Outstanding Stories » Hard Work Pays Off

“Hard Work Pays Off” is one of the outstanding stories (junior) of the second biannual International Short Story Contest 2018 written by Abdul Rafay, Beaconhouse School System, Pakistan.

Hard Work Pays Off

There was a boy named Aqeel who opened his eyes in a lower middle class family. He had two elder sisters and two brothers. His father was an ordinary clerk and he barely made enough money to get through the month easily. His mother was a housewife and used to sew clothes to support her husband. Despite these circumstances, his parents wanted to provide their children with the best possible education.

Aqeel was an obedient child who respected his parents a lot and he would always obey whatever they said. Due to this quality, he was the most favourite child of his parents among all his siblings. While he was in ninth standard, his father got severely ill and due to it he got paralysed for the rest of his life. Aqeel had to leave his studies in between. His mother could not bear the entire burden alone, so Aqeel and his elder brothers decided to do work at different places. Aqeel got a job at a general store, but deep down in his heart he was not happy about dropping his studies. The store where he worked was owned by a religious old man. No one probably knew the owner’s name but everyone called him Haji Sahib and he was a much respected figure in the area.

One day, Haji Sahib saw Aqeel sad and he decided to enquire about the issue. Aqeel told him everything. Haji Sahib got tears in his eyes, being a kind man he offered Aqeel to bear his all expenses for the annual exam and even gave him 2 hours off every day without deducting his wage. Aqeel saw this as an opportunity that he could not afford to let go and accepted the offer. He started studying by heart and made full use of the opportunity he got.

Finally, the time came when he had to sit in the exam, he was nervous as well as hopeful that he will do well. He recited the Dua (prayer) which his mother had told him and gave all the exams full dedication. Months passed and he was eagerly awaiting the results. One day, when the result was about to be announced, he received a call from the examination department of the education board. He got scared but visited the office as he was told to. And to his utter surprise, they told him that he had secured 2nd position in the region. He had tears in his eyes, the tears of joy and gratefulness.

He thanked Almighty Allah, and then his parents and Haji Sahib who made his dream come true but everyone who knew him, knew that it was only made possible by his sheer efforts after the God’s blessings. He was then offered a full bright scholarship after the board got to know his financial disability and all of his hard work. As the saying goes, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”, and he proved it right by all means.