The Boy Who Wanted His Mother’s Story Written

The Story That Changed Arshad’s Life

BY:Khan

Arshad and Amjad were two brothers who lived in a small village with their parents. Life was simple and poor, yet peaceful. Their mother was a loving and caring woman who tried her best to make their lives comfortable despite the hardships. She made sure her sons wore clean clothes, ate proper food, and learned good manners. Poverty surrounded them, but love kept their home warm.

Then one day, life changed forever.
Their mother fell ill. For months she struggled between life and death, and despite all efforts, she passed away. Her death was like a mountain falling on the two young boys. The house that once echoed with her gentle voice now felt silent and empty. Their father and uncle tried to take care of them, but nothing could fill the void their mother left behind.

Days turned into weeks, and the brothers found it hard to live in the same village where every corner reminded them of their mother. Their father’s small income barely covered food. There was no school nearby, and even if there was, they couldn’t afford to attend. Hunger and hopelessness started to grow.

Finally, their father decided to leave the village and move to the city in search of a better life.
After a long and tiring journey, they reached a noisy, crowded city filled with tall buildings and busy streets—so different from the calm fields of their village. Their father started working as a laborer, taking on long hours under the sun. Still, the money wasn’t enough, so both Arshad and Amjad had to find small jobs to help.

Arshad got a job at a stationery store. Every day, he arranged notebooks, pencils, and colors for customers. The store sold all kinds of school supplies—things that reminded him of what he didn’t have: education.

One afternoon, while he was busy at the counter, a kind-looking woman walked in. She asked for children’s storybooks. Arshad handed her a few. As they talked, he found out she was a children’s writer. She wrote stories about love, kindness, and lessons from life.

Arshad’s eyes lit up. “Can you write my story too?” he asked shyly.
The woman smiled. “Your story? What kind of story would you like me to write?”
“Write my mother’s story,” Arshad said softly. “She passed away some time ago.”

The woman looked at him with warmth. “That’s a beautiful idea,” she said. “But will you promise me something?”
“Yes,” Arshad replied immediately.

“If you love your mother so much that you want her story written,” she continued, “then honor her by doing what every mother dreams of — learn. Study, even if you can’t go to school. Read in your free time. Ask for help. Once you learn to read, you’ll discover a world full of wisdom. You’ll know what’s right and wrong, and you’ll become the person your mother wanted you to be.”

Her words struck him deeply. Arshad stood there in silence, feeling something awaken in his heart. That night, as he lay on his small bed, he couldn’t stop thinking about what she had said.
He realized that while he couldn’t bring his mother back, he could still make her proud.

The owners of the store were kind people. When they learned about his wish to study, they offered to help. They allowed him to read and learn after work hours. They gave him old books, notebooks, and a little corner in the shop where he could sit and practice.

It wasn’t easy. After long hours of work, his hands were tired, and his eyes burned with fatigue. But he didn’t give up. Every evening, he opened his books and tried to understand new words. Slowly, the letters that once looked strange began to make sense. He learned to read stories, then to write, and then to dream.

Months turned into years. Arshad’s hard work and determination started to shine. He completed his basic education through night classes. Later, he went on to finish college. Eventually, he earned a Master’s degree in Commerce (M.Com).

Today, Arshad works as a manager in a factory. His office is neat and filled with books and files. When he looks out of his office window, he often remembers that dusty little stationery shop where his journey began—and the kind woman who had changed the course of his life with a few simple words.

He never got to meet her again, but her advice became his guiding light.
He often tells young workers in his factory, “Don’t let poverty stop you. Education doesn’t belong only to those who can afford it — it belongs to anyone willing to work for it. Age doesn’t matter. If you have the will to learn, the world will open its doors.”

Whenever he visits his mother’s grave, he smiles and says quietly,
“Ammi, I did it. I studied… and I made you proud.”

The story of Arshad is not just about one boy—it’s a reminder for all of us. Life can be unfair, and loss can break us, but hope and education can rebuild everything. Sometimes, all it takes is one kind word, one small opportunity, or one stranger’s advice to change a life forever.


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Moral:
Education has no age or boundary. No matter where you come from or what you’ve lost, knowledge can always be your way forward.