The property dealer read the advertisement.
"House for Sale"
He visited the house and took along a party that wanted to buy the desired house. As soon as they reached the door of this house, an elderly man invited them in and asked them to sit in the drawing room. After a while, an elderly lady was coming towards them with a tea trolley, which had tea, carrot halwa, snacks, biscuits, and some sweets on it.
The couple sat in front of us and began to allow us to drink tea. I told them that this is our first meeting and we have come to discuss the house, so why did you go to such lengths?
Baba Ji softly said, 'Son, please enjoy the tea; we can talk about the house later.' We all enjoyed the tea and had some conversation. After a while, after drinking tea, I asked Baba Ji to talk about the house and how much he would sell it for. Baba Ji said the price of the house is fifty lakh rupees. I was astonished and said, 'Baba Ji, your house is not even worth thirty lakh, and you're asking for fifty lakh? It is surprising that you have done us a favor by serving tea and asking for such a high price for the house; therefore, we cannot make a deal.' Baba Ji replied, 'No problem, this food and drink are nothing; a person eats what is destined for them.' Well, we spent two to three hours there and returned empty-handed.
Three months later, I read the same house for sale advertisement in the newspaper and was surprised that Baba Ji's house had not sold yet. I went to see Baba Ji's house again, this time bringing another party with me. As soon as I knocked on the door, Baba Ji warmly invited us in and seated us in the drawing room. After a while, the same lady was coming towards us with a tea trolley.
I said spontaneously, Baba Ji, why do you go to such lengths? How much do you want to sell the house for? Baba Ji said, please enjoy the tea, we can talk about the house later. After having tea, we talked a bit, but when I wanted to discuss the house, Baba Ji again demanded fifty lakh. I felt angry and surprised that this Baba Ji seems mentally ill. We asked for permission and returned from there.
A few months passed. I received a call from a friend who was a property dealer. He said he found a house that is quite cheap; if you're interested, let's go see it together. I said let's go. When I went with him, it was the same house that belonged to Baba Ji. I laughed and told my friend, this is Baba Ji's house, and Baba Ji might be crazy. I then told my friend about the previous two incidents, and he said there must be some mystery in this; let's find out.
When we knocked on the door, Baba Ji noticed me, hugged me, and invited us in again, taking us to the drawing room. After a while, the same lady appeared bringing a tea trolley towards us, and Baba Ji asked us to enjoy the tea. My friend said, Baba Ji, we will not drink tea until you tell us why you keep advertising the house for sale but do not sell it, and when someone comes to buy, you send them away after hospitality. What is the matter?
Upon hearing this, Baba Ji looked at his wife and turned to me with sad eyes and said, 'We do not want to sell the house; we only wish for someone to come and go in our home. We want to keep talking to someone and have someone talk to us. We are old and helpless. We have three sons whom we educated well, but they are abroad and are of no use to us. We have become tired of looking at the walls of this house because of our loneliness. That's why we thought to end our sadness with the hospitality of others.' Hearing their words melted my heart, and I thought about how difficult life is with old age and loneliness. Baba Ji said, 'Son, to fulfill the needs of the world, one has everything, but in old age, only the support of children helps.'
In old age, elderly parents need not your money but your presence more. Therefore, give parents as much time as possible.
Thank you.
Practice yourself and share with others.
May Allah grant us all the ability to act.
O Allah, Amen, then Amen, O Lord of the worlds, God willing, the Most Merciful.
