In a small town nestled between mountains, lived a young boy named Arashman and his little sister, Alisha. Arashman was no more than twelve, but life had already shown him its harshest faces. He had seen the world not only through the joy of childhood but also through the sorrow of disillusionment.
One evening, as the sun dipped behind the hills, casting long shadows on the dirt road, Arashman sat beside his sister under the old chinar tree in their backyard. Alisha, barely six, had her legs dangling off the edge of the wooden bench, her eyes bright with innocence and curiosity.
Arashman, what’s life like? I heard people say it’s full of happiness, Alisha asked, her voice like a soft whisper.
Arashman sighed. He gazed at the setting sun, feeling a weight in his chest. Life, as he had come to know, was far more complicated than Alisha could understand.
Life is… an enigma, Alisha, he started, choosing his words carefully. It’s full of promises. People make promises, some big and some small. But not all of them keep their word.
Alisha tilted her head, frowning. Like what?
Arashman paused for a moment. He thought about the promises he’d heard over the years—the ones from people who told him things would get better, that the world would change, that everything would be fair. But those promises had crumbled away like dust.
Well, there was Mr. Khan, he said slowly, his mind drifting back to a time when he’d trusted the man who had promised Arashman’s mother that he’d help them when things got tough. Mr. Khan had been their neighbor, always saying how he’d get Arashman’s father a job. But months passed, and no help ever came.
He said he’d make everything better for us, but… he never did, Arashman continued. Instead, he went on to make promises to others, pretending to care, all while forgetting the people who trusted him.
Alisha’s eyes widened in confusion. Why would he do that? Doesn’t he care?
Arashman shrugged. People get lost in their own world, Alisha. Some do things for their own gain, and it hurts others without them even realizing it. There are a lot of people like him… doing things for themselves while pretending to help others.
Alisha’s face scrunched up as she tried to process this. But that’s not nice.
Arashman nodded. No, it’s not. And there are worse things than that. Have you heard about the drug dealers who hang around the city’s corners? They promise people a better life, an escape from their pain. But all they do is drag people down into more misery.
He looked at Alisha, her innocent face now shadowed by a hint of worry. I’ve seen good people—people who had dreams—lose everything to addiction. They think it’s a way out, but it’s a trap. It’s like a lie that promises peace, but it only brings pain.
That’s so sad, Alisha whispered, her small voice barely audible.
It is, but it’s the truth. And there’s corruption too, Arashman went on, his voice growing somber. People who hold power, the ones who make the rules—they break them. They fill their pockets while others suffer. It’s a system built on lies, Alisha. You might see smiles, but you don’t always see the truth behind them.
Alisha stayed silent for a long while, staring at her feet. The wind rustled through the leaves of the banyan tree, and for a moment, it seemed like the world itself was holding its breath.
Arashman looked at his sister, his heart heavy. But not everyone is like that. There are still some good people out there, people who are true to their words. They may be few, but they exist. And that’s what you need to hold on to. You’ll meet them, and they will help you through this mess.
Alisha looked up at her brother, a mixture of sadness and determination in her eyes. I’ll remember that, she said quietly. I want to be one of the good ones. Even if life is tough, I don’t want to give up on being good.
Arashman smiled softly, proud of his sister’s resolve. You can be one of the good ones, Alisha. No matter how hard life gets, just remember—always stay true to yourself, and be kind. That’s the only thing that really matters in the end.
The sun dipped lower, and the stars began to twinkle in the sky. The world was still full of uncertainty, full of struggles and broken promises, but as long as people like Alisha and Arashman existed, there would always be a chance for light to shine through the cracks.
And in that moment, under the old chinar tree, the weight of the world felt just a little bit lighter.
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