tumbled down his cheeks. He never imagined such love and support from the people of his village. His father grabbed his hand and said, "This is just the beginning. Now the real work begins."

Martin, on the other hand, did not lose heart. He gathered his team and said, "Yes, I lost, but I learned too. I will not leave the village. I will stay and continue to work for the people. I'll come back stronger."

The villagers saw something new in these two young leaders. Beyond the competition, they saw character, integrity, and promise. It gave everyone hope that politics could still attract genuine people.

Later that evening, several youth from the village gathered under the big banyan tree near the school. "This election felt different," said Karim, a college student. "We felt included for the first time. We had real choices."

Another girl, Amina, added, "It was inspiring to see Zayn speak about women's education and healthcare. Even Martin, though he lost, showed maturity."

The local newspaper published a special column titled "The Dawn of Change in Sunfield." Even nearby villages heard about the peaceful and spirited election, and it became a model for others.

The next morning, Uncle Rashid drank tea and smiled at the bright sky. "Now I feel like there's a future in our village," he said. The scent of hope lingered in the air, stronger than ever before.