All my life, I had been extremely introverted. Talking to people almost choked me, and no one really liked me because I did not possess the ability to please others, something that often comes with good communication skills, which I unfortunately lacked. This introversion always made me the side character at school. I used to sit alone, whether in the classroom or the canteen. I never had friends who would wait for me or help me with my studies.

Sometimes I felt peaceful when no one was around, but this happiness was only temporary. After cutting myself off from people and remaining isolated for months, I fell into an endless abyss of loneliness and slowly started losing my mind.

After the summer holidays, I returned to school as a fresher in the seventh grade. Everything felt awkward. After the morning assembly, when I walked into my classroom, I noticed several unfamiliar faces. They were all happily talking and smiling with each other. But in the far-left corner sat a student who immediately caught my attention.

He had greyish eyes, middle-parted hair, a clear face and a sharp nose. He sat there like a statue — motionless and detached, not reacting to anything around him.

I walked over and greeted him. As soon as he saw me, he smiled and made space for me on the bench. I introduced myself, and he began telling me about himself. After a very long time, I had finally met someone interesting, someone who seemed to like me even though I barely spoke. Yet he was always with me.

We did our work together and spent much of the time sitting quietly, without caring about others.

But one day, something completely unexpected happened. The principal called my parents to school. I was astonished because I had done nothing wrong, so I couldn’t understand why they had been summoned.

After the meeting, my parents took me home and asked a strange question: “Why do you always talk to yourself in class and around the school?”

I was stunned. For a moment, I didn’t know how to react. I had never talked to myself. I always talked to my friend, who was constantly beside me. But the teacher had told my parents something shocking, no student with such a name was admitted to the school, and they had never seen me talking to anyone. According to them, I was always alone.

I was bewildered. How could this be possible? Why were they all saying this about my friend?

After a few days away from school, my parents took me to a doctor. There, they discovered that I had a condition called dissociative identity disorder (DID). In this disorder, a person can create distinct identities and interact with them as if they were real.

After a long and painful struggle, I gradually forgot my friend, who, according to everyone else, had never existed. After a six-month break, I returned to school feeling healthier and happier, as therapy and social interaction had helped me greatly.

When I rejoined school, I no longer saw my friend. That was when I finally understood that he had only been a hallucination. And from that day onwards, I have been living my life fully with the same children I once felt distant from.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 11th, 2026

“Mum, do you need any help?” Hassan asked.

His mother paused for a moment before answering. She felt both happy and confused — happy because her son had offered help and confused because he was rarely seen doing any work around the house. He usually spent most of his time in his room playing video games or doing random things.

“Okay, could you please put the plates on the table?” she said.

Hassan carefully picked up the stack of plates and placed them on the table. “Anything else?” Hassan asked.

“No, thank you, son.”

“Okay… well… Mum… I was thinking… could you buy me a new bicycle?”

“Oh! So that’s the real reason my lazy son is suddenly helping around the house,” she said, teasing him.

Hassan smiled, a little embarrassed.

“Alright, we’ll see,” she said. Hassan jumped with joy and hugged her.

“But there is one condition,” she added. “I saw your last maths result.”

Hassan flinched slightly, knowing what was coming next.

“It was not satisfactory at all. You barely passed. I want you to get an A grade in your next maths quiz.”

Hassan sighed dramatically. “So that basically means no,” he said.

Hassan was quite a lazy boy. But if he truly wanted something, he would do everything possible to achieve it. However, this time the goal seemed almost impossible, getting an A grade, and that too in maths.

He had never really paid attention to his studies, but since he had made a promise to his mother, he stayed firm. He set his goal clearly in his mind. He wanted that bicycle, and for that, he would do whatever his mother asked.

From the very next day at school, Hassan not only paid attention in class but also started asking questions whenever he had doubts. With each passing day, the quiz drew nearer. He followed this routine for almost two weeks.

Finally, the quiz day arrived. Hassan was well prepared and did his best. The results came out the next day. It was no surprise, when someone works sincerely and consistently, they usually achieve their goal. Hassan had scored an A grade in maths. Although his grades in other subjects were below average, he didn’t care much; he had achieved what he had worked so hard for.

As promised, he was given a bicycle and from the next day onwards, Hassan rode his bicycle all around the neighbourhood. Sometimes he would ride for more than an hour, and his mother would worry when he stayed out too long. But he didn’t think much of it, he was finally enjoying what he had longed for. To him, nothing felt as exciting or satisfying as that moment. He was having the best time of his life.

One day at school, Hassan was chatting and laughing with his friends when the class representative walked in.

“Guys! I have two good news to announce.”

The whole class erupted into cheers, shouting and banging their desks.

“The first good news is that our teacher is not coming today.”

The classroom burst into even louder cheers.

“And the second news is even bigger,” the CR added dramatically. “Our class is going on a school trip on Thursday!”

Again, the class exploded with excitement. “Woohoo!”

While everyone was thrilled, Hassan noticed Hamza sitting quietly in a corner.

“Hey Hamza, what’s wrong? Aren’t you excited about the trip?” Hassan asked.

Hamza paused, then replied softly, “My father recently lost his job, so I can’t go afford to pay for the trip. But it’s okay, we’ll go together next time.”

Hassan felt a heaviness in his chest. That night, he couldn’t stop thinking about Hamza. At first, he thought of asking his classmates to contribute money, but then realised Hamza might feel embarrassed.

After thinking for a long time, Hassan made a difficult decision.

The next morning, he went to the bicycle shop where he had bought his bicycle and sold it back for much less than its actual price. Then he went to school and quietly paid the trip fee for Hamza.

When Hamza found out, he was overwhelmed with happiness. “Thank you so much, Hassan,” he said, his eyes filled with tears.

Hassan simply smiled.

When he got home, he told his mother everything. Instead of scolding him, she hugged him tightly. She was proud that her son had such a kind and compassionate heart.

Two days later, the students went on the trip, all of them excited, feeling like school was the happiest place in the world, at least for that day.

When Hassan returned home, he stopped at the door in surprise.

A brand-new blue bicycle stood right in front of him, with his mother beside it.

He ran to her and hugged her tightly, tears filling both their eyes.

“Thank you, Mum,” he said, full of joy.

“I bought it because you proved you deserved it, my son,” she said gently, and looked at him with pride.

And in that moment, Hassan understood — kindness always finds its way back.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 11th, 2026

How many of you get irritated or even scolded when you’re writing and sharpening your pencil, only for the shavings to scatter all over the place? I certainly do. I get annoyed, and then I get scolded, too.

I even tried keeping a box to put the pencil shavings in, but that idea didn’t work either, because once the box tipped over and the shavings scattered all over the place. That’s when I started thinking about making something myself. So I came up with the idea of creating a simple craft that would not only help me with my homework, but also keep all the shavings in one place. I could just throw them away once it was full. Honestly, it turned out to be so useful that I’m really glad I made it.

The best part is that you only need a few things to create this handy little craft.

Let’s get started:

1. Any plastic container, a small jar (you can use glass, but the safe is plastic)

2. A scissor or screw

3. Marker

4. Pencil sharpener

5. Elfy or hot glue

6. Glitter paper or sticker for decoration

Directions:

1. Mark the centre of the jar lid. This is where you will make a hole; picture 2.

2. If you don’t have a soldering iron, you can use scissors or a screw to make a hole in the lid from the inside, according to the size of the sharpener you are going to attach. Make sure you take help from an adult for this step; pictures 3 and 4.

3. Use a slim pencil sharpener (not a fancy one) and fix it over the hole using hot glue or Elfy. You may need help from an adult here as well; pictures 5 and 6.

4. Now for the fun part. You can decorate your jar however you like: use markers to draw patterns or stick on stickers, glitter sheets or anything you prefer; see pictures 7 and 8.

This simple yet handy craft is truly useful. You can carry it to school or keep one at home. All your pencil shavings will stay in one place, so you won’t feel irritated or get scolded anymore!

The writer can be contacted at ithecraftman@gmail.com

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 11th, 2026