The Journey of Ayan
Ayan was born on the 1st of March, 2003, to a well-educated, good middle-class family. As the first child of the household, he was cherished by everyone. From the moment he opened his bright eyes to the world, Ayan's charm captured the hearts of all around him. He grew into a cute, mischievous boy who could light up any room with his infectious laughter. His playfulness, combined with his innocent curiosity, made him the darling of the family.
When Ayan turned three, his favorite companion became his grandfather, who would often take him for short walks around the neighborhood. One sunny afternoon, as they strolled past a nearby school, Ayan noticed something that caught his attention—a grand school function taking place on the open ground. There were colorful decorations, children dressed in vibrant costumes, and music echoing through the air. His little eyes sparkled with excitement, and he tugged at his grandfather’s hand, pointing towards the event.
“Dada, I want to go see!” he exclaimed, his voice full of eagerness.
His grandfather smiled but gently shook his head. “Not now, Ayan. It’s for the schoolchildren. We’ll watch from here for a while and then go home.”
Ayan stood there for a few minutes, mesmerized by the colorful scene unfolding before him. But soon, his grandfather urged him to head back home, promising that one day he too would go to school and be part of such exciting events. Reluctantly, Ayan agreed, but his heart still yearned to be part of the fun.
Later that afternoon, as the family got busy with their daily routines, Ayan quietly slipped out of the house. Driven by the vivid memory of the school function, he retraced the path he had walked earlier with his grandfather. His tiny feet carried him all the way to the school ground.
By the time he reached the venue, the function was in full swing. Children were singing, dancing, and laughing. Ayan, too young to understand rules or boundaries, blended into the crowd unnoticed. He clapped along with the audience, his heart brimming with joy.
Back at home, panic set in. When Ayan’s mother noticed his absence, she alerted everyone. The entire family began searching the house, calling out his name. When they couldn’t find him anywhere, worry turned into fear. “Where could he have gone?” his mother cried, tears welling up in her eyes. His father immediately contacted neighbors, while his grandfather and uncles began searching the nearby streets.
As hours passed, anxiety gripped the family tighter. They feared the worst—that Ayan might have been kidnapped or lost. His mother’s sobs filled the house, and the neighbors tried their best to console her, though they too were concerned.
Meanwhile, at the school ground, the function came to an end. The students and teachers began leaving, and soon the entire area became deserted. Ayan stood there, suddenly realizing he was all alone. The excitement faded, replaced by a growing sense of fear. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he began to cry softly.
A man, passing by on his bicycle, noticed the little boy standing alone. Concerned, he stopped and walked over to Ayan. Kneeling down to meet his eye level, he asked gently, “Hey, little one, who are you? Where are your parents?”
Ayan, unable to form coherent sentences amidst his sobs, pointed in the general direction of his home. The man realized that the boy must have wandered off and decided to help. He gently took Ayan’s hand and said, “Come with me, we’ll find your family.”
By this time, Ayan’s father and uncle had reached the school, still calling out his name. When they saw a man approaching, holding the hand of a small boy, they rushed forward. Relief washed over them as they recognized Ayan.
“Ayan!” his father exclaimed, scooping him up into his arms. Tears of relief and joy streamed down his face as he hugged his son tightly. Ayan, now comforted by familiar faces, clung to his father.
“Thank you so much,” his uncle said, turning to the man who had brought Ayan back.
“I saw him standing alone and thought he might be lost,” the man explained kindly.
Back home, the atmosphere shifted from fear to joy. Ayan’s mother hugged him tightly, not letting go for a long time. His grandfather, though relieved, gently scolded him, “Never go anywhere without telling us, okay? We were all so worried.”
Ayan nodded, realizing he had caused everyone distress. That day became a memorable story in the family’s history—a tale they would recount at gatherings, with smiles and a sense of gratitude for the kind stranger who had brought Ayan back safely.
As Ayan grew older, that incident became a distant memory, but it shaped a part of who he was—a boy filled with curiosity and adventure, but also with a newfound understanding of family and love .
Part II: The Early School Years
When Ayan reached the age of five, he was enrolled in school. Unlike the excitement he had felt during the school function years ago, school life wasn’t what he had imagined. He struggled with his studies and found it difficult to keep up with his classmates. He wasn’t particularly interested in learning and often found himself lost in his own world.
Ayan didn’t make many friends. He was shy and preferred to stay by himself, playing with his toys rather than interacting with other children. While his classmates played together during breaks, Ayan would sit quietly in a corner, immersed in his imagination. His teachers noticed his isolation and tried to encourage him to participate, but Ayan remained distant.
At home, he would spend hours playing with his favorite toys, creating imaginary worlds and adventures. His parents, though concerned about his lack of interest in studies and social interaction, were patient. They believed that with time, Ayan would find his way.
Despite his academic struggles, Ayan showed signs of creativity and intelligence in other areas. He loved building things with his toy blocks and solving puzzles. His parents decided to nurture these interests, hoping they might spark his enthusiasm for learning.
Though Ayan’s journey through early school life was challenging, it was also a period of discovery. His family’s unwavering support and love gave him a foundation to grow at his own pace.
Part III: The Missing Incident
When Ayan turned seven, another incident occurred that would leave a lasting impact on his family. One day, during school hours, Ayan went missing. His teachers noticed his absence during class and immediately informed the school administration. The news reached his parents, who rushed to the school in a state of panic.
Unbeknownst to them, Ayan had left school on his own and made his way to his maternal grandparents' house, a place he dearly loved. He had missed them and, driven by a childlike impulse, decided to visit without informing anyone. His grandparents lived several kilometers away, but Ayan somehow managed to find his way there.
Meanwhile, back at home, fear and anxiety gripped his family. His parents and relatives began searching everywhere, asking neighbors and calling everyone they knew. Hours passed, and their worry grew with each passing moment.
At his grandparents' house, Ayan's grandmother was overjoyed to see him. She loved him deeply and doted on him whenever he visited. However, the stress of the situation soon took a toll on her health. As Ayan’s parents arrived to take him back home, his grandmother suffered a brain hemorrhage due to the shock and worry.
Though she survived, her health was never the same again. She would often call out, “Where is my Ayan? Where has my Ayan gone? I miss him. Please, Allah, give me my Ayan back.” Her love for Ayan was so profound that even when he was physically present with her, she sometimes failed to recognize him, lost in her longing and confusion. Despite this, Ayan stayed by her side whenever he visited, holding her hand and offering comfort.
This incident left a deep mark on Ayan. He began to understand the fragility of life and the depth of his family’s love for him. Though he was too young to fully comprehend the gravity of the situation, he knew one thing for certain—he was deeply loved, and that love came with a responsibility to care for those around him.
As Ayan grew, his bond with his grandmother remained strong. Even when her memory faded, he stayed close to her, offering the love and comfort she had always given him in his early years.
Part IV: A New Beginning
As time went on, Ayan continued to live a quiet and solitary life. He had no close friends and often found solace in his own imagination. But everything changed when a new student joined his school. She was a Korean girl with a bright smile and an energetic presence that caught everyone’s attention. Her name was Soo-jin.
On her first day, Soo-jin was assigned a seat right in front of Ayan. From the moment she sat down, she noticed Ayan’s quiet demeanor. During class, she would occasionally glance back at him, trying to catch his attention, but Ayan seemed uninterested.
At lunchtime, while most students gathered in groups, Ayan sat alone in a corner of the playground, eating quietly. Soo-jin, holding her lunchbox, approached him with a cheerful smile. Without waiting for an invitation, she sat beside him.
“Hi, I’m Soo-jin. You’re Ayan, right?” she said, her voice friendly and warm.
Ayan looked up briefly but didn’t respond. He wasn’t used to people approaching him, especially with such enthusiasm.
Undeterred by his silence, Soo-jin continued, “You seem like a good boy. Can we be friends?” She opened her lunchbox and took out a small, beautifully wrapped sweet. Offering it to Ayan, she said with a hopeful smile, “Here, have this. It’s my favorite.”
Ayan hesitated for a moment but eventually accepted the sweet. It was a simple gesture, but it marked the beginning of something new in his life. For the first time, someone had reached out to him without expecting anything in return. He didn’t fully understand why, but he felt a warmth he hadn’t experienced before.
“Okay,” he said softly, barely audible, but it was enough to make Soo-jin beam with joy.
From that day forward, Ayan and Soo-jin began spending time together. She brought a new light into his life, slowly breaking down the walls he had built around himself. Though he was still shy and reserved, her friendship gave him a sense of belonging he had never felt before.
Their bond grew stronger with each passing day, and Ayan found himself looking forward to school, not because of lessons, but because of the friend who had brought color into his otherwise lonely world.
Part V: A Heartbreaking Farewell
For two years, Ayan and Soo-jin were inseparable. They became best friends, sharing everything—from their lunchboxes to their dreams. Whether it was playing games during recess, solving puzzles together, or simply sitting under the big tree in the schoolyard, life felt brighter when they were together. Ayan, who once preferred solitude, now had a friend who filled his days with laughter and joy.
But happiness, as Ayan soon learned, can be fleeting.
One day, as they sat together under their favorite tree during lunch, Soo-jin’s expression turned unusually serious. Ayan noticed the change and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Soo-jin hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. “Ayan, I have something to tell you.”
Ayan’s heart sank. He could sense that whatever she was about to say would change everything. “What is it?” he asked softly.
“I’m going back to Korea,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “My dad’s job here is over, and we’re leaving next week.”
Ayan stared at her, unable to process the words. The thought of losing his only friend felt unbearable. Tears welled up in his eyes, but he tried to hold them back.
“No… you can’t go,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “You’re my only friend.”
Soo-jin’s eyes filled with tears too. She reached out and gently wiped away the tears streaming down Ayan’s cheeks. “I don’t want to leave either, but I have to. It’s not my choice.”
Ayan couldn’t hold back anymore. He started crying, his small shoulders shaking with each sob. Soo-jin wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly. “I promise, Ayan,” she whispered, “I’ll come back someday. And when I do, I’ll come just for you.”
She pulled back slightly, looked into his tear-filled eyes, and smiled through her own tears. Then, in a gesture of affection and farewell, she kissed his cheeks gently. “Don’t forget me, okay?”
Ayan nodded, though his heart felt heavy with sadness. He wanted to believe her words, but the fear of being alone again loomed large.
In the days that followed, Ayan and Soo-jin spent every moment they could together, knowing their time was running out. On the last day, as she boarded the car that would take her family to the airport, Soo-jin waved at Ayan one last time. “Goodbye, Ayan! Remember, I’ll come back!”
Ayan stood there, watching the car disappear down the road, tears streaming down his face. He clutched the small gift she had given him—a tiny, colorful charm she had worn on her backpack. It became his most treasured possession, a reminder of the friend who had changed his life.
Though Soo-jin was gone, her memory remained alive in Ayan’s heart. He held on to the hope that one day, she would return, and until then, he would carry the warmth of their friendship with him.
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