Good Manners

There was a time, in a small bustling town center, where a boy named Ayaan lived. He was ten, full of energy, and always curious about the world around him. However, there was something that set Ayaan apart—he was popular in the area for having good manners.

While other kids ran amok on the streets, yelling and screaming, Ayaan would always greet elders with a smile and an "Assalamualaikum." He held doors for strangers, said "please" and "thank you" without prompting, and never cut off anyone who had something to say. They were small things to some. But in the eyes of those around him, they made Ayaan shine like a star.

His parents had instructed him since he was a child that good manners were not only a question of politeness—they were an indicator of the character of an individual. "Manners," his mother always told him, "are like seeds. The more you plant them, the more kindness will be around you.".

One morning, while Ayaan was walking to school with his backpack swinging on his shoulders, something caught his eyes and he paused. At the corner of the street, an old man was struggling to carry two bags of groceries that were too heavy for him. People walked by him, too busy or too selfish to help. Ayaan did not hesitate and went to the man.

"Do you need some assistance, Uncle?" he inquired gently.

The man looked taken aback but smiled. "That's very kind of you, beta. These bags are too much for me."

Ayaan took one of the bags and accompanied the man, chatting cheerfully as they arrived at a nearby apartment complex. When the groceries were safely on the kitchen counter, the elderly man thanked him with a candy.

"Thanks, Uncle," said Ayaan, "but helping you was reward enough."

The man smiled. "The world could do with more children like you."

What Ayaan did not know was that the man was Mr. Hashmi, the previous headmaster of the town's biggest school. The next day, Mr. Hashmi visited Ayaan's school and spoke to the principal. That morning in morning assembly, Ayaan's name was called out.

Everyone's eyes shifted as he moved towards the stage, confused and a little worried. The principal smiled and started, "Today, we're privileged to recognize Ayaan Ahmed for his outstanding display of good manners and compassion. Mr. Hashmi told us what you did. You didn't do it for praise or a reward—you did it because it was the right thing to do."

The other kids clapped hard, and Ayaan stood tall, not in pride, but in muted happiness. He had not done it for accolades, but it was good to know that kindness did not go unseen.

Ayaan was a quiet leader among his friends from that day. Others started following his example—not because they were told to, but because they saw how kindness touched people.

A child dropped his lunch tray in the cafeteria, and rather than laugh, a group of students leapt up to assist him. Another student left her pencil case at home for a test, and three students lent her their extra pens. The school's culture began to shift, little by little.

Even the teachers took notice. Discipline got better, fights diminished, and students began to be nicer to each other—and to the planet.

At home, Ayaan remained the same obedient, well-mannered boy. He would set the table to assist his mother, assist his father in small ways, and always be gentle in his words to his little sister, even when she annoyed him.

Sitting with his parents one night, Ayaan asked, "Why don't all children have good manners?"

His father smiled and replied, "Because sometimes they are not taught how important they are. But when someone like you sets a good example, others start to learn."

His mother added, "And don't forget, manners are not just for other people. They also make you feel good about yourself.".

Years later, Ayaan would become a teacher. And like Mr. Hashmi, he didn't only teach subjects like math and science, but also the importance of respect, kindness, and compassion.

He never forgot the lesson he learned from his parents—that good manners, no matter how small an act they are, go a long way. And with each class he entered, each student he instructed, Ayaan continued to plant those seeds of courtesy, one "please" and "thank you" at a time.