It was the start of a usual day for Ahmad, a nine-year-old boy who could hardly be seen studying since he loved to spend time playing video games.

The sunrays peeked through the partially opened window into his room; it was 6:45 in the morning. Just then his mother busted into his room to wake him up for school. Ahmad reluctantly obeyed his mother, got up sleepily to get ready.

After Ahmad changed into his uniform, his mother called him downstairs for breakfast. As he started to eat a jammed toast, he heard the school van’s horn. Picking up his schoolbag, Ahmad rushed out after bidding goodbye to his mother.

The fresh morning breeze came in from the window of the van and tickled his cheeks. Although he liked school, since he got to be with friends, he never liked studying as he considered it a useless burden. All his attention was on playing football matches and winning almost all of them. Thus he never knew the answer of any question the teacher ever asked in the class. Soon, something changed Ahmad’s attitude towards school and life.

One day, Ahmad, as usual, was seated at the back benches of his class with his friends. When it was time for the first period, their mathematics teacher, Miss Sarwat, entered the classroom. She was a strict teacher in whose class every student sat silently, as she would give strict punishments if any student made a mistake. But that day, she had good news for the students.

She informed that because it was September 6, the Defence Day, there won’t be any studying that day. She asked the class put their books away as she would tell them the significance of Defence Day.

Miss Sarwat set in the centre of the class. Then she started telling about Pakistan and India’s dispute over Kashmir in such a way that it didn’t feel like a boring history lecture, but a story in which all the students soon got absorbed. She told about how the Indian army attacked Pakistan without giving any warning of war in 1965. The Pakistani soldiers proved that they can defend themselves and fought with all their might.

Many Pakistan soldiers sacrificed their lives including, Captain Muhammad Sarwar Shaheed, Major Tufail Muhammad Shaheed, Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed, Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed (Air Force), Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed, Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed, Havildar Lalak Jan Shaheed and many other brave soldiers.

They sacrificed their life to save the future of their country Pakistan. We should pay tribute to them; we should acknowledge their sacrifice and pray for them.

The story’s made an impact on Ahmad. It touched Ahmad’s heart and his mind was fully inspired by the bravery of Pakistani army. He decided that day that he would join the army and protect his country, and will work for its betterment. He left playing video games, and started focussing on his studies and to become a brave and intelligent soldier of Pakistan in the future.

His mother was quite surprised to see a sudden change in his behaviour. His hard work indeed was visible in his exams. His score in exams improved from C grade to A grade, this achievement motivated him even more to pursue his dreams.

Published in Dawn, Young World, September 25th, 2021