In a small village nestled among the rolling hills, there lived a man named Allah Dino, known for his wisdom and kindness. He was a simple man, with simple needs, but his greatest treasure was his only son, Imran. Like most fathers, Allah Dino cherished his son above all else, raising him with love and imparting the values he held dear. However, as Imran grew older, he began to drift away from the lessons his father had taught him, especially when it came to the company he kept.
Imran, now a young man, had become close with a group of friends who often stayed out late into the night. They would meet at a small teahouse at the edge of the village, spending hours chatting, laughing, and indulging in harmless mischief. Although these friends seemed loyal and fun, they were often up to no good, and Allah Dino noticed his son’s growing attachment to them with concern.
Every night, Imran would return home late, sometimes in the early hours of the morning. Allah Dino would wait up for him, worried but hoping that his son would understand the value of time and the importance of being responsible. Whenever Imran returned, his father would gently ask, “Where were you, my son?”
Imran, quick to dismiss his father’s concern, would always reply, “I was with my friends, Abba.”
Allah Dino, knowing better, would nod quietly, his heart heavy with worry. He knew that friends could greatly influence a young man, either steering him towards success or leading him astray. Despite his concern, Allah Dino remained patient, hoping that one day his son would come to understand the true meaning of friendship.
One night, however, Imran came home much later than usual. It was well past midnight, and Allah Dino’s patience had worn thin. As soon as Imran stepped through the door, his father, with a firm yet gentle voice, said, “Son, tonight we will go meet this friend of yours.”
Startled by his father’s request, Imran hesitated. “Now, Abba? It’s the middle of the night. Can’t we go tomorrow?”
But Allah Dino was insistent. “No, Imran. We must go now. I want to meet the friend you spend so much time with.”
Reluctantly, Imran agreed, not wanting to disobey his father. Together, they set out into the night, the streets of the village silent except for the occasional bark of a distant dog. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale glow on the narrow paths they walked. Imran led his father to the home of his friend, a small house at the far end of the village.
When they arrived, Allah Dino knocked on the door. They waited, but there was no response. Imran knocked again, a bit harder this time. After what seemed like an eternity, a sleepy, elderly man, the friend’s father, appeared at the window, peering down at them with bleary eyes.
“Who’s there?” the old man called out, his voice hoarse with sleep.
“It’s me, Imran. I need to see my friend,” Imran replied.
The old man squinted at the boy, then shook his head. “He’s asleep, boy. It’s late. Come back in the morning.”
“Please, Uncle,” Imran pleaded, “I need to see him. It’s important.”
But the old man was not moved. “No, it’s too late. Whatever it is, it can wait until tomorrow. Go home.”
Despite Imran’s continued pleas, the old man refused to wake his son. After several attempts, Imran finally gave up, his frustration evident. He turned to his father, expecting to see disappointment or anger, but Allah Dino simply nodded.
“Come, my son,” Allah Dino said softly. “Now, let’s go see my friend.”
Puzzled, Imran followed his father as they left the house and began a long journey to the outskirts of the village. They walked in silence, the night air growing colder as they traveled farther from home. Imran wondered why his father was so determined to visit his own friend in the dead of night, but he said nothing, trusting that his father had a reason.
After what seemed like hours, they arrived at a small, humble dwelling in a neighboring village. The first light of dawn was beginning to creep over the horizon as Allah Dino approached the door and knocked. The sound of his knock echoed through the stillness of the early morning.
For a long moment, there was no response. Imran thought perhaps they should turn back, but then they heard the sound of a cane tapping on the ground, followed by the creak of the door opening. A frail, elderly man stood in the doorway, his eyes widening in surprise and joy as he recognized Allah Dino.
“My dear friend, Allah Dino! What brings you here at this hour?” the old man, Khair Din, exclaimed as he embraced his old friend.
“I am sorry to disturb you at this hour, Khair Din,” Allah Dino began, his voice filled with sincerity. “But I needed to see you. It has been so long.”
Khair Din shook his head, tears welling up in his eyes. “No need to apologize, my friend. I’m just glad you’re here.”
Imran watched in amazement as Khair Din, despite his frail state, hurriedly prepared a place for them to sit. He could hardly believe the difference between this old man’s warmth and the cold reception they had received from his own friend’s family.
As they sat down, Khair Din began to apologize for taking so long to answer the door. “When you knocked, Allah Dino, I thought to myself, ‘My friend must be in some kind of trouble if he’s come at this hour.’ So, I first went to get my savings, thinking perhaps you needed money. Then, I woke my son, thinking you might need a strong back to help with something urgent. And then, I remembered the turban you gave me all those years ago, thinking maybe you needed someone to stand with you for a difficult decision. Forgive me for the delay; I just wanted to be fully prepared for whatever you might need.”
Hearing this, Imran was overwhelmed with emotion. Tears filled his eyes as he realized the depth of his father’s friendship with Khair Din. Here was a man who, after not seeing his friend for nearly three decades, was still willing to do whatever it took to help him without question.
Allah Dino, noticing his son’s reaction, turned to him and said, “Do you see, Imran? A true friend is not the one who is with you only in good times, laughing and joking, but the one who stands by you when you need them most. Friendship isn’t about who you spend your nights with; it’s about who will answer your call, no matter the hour, no matter the circumstances.”
Imran, now fully understanding the lesson his father had been trying to teach him, could only nod as tears streamed down his face. “Abba, I understand now. I’m sorry I didn’t listen before.”
Allah Dino smiled gently at his son, placing a hand on his shoulder. “It’s never too late to learn, my son. What matters is that you understand now. Choose your friends wisely, for they shape the person you become. And remember, it’s not the number of friends you have, but the quality of those friendships.”
As the first rays of the sun broke over the horizon, Imran felt a sense of clarity and purpose he had never experienced before. He knew he needed to make changes in his life, starting with the people he surrounded himself with. He promised himself that he would no longer waste his time with those who weren’t truly there for him and that he would seek out friendships based on loyalty, trust, and respect—just like the friendship his father had with Khair Din.
The journey back home was a quiet one, but the silence was filled with understanding. Imran walked beside his father, a newfound respect for the wisdom and experience of the man who had raised him. He realized that his father had always had his best interests at heart, and he felt a deep gratitude for the lesson he had been taught.
When they finally reached their village, Imran felt as though he had returned a different person. The sun was now fully risen, casting a golden glow over the village as the day began. Imran looked at his father, who smiled at him with pride.
“Remember, my son,” Allah Dino said as they approached their home, “a true friend is a rare and precious gift. Never take it for granted.”
From that day on, Imran began to distance himself from the friends who had once seemed so important. He sought out new friendships, ones built on trust, loyalty, and shared values. And whenever he was in doubt, he would remember the night his father had taken him to see Khair Din and the lesson he had learned about the true meaning of friendship.
Years later, when Imran had a son of his own, he told him the same story, passing down the wisdom his father had given him. And just like Allah Dino had done with him, Imran hoped to instill in his son the importance of choosing friends wisely and valuing the ones who would stand by him through thick and thin.
In the end, Imran learned that true friendship is not about the time spent together or the fun shared, but about being there for each other when it matters most. And that was a lesson he would carry with him for the rest of his life.
