The Rewarding Honesty -Raju Musabbir

The sun dipped down the horizon, tinging the sky with orange and pink colours, as 12-year-old Musabbir walked home from school. His school uniform, though neatly washed, was worn out, and his shoes bore the marks of many miles traveled. Yet, his heart was light, for he knew that no matter how little they had, his family had something far greater—honesty.

Musabbir’s father, Rahim, was a rickshaw puller in the bustling streets of Dhaka, and his mother, Jamila, worked as a domestic help. Their home was a small, one-room house in a narrow alleyway, where the sound of children playing mixed with the distant honks of traffic. It was not much, but it was home.

Life had never been easy for the family. There were nights when they had only rice and salt for dinner, and some days, even that was uncertain. Musabbir often saw his mother sewing torn clothes late at night under the dim glow of a kerosene lamp, her fingers rough with calluses. His father, despite his own exhaustion, always managed to greet them with a smile and words of encouragement.

One evening, as Musabbir returned from school, he found his parents sitting quietly, their faces shadowed with worry. His younger sister, Rukhsar, sat beside them, drawing patterns on the dirt floor with her fingers.

“What happened, Baba?” Musabbir asked, sensing the tension.

Rahim sighed deeply. “Musabbir, we may not have enough money for food this week. Work has been slow, and your mother’s employer has delayed her payment.”

Musabbir’s stomach churned. He knew hunger well, but this time, it seemed heavier, more unbearable. His thoughts raced, and then he remembered something. Earlier that day, his friend Kamran had told him of a way to earn quick money—by stealing from a rich merchant’s shop.

His hands clenched into fists as he wrestled with the thought. He knew what hunger felt like. Would it be so bad to take just a little? Would Allah forgive him if it was for his family?

That night, Musabbir lay awake, staring at the ceiling. He could hear his parents whispering, their voices carrying both sorrow and unwavering determination.
“We will never resort to dishonesty, Jamila,” Rahim said. “Even if we have to starve, we will not take what is not ours. Allah is watching, and we will be rewarded for our patience.”

Tears pricked Musabbir’s eyes. His father’s words echoed in his heart. He turned to look at his sleeping sister, her tiny face peaceful despite their troubles. At that moment, he made a decision. No matter how hard things became, he would never let temptation steal his integrity.

The next morning, Musabbir woke up determined. He decided to take on small jobs after school. He helped a shopkeeper organize goods, carried water for an elderly neighbor, and even cleaned rickshaws. It was exhausting, but at the end of the week, he had earned a few taka—just enough to buy some flour and lentils.

When he handed the money to his mother, her eyes filled with tears. She cupped his face and whispered, “May Allah bless you, my son.”

Days turned into months, and despite their hardships, the family never strayed from the path of honesty. Musabbir continued to study diligently, knowing that education was his only way out of poverty. His father always told him, “Knowledge is a treasure that no one can steal.”

Years passed, and Musabbir grew into a young man of integrity and wisdom. His relentless pursuit of knowledge earned him a scholarship to a prestigious university. The day he received his acceptance letter, he ran home, breathless with excitement.

“Baba! Ammi! I got in!” he exclaimed, waving the letter.

Rahim and Jamila embraced him tightly, their eyes glistening with pride. Their sacrifices, their patience, their unwavering honesty—it had all led to this moment.

As Musabbir boarded the bus to his new journey, he looked back at his family, standing by their small home. He vowed to honor their struggles, to carry forward the values they had instilled in him. He knew that wealth could be lost, but honesty, once upheld, would illuminate his path forever.

And so, the poor rickshaw puller’s son who once fought hunger with integrity grew to become a beacon of hope, proving that honesty was, and always would be, the greatest treasure of all.