The Old Man And The Mango Tree

1. The Village of Rahim

In a small village in Punjab, there lived an old man named Baba Rahim. He was 75 years old. His hair was white. His face had many lines, but his eyes were full of love and kindness.

Baba Rahim was a farmer. His whole life, he worked in the fields. He woke up early in the morning, before the sun rose. He prayed, then he went to his fields. He worked hard all day. In the evening, he came back home, tired but happy.

Everyone in the village loved Baba Rahim. Children loved him because he told them beautiful stories. Old people loved him because he always helped them. Poor people loved him because he shared his food with them.

Baba Rahim lived with his wife, his son, and his little grandson, Hamza. Hamza was 8 years old. He was a smart and curious boy. He loved his Baba Jan very much. Every evening, he sat with Baba Rahim and listened to his stories.

Hamza often asked, "Baba Jan, why do you work so hard? You are old now. You should rest.

"Baba Rahim smiled and said, "Beta, work is my prayer. When I work, I feel close to Allah. And when I plant a tree, I feel that I am doing something good for the future."

Hamza did not understand fully, but he loved to hear his Baba Jan talk.

2. A Small Seed

One sunny morning, Baba Rahim took Hamza to the field. In his hand, there was a small mango seed. Hamza looked at the seed and asked, "Baba Jan, what is this?"

Baba Rahim said, "This is a mango seed. Today, we will plant a mango tree."

Hamza laughed and said, "Baba Jan, a mango tree takes many years to grow. It will take 10 years to give mangoes. You are already old. You will not eat these mangoes. Why are you planting it?

"Baba Rahim sat down on the ground. He patted Hamza's head and said, "Beta, you are right. I may not eat the mangoes of this tree. But someone else will eat them. Your children will eat them. The children of this village will sit under its shade. That is enough for me.

"Hamza was quiet. He did not understand. He thought, "Why would someone work for others, when he will not get anything?"

Baba Rahim dug a small hole in the soft soil. He put the seed inside. He covered it with soil. Then he poured water on it with love. He said, "Bismillah. Grow, my little tree. Grow big and strong."

Hamza also helped him. He poured water with his small hands. He felt happy. He said, "Baba Jan, I will water this tree every day."

Baba Rahim said, "Good, my son. This tree is now your friend. Take care of it like you take care of me."

3. People Laugh

When people in the village heard that Baba Rahim had planted a mango tree at the age of 75, many people laughed.

One man said, "Baba Rahim has become mad. He is planting a tree that he will never see grow."

Another man said, "Why waste time? He should rest at home."

A young boy said, "Baba Jan, you will not live for 10 more years. This tree is useless for you."

Baba Rahim listened to everyone with a smile. He never became angry. He said, "My son, my grandfather planted a tree for me. I ate its mangoes. My father planted a tree for me. I sat under its shade. Now it is my turn. I have to plant a tree for my grandson and for the future children."

People did not understand his words. They thought he was just an old man with old ideas. But Baba Rahim knew the truth. He knew that life is not only about taking. Life is also about giving.

Every day, Baba Rahim went to see his small tree. He gave it water. He cleaned the grass around it. He talked to it like it was his child. He said, "Grow slowly, but grow strong. One day, you will give shade to tired people. One day, you will give sweet mangoes to hungry children."

Hamza also went with him every day. Slowly, Hamza started to love the tree too. He gave it a name. He called it "Dost" which means friend.

4. The Hard Summer

Then a very hard summer came. The sun was very hot. There was no rain for many months. The fields became dry. The soil became hard. Many small plants died.

Baba Rahim became worried about his tree. He said, "If there is no water, my little tree will die."

Every morning, Baba Rahim took water from the well, which was far away. He carried the water in a bucket. His back hurt. His legs were weak. But he still walked to the tree. He gave water to the tree with his shaking hands.

Hamza saw this and said, "Baba Jan, let me carry the water. You sit and rest."

But Baba Rahim said, "No, Beta. This is my duty. I planted this tree. I have to take care of it."

One day, Baba Rahim fell ill. He had a fever. He could not go to the field. He was in bed for many days. He kept asking, "Hamza, did you give water to our tree?

"Hamza said, "Yes, Baba Jan. I gave water today. Don't worry. Your tree is safe."

Hamza was only 8 years old, but he became responsible. Every day, he took a small bucket of water and went to the tree. He watered it. He talked to it. He said, "Dost, please don't die. Baba Jan loves you very much. Please grow for him."

After one week, Baba Rahim became better. He went to the field with Hamza. He saw his tree. It was still green. It was still alive. Tears came into his eyes. He hugged Hamza and said, "My son, you saved our tree. I am proud of you."

That day, Hamza learned his first big lesson: Love means taking care of something, even when it is hard.

5. Years Passed

Years passed quickly. Hamza grew up. He became 15 years old, then 18 years old, then 25 years old. He went to school, then to college, then he got a job in the city.

Baba Rahim became older and older. His hair became whiter. His walk became slower. But every day, he still went to see his mango tree.

The small seed had now become a big tree. It had many branches. It had green leaves. In summer, it gave shade to many people. Farmers sat under it and rested. Children played under it. Birds made their nests on it.

And one year, the tree gave its first mangoes. Sweet, yellow mangoes. The whole village was happy. People ate the mangoes and said, "Baba Rahim's tree is the best tree in the village."

Baba Rahim took one mango in his hand. He smelled it. He smiled. He gave it to Hamza and said, "Beta, taste it. This is the fruit of our hard work."

Hamza ate the mango. It was very sweet. He said, "Baba Jan, this is the sweetest mango I have ever eaten."

Baba Rahim said, "It is sweet because we planted it with love. Anything planted with love becomes sweet."

6. The Last Lesson

One winter evening, Baba Rahim was very ill. He was lying on his bed. Hamza was sitting near him, holding his hand. Hamza was now a grown man, but in front of Baba Rahim, he was still a small child.

Baba Rahim said in a slow voice, "Hamza, my time is near. I want to tell you one last thing."

Hamza cried and said, "Baba Jan, please don't say that. You will get better."

Baba Rahim smiled and said, "Beta, don't cry. Death is not the end. My body will go, but my tree will stay. Every time you sit under that tree, remember me. Every time you eat its mango, remember me.

"He held Hamza's hand tightly and said, "Promise me one thing. You will plant a tree for your children, just like I planted for you. Never think only about yourself. Always think about the future. True success is not to take from life, but to give to life.

"Hamza promised, "I promise, Baba Jan. I will plant many trees. I will never forget your lesson."

That night, Baba Rahim passed away peacefully. The whole village cried. Everyone came to his funeral. They said, "Today, we lost a great man."

7. The Tree Still Lives

After Baba Rahim's death, Hamza came back to the village. He built a small bench under the mango tree. He wrote on the bench: "Baba Rahim's Tree - Planted With Love."

Now, every summer, children sit under that tree. They eat its mangoes. They listen to stories. Hamza tells them the story of Baba Rahim. He tells them, "My Baba Jan planted this tree when he was 75 years old. He never ate its mangoes for many years, but he planted it for us. For you."

Hamza also planted 10 more trees in the village. He planted them near the school, near the mosque, and near the road. He said, "One day, when I am old, children will sit under my trees. That will be my gift to them."

The mango tree is still there today. It is big and strong. Its branches touch the sky. Its mangoes are sweet. People who pass by stop and rest under it. They don't know who planted it, but they pray for the person who did.

That is the true reward of Baba Rahim. People pray for him, even though he is not alive. His good deed is still alive.

8. What We Learn From This Story

This story teaches us a very beautiful lesson:

1. Think about others. Life is not only for ourselves. If we do good for others, our goodness lives even after we die.

2. Plant a tree. Planting a tree is a gift for the future. One tree gives shade, fruit, oxygen, and happiness to hundreds of people.

3. Small work can become big. Baba Rahim planted only one small seed. That small seed became a big tree. Your small good work today can become a big blessing tomorrow.

4. Never laugh at good people. People laughed at Baba Rahim, but in the end, they understood that he was right.

5. Love your elders. Hamza loved his Baba Jan. He took care of him. He kept his promise. We should always respect and love our elders.

A Message For You

Dear reader, what will you leave behind in this world? Will you leave only money? Money will finish. Will you leave only a house? House will become old.

But if you plant a tree, if you help a child, if you write a good story, if you do a good deed - that will live forever.

Today, plant one tree. Today, do one good deed. Today, make one person smile. That is the true meaning of life.

Baba Rahim is gone, but his mango tree still gives mangoes. Your good deeds will also live after you.

Written By: Kinzay Aslam

Founder: Kinzay Writer From Chiniot

Blog: kinzaych826stories.blogspot.com