Addict’s Friends

Written by: Asma Kakar

Obaid was a boy living in a village far from the city. Shamshad and Khalid were his close friends. One day they had an appointment to play football at the village ground. Shamshad and Khalid went to the ground on the specific time but Obaid did not come. They saw Obaid with a man beside a ruined house. The man gave something to Obaid and Obaid put it in his pocket and came to the playground. Shamad asked him about the man and the thing he gave to Obaid. He said that the man is his father’s friend and gave me nothing special.

 They insisted him to show the thing to them but he denied. They searched his pocket. A small bag dropped down from his pocket. Obaid was ashamed and he put it back in his pocket. Khalid asked him to tell the truth. Obaid said that it’s a powder bag and that man gave him to sell it to the addicts and he would give me a lot of money.

Obaid left the playground. Shamshad and Khalid became very sad for him. Next day Khalid and Shamshad went with Obaid to visit Barialai. Barialai was Khalid’s friend and now he is among other addicts. When they reached there, the man was kicking Barialai. They went near to Barialai and greeted him. Khalid asked Barialai to tell his whole story to Obaid.

Barialai said: I had a shop in the market. This man, who hit me, was always coming to my shop and purchasing some groceries and in the meanwhile, he was giving me some extra money. One day, he asked me if I need more money, he would help me. I accepted. He was bringing powder bags to me and I was distributing to the addicts. Sometimes I was also smoking powder till I became addicted. I sold my shop and bought powder for me. Now I have nothing and when I want some powder for smoking, that man beats me.

When Obaid heard Barialai’s story, he went to the man and returned all the powder bags to him and refused to work anymore with him. While Obaid returned from him, some policemen came and arrest all those, who were selling and distributing the powder. The policemen checked Khalid, Shamshad, and Obaid and find nothing with them and allow them to go but they arrested the man.

Obaid was very happy and thanked Allah for having good friends.