A Father’s Last Wait

Asghar was a retired government employee who had spent his entire life fulfilling the needs and dreams of his family. After retirement, his pension was modest, but he lived a simple and peaceful life. He never complained about what he had. For him, the greatest wealth was the happiness of his family.

His wife, Shamim, managed their home with love and patience. She carefully ran the household within their limited income and sometimes earned extra money by stitching clothes for women in the neighborhood. Together, they had built a small but beautiful world filled with memories, sacrifices, and love.

They had four children: two sons, Afzal and Ghaffar, and two daughters, Shakeel and Razia. As time passed, their children grew up, got married, and became busy with their own lives.

Afzal, after his marriage, moved to Lahore with his wife Hameeda and children. He worked as an accounts manager in a private company and was always occupied with professional responsibilities.

Ghaffar was also married and lived in another city because of his business. Their daughters had their own families and responsibilities.

The old house, which was once filled with laughter and children’s voices, had now become quiet. Only Asghar and Shamim remained there, holding on to their memories.

Every now and then, Asghar would call Afzal.

“Son, whenever you get some free time, come home. It has been so long since I saw you.”

Afzal would always reply with the same words:

“Of course, Father. I will come soon. Things are just a little busy at work right now.”

Asghar would smile and say:

“Work never really ends, son.”

Sometimes Shamim would gently tell her husband:

“Children have their own lives now. Don’t call them again and again.”

Asghar would become silent for a moment and then softly say:

“I am not asking him for anything. I just want to hear his voice. A father’s heart only wants to see his children happy.”

One Thursday evening, Asghar called Afzal again.

“Son, if you can come this Sunday, please do. There is something important I want to discuss with you.”

Afzal immediately became concerned.

“Father, is everything alright?”

Asghar laughed softly.

“Yes, everything is fine. I don’t want to talk about it on the phone. We will sit together and discuss it.”

Afzal smiled.

“Alright, Father. I will definitely come on Sunday.”

After ending the call, Asghar’s face was filled with happiness.

“My Afzal is coming on Sunday,” he told Shamim proudly.

Shamim smiled too. She started thinking about what she would cook for her son. After many days, there was a special excitement in their quiet home.

But sometimes life changes plans without warning.

On Saturday night, an important problem occurred at Afzal’s office. A financial report had to be submitted on Monday morning, and the entire responsibility was on him.

He spent the whole night working.

When morning came, he suddenly remembered his promise to his father.

For a few moments, he looked at his phone, feeling guilty. Then he called Asghar.

“Father, I am sorry. I won’t be able to come today. There is some urgent work at the office. I promise I will come next Sunday.”

There was silence on the other side.

After a few moments, Asghar replied quietly:

“Alright, son. No problem. Work is important.”

Then he added:

“I just wanted to tell you something while sitting together. We will talk next Sunday.”

Afzal replied:

“Yes, Father. Next Sunday for sure.”

The call ended.

Shamim looked at her husband’s face. Asghar tried to smile.

“It’s alright. He will come next Sunday.”

But sometimes, the next Sunday never comes.

The following morning, Afzal received a call from his mother.

Her voice was shaking.

“Afzal… son, come home quickly.”

Afzal’s heart sank.

“Mother, what happened? Is Father alright?”

Shamim started crying.

“Your father had chest pain during the night. I was trying to take him to the hospital… but on the way…”

Her voice broke.

She could not finish the sentence.

The phone slipped from Afzal’s hand.

He immediately left for his hometown.

When he reached home, the first thing he noticed was the empty chair in the courtyard.

The same chair where his father used to sit every evening, looking toward the gate, waiting for his children to arrive.

Afzal walked slowly toward that chair and sat down.

His father’s last words echoed in his mind:

“I just wanted to tell you something while sitting together.”

Tears rolled down his face.

“Father… you should have told me on the phone.”

But there was no one left to answer.

A few moments later, Shamim came toward him holding a small cloth bag.

She handed it to Afzal.

“Your father kept this for you.”

Afzal looked surprised.

“For me?”

She nodded.

Inside the bag was an old wristwatch.

The same watch Asghar had bought with his first salary after getting his first job.

There was also a small handwritten note.

Afzal opened it with trembling hands.

It said:

“I will give this watch to Afzal. I no longer need it. I want him to remember that nothing in life is more valuable than time.”

Afzal’s eyes filled with tears.

But Shamim had more to tell him.

“Your father wanted to tell you something else too.”

Afzal looked at her.

She wiped her tears and said:

“He wanted to repair this house. After that, he wanted to invite all of you here. He said that his whole life was spent building this home for his children, and in his final years, he only wanted to see everyone sitting together under the same roof again.”

Afzal remained silent.

At that moment, he finally understood.

His father was not calling him because he needed something.

He was calling because he missed his children.

He wanted to bring his scattered family together one more time.

Afzal held his mother’s hand.

“Mother… was Father upset with me?”

Shamim shook her head as tears rolled down her cheeks.

“No, son. Until his last moments, he kept saying, ‘Afzal is busy. He has responsibilities. He is a good son.'”

Afzal broke down.

Even in his final moments, his father was protecting his son.

He looked at the empty chair and whispered:

“Father… you only asked for one Sunday.”

That day, Afzal made a promise.

He would never leave his mother alone.

He called Ghaffar, Shakeel, and Razia.

After many years, all the siblings sat together in the same courtyard.

Shamim quietly watched her children.

The same house.

The same courtyard.

The same chair.

But Asghar was no longer there.

Afzal wore his father’s watch and looked at his brothers and sisters.

“Father wanted to see us together one last time. We could not fulfill that wish… but we will not let Mother feel alone.”

Everyone’s eyes filled with tears.

That day, they finally understood something important:

A parent’s home is not just a building made of walls and bricks.

It is a place where someone waits for your arrival, where someone’s eyes search for you, and where your presence matters more than anything else.

Lesson

Parents rarely ask for expensive gifts or grand gestures.

Sometimes, all they want is:

A visit.

A phone call.

A few moments sitting beside them.

Or simply hearing:

“Father, Mother, you are important to me.”

Never keep your parents waiting for “someday.”

Because sometimes, the meeting we postpone until next Sunday becomes a regret we carry for the rest of our lives.