Imagine living in a world where no one thinks like you, where your opinions are completely different from everyone else's. It would be hard to survive there. You might dream of creating your own world—a place where you can express yourself freely, where you can find people who understand you, where you can live life your way. Wouldn't you want that?
There was a boy just like you. Intelligent from a young age, but he always felt that he had been born in the wrong place. When he was in fifth grade, this boy, named Shobuj, asked his father, "Dad, what is our purpose in life?"
His father replied, "To stand on your own feet and earn a lot of money. With money, people will respect you."
The little boy was confused. "But dad, I can already stand on my own. I can walk, I can run. Are you calling me foolish? If standing on our own is our purpose, then we all already achieve that as children. You've tricked me!"
Shobuj then went to his mother and asked, "Mom, what is the purpose of life?" She said, "Since you are a boy, your purpose will be to take responsibility for your family when the time comes."
Shobuj didn't like this answer either. Feeling that the truth was still out there, he set off to find it.
As he walked along the street, he saw a man lying by the roadside, exhausted and starving. Shobuj approached him and asked, "Are you very hungry?" The man nodded.
Shobuj reached into his pocket and found only ten taka. He realized it wouldn't be enough to feed the man, so he looked around and saw a well-dressed man. Thinking that he must have money, Shobuj politely asked him, "Could you please help this hungry man with some money or food?"
The man glanced at the starving man but ignored Shobuj and walked away. Left with no other choice, Shobuj used his ten taka to buy a loaf of bread and gave it to the man.
After the man finished eating, Shobuj asked, "So, what is the purpose of your life?"
The man replied, "Nothing more than having three meals a day, son."
Shobuj thought deeply. Perhaps his father's answer had been wrong. Even the wealthy man hadn't helped the hungry man. He realized that perhaps the real purpose of life is to have a big heart, to help others, because helping others brings joy and inner peace.
Still curious, Shobuj continued his quest. He saw an elderly man resting under a tree, weak from age. Shobuj asked him the same question. The old man's answer pleased Shobuj:
"Our true purpose should be to leave something behind for the future, even though we cannot be sure if there is an afterlife. What is certain is that one day we will all die."
Shobuj asked, "How do we prepare for the future?"
The old man replied, "Learn to serve humanity. Help others without expecting anything in return. Doing so will give you peace of mind, and that is enough to survive in this world. In return, the Creator will reward you in the afterlife."
Shobuj felt happy and went home, never to see the old man again.
He told his parents, "I will only earn enough to help people, do good deeds, and live peacefully."
But his parents had other plans. "You must aim higher," they said. "Stop thinking about small matters. Focus on your studies—many exams await you." And so, the years passed with Shobuj obeying their wishes.
After finishing high school, Shobuj wanted to start a small business, growing vegetables to sell in the market and earn a modest income. But his family opposed it. They wanted him to become an engineer, so they sent him away for further studies. Shobuj was heartbroken. He cried alone, feeling that his family didn't let him think freely.
Studying unwillingly, he couldn't focus and eventually failed his exams. Returning home, the emotional weight of his parents' expectations broke him further. Shobuj was their only child, yet he never felt their true love. His parents were always busy, never asking about his well-being or emotional state.
Shobuj realized that if this continued, he might lose the desire to live. He might even want to end himself.
This time, he decided to think differently. He resolved to change his parents' mindset. To do this, he needed to show them the emptiness they had created, to awaken their love for him. That very day, he quietly took a few belongings and left home.
Shobuj's current whereabouts remain unknown. But he succeeded in changing his parents. After losing their son, they struggled but gradually softened to the emptiness in their hearts. They remembered his innocent words and sweet smile. Whenever they saw a boy of his age, they imagined it was Shobuj and felt a pang of sorrow.
This story reminds us that when parents impose their will on a child against the child's wishes, it can have profound consequences. Shobuj's father, too, could no longer focus on work. They only wished for their son to return so they could apologize, love, and care for him. Yet, even after seven years, Shobuj has not returned. Perhaps he faced danger, perhaps he wants to return but cannot, or perhaps he is simply living life his own way.
Dear reader, if you were in Shobuj's place, what would you have done?
If you enjoyed this story and wish to see the next part, support me with a power stone. Even a little support encourages me to create more new stories.