Friday, February 3rd 2006, like any other Friday I woke up and after eating breakfast was on my way to get ready when the mobile bell rang, from an unknown number. I picked it up and a man on the other line in his unassuming and ordinary voice spoke up and confirmed my name and the number and then informed me that he was calling from the Police Department. He carried on stating that there has been an accident and my number was found in the pocket of the person hit by a car, and the casualty was taken to Poly Clinic. I started trembling and not figuring out as to who that can be I panicked and handed the mobile to my husband. After hanging up with the police man on the mobile, my husband informed me that the causality was of a young boy age 16 or 17 yrs and according to the police man he was under treatment. Still not sure as to whom that person was, my husband and I hurried things up in the house and managed to get on towards the Poly Clinic. Throughout the way we kept discussing and thinking as to who that can be…whether we know the person or not. On reaching, we entered the hospital, and just near the entrance there were a few ladies crying. We managed to go by them and in a corridor towards the minor OT. There I managed to see a young boy undergoing treatment and all of a sudden it clicked me as to who that actually can be. He must be Sarfraz Masih, a young boy of age 18.

I made friends with him 4 months ago, when he was working in my Office. He worked as a cleaning boy in the mornings and in the evenings he used to study. With a very meek and humble face he asked me for a favour. I don’t know why me? But it seemed as if he related to me much easily and comfortably than with others working there. He wanted to do a computer course and wanted me to assist him. Adorable isn’t it. The very day he asked for the favour, I nodded yes, deep down thinking to myself only about the possibilities and also as to how to go about it. Later on he kept coming to me and I kept saying that I will assist in finding him an Institute and also finance the course. I did so after three months, but I was still unsure whether he would be able to complete, whether he will take the course seriously enough or not. The day my husband and I took him for the course admission, he came outside my office to meet me, as he no longer worked in my building. The adorable kid was wearing new shoes, and a very good shirt…in short he was very properly dressed up-enough to assure me that he takes things seriously and the studies seriously, and also gave me confidence that he wishes to exceed in life. In simple words, I found the kid to be very simple and very pleasant. Whenever he used to come to meet me, it was a pleasure to see him smile. In his words there was a feeling of realization that I am making a difference in some one’s life. Yes, it’s true that we touch a few people’s lives and in return without even knowing it we ourselves are overwhelmed with an implicit and inexplicable feeling that we change ourselves. A small change can make a big difference. He started his course, happily enough he called me and asked me if I wanted “Chawal” (rice) from his village. I said no thank you; he insisted though and said that to pay me back for what I have done for him, he wanted to get me something. I replied that he can study hard and achieve something if he has to repay me. To this our conversation ended, not knowing that this would have been my last conversation with him.

After standing in front of the Minor OT, I started becoming uneasy and we started moving towards the reception to find out more and to confirm. Once there, we were told that there was an accident that morning no doubt, but there was no injured person there, however, the misfortune ended in the death of the young boy. The women crying at the entrance gate were actually engulfing and crying over the dead body of Sarfraz, who was no more.

He died on the spot when the car hit him that early morning, as he was going to work on his bicycle. Every one who knew him felt for him and his death at this young age. We can’t change things as Allah has destined them to be in his scheme of ways. But there are things we can do, like pray that the journey ahead is simple for him. Teach people to be patient. Everywhere in this hustle bustle, we see people rushing; cars rushing over people just to make it ahead of time by two minutes. Patience was once a virtue now remains no more with people like you and me. It’s hard to realize its missing from our lives till one becomes a victim of the “rush rush” and impatience. Last but not the least, we all have to go to Allah one day, so we should make most of our lives and also for the life here after, make a difference here, know the value of life by cherishing every moment with our loved ones, learn to love our close ones and also learn to love those we don’t even know enough. Learn to stop being self-centered and selfish. You and I are only going to take HOME with us the good deeds that we do here, and the possessions like the love that we share, the care we impart upon all, and the patience which we adopt as a virtue. Someone once said, “Be the change you want to see in others”.