The Power of Tears

The three of them were sitting in a park, staring at the money placed before them. The amount taken from the stolen wallet consisted of three hundred-rupee notes, one fifty-rupee note, and one ten-rupee note—making a total of three hundred and sixty rupees. Seeing such a small amount filled all three with disappointment.

Sarosh, the leader of the group, calculated the money and addressed the others. “Well, business was slow today. Each of you will get one hundred and twenty rupees. I’ll keep one hundred, and you both take one hundred and thirty each.”

“So generous—twenty rupees of kindness!” Abdullah mocked sarcastically while glaring at Sarosh.

“This day is completely ruined,” Shahbaz said gloomily. “You claimed this man was wealthy. You’d been watching him for days, and all we got was three hundred and sixty rupees.”

After a while, the three entered a nearby hotel, spent all the money on food, and walked out with full stomachs but empty pockets. It was late at night when they parted ways at a crossing.

Sarosh reached his street, where dirty sewage water was spread everywhere. Wading through the foul-smelling water, he knocked on his door, but no one answered. A neighbor informed him that the house was locked and complained that Sarosh stayed out all day and did nothing useful. Frustrated, Sarosh left.

Abdullah’s return home was even worse. As soon as he entered, his father struck him with a stick, followed by his mother hitting him with a shoe. After the beating, his mother burst into tears, scolding him for wasting his life while others his age supported their families. Abdullah promised once again that he would start working, though he had made such promises before.

Shahbaz’s situation was similar. His parents had passed away long ago, and his elder brother Aftab ran the household. When Shahbaz searched for food at night, his sister told him there was nothing except bread and milk. Aftab reminded him sternly that he did not earn and urged him to leave the wrong path and work at the shop with him. Tears streamed down Aftab’s face as he spoke. Those tears shook Shahbaz deeply. He embraced his brother and promised to work honestly.

The next day, Sarosh waited alone in the park. When his friends did not arrive, he decided to go alone to the Sunday market, a crowded place where they often pickpocketed. Pretending to be a customer, he wandered among vegetable stalls. His eyes fell on a woman’s black handbag while she was buying onions.

As Sarosh opened the bag’s zipper and took out a small wallet, a strong hand grabbed him. A policeman raised an alarm, and Sarosh was surrounded. He was taken to the police station, where he sat with his head bowed, tears flowing endlessly. He remembered how he had ignored his parents’ tears in the past. Today, caught by the law, shame overwhelmed him.

Hungry and exhausted, Sarosh prayed sincerely, begging Allah for forgiveness and vowing to abandon all wrongdoing. After hours, he was brought before Inspector Nauman, who contacted the woman whose wallet Sarosh had tried to steal.

Her voice came clearly through the phone: “I forgive the young man. Humans make mistakes. If he is forgiven, perhaps he will return to the right path.”

Sarosh cried aloud, promising to become a good person. The woman advised him to honor his promise.

Released, Sarosh returned home. As soon as he saw his mother, he fell at her feet, then bowed before his father. His tears fell onto his father’s feet, and both parents embraced him tightly. Sarosh confessed everything. That night, his parents realized the true power of tears. Sarosh had changed forever, and from that day onward, he walked the straight path, never again facing the shame of regret.