Syed Majid Gilani
Life often teaches us its most valuable lessons in simple, everyday moments. Sometimes, something we quietly witness in a forgotten corner of this restless world leaves a deeper mark on our hearts than any long speech or sermon. Yesterday, I experienced one such moment, an incident so ordinary on the surface, yet it made a lasting impression on my heart and mind. It happened right here in Srinagar, and I feel it is my duty to share it, because within its simplicity, lies a lesson for us all.
It was an ordinary day when I visited one of the largest trading firms in the city. The business is run by a young businessman from a faith different from the majority community here. He carries forward a family business established by his forefathers, non-Kashmiri speaking by background. But what I saw in his office reminded me once again that humanity, discipline, and respect have no religion or boundary.
We sat in his spacious, well-lit office, casually talking about some work. Though he was a busy man, he still made time to sit with me over a cup of coffee. On one wall, an LCD screen quietly displayed live footage from his various offices around the city.
As we talked, a young girl, modestly dressed in an abaya, quietly entered the room. With lowered eyes and a soft voice, she asked for permission to leave work early, as she had something important at home.
What the businessman did next deeply touched me. Despite our important discussion, he immediately turned to her with fatherly kindness, called her “Beta”, and said gently but firmly,
“No problem, beta, but first call your parents, I need to speak to them.”
The girl left, made a call, and soon returned, saying softly, “Sir, please speak to my mother.”
He took the phone, spoke respectfully to the lady, calling her “Aunty ji”, and asked whether it was fine for her daughter to leave early. The mother agreed without hesitation.
I thought the matter was over, but what happened next revealed the young businessman’s true character.
He then turned to the girl and said, “Beta, your mother’s permission alone isn’t enough. Please call your father too. I need to hear his consent before I allow you to leave.”
I was surprised. This wasn’t a normal boss and employee conversation. This was a man taking personal, moral responsibility for someone’s daughter, as if she were his own.
The girl quietly nodded and made another call. A short while later, she returned with the phone in her hand.
“Sir, my father is on the line.”
The businessman spoke to him with the same warmth and respect, addressing him as “Uncleji”. He explained the situation and asked for his permission. The father also agreed.
But it didn’t end there.
He politely requested, “Uncleji, please call me again after 15 minutes. By then, your daughter should have reached home. If she hasn’t, let me know immediately.”
Hearing this, my heart silently saluted the businessman. This wasn’t just discipline, it was guardianship, the kind of moral responsibility our restless and often careless society needs so badly today.
I couldn’t hold back and asked him, “Sir, I truly admire how you look after your staff. Was there something special about this girl’s situation that made you insist on speaking to her father?”
He smiled gently, picked up the remote, and pointed to the LCD screen where scenes from his other offices appeared. In each office, young women could be seen modestly dressed, focused on their work with grace and dignity.
He said, “Look, sir, I have many offices, and most of them are managed by young girls like her. Around 50 to 60 girls work with me. They are hardworking, educated, and many of them support their families. In today’s world, anything can happen at any time. I feel it’s my duty to take every possible step for their safety and honour.”
Then, he shared something even more touching, “I’ve made a rule here, no outsider can meet or approach these girls directly. The moment they enter my office, I consider myself responsible for them. Until they return home safely, I feel I am answerable to God for their dignity, respect, and security.”
I sat there, quietly watching him, my heart filled with warmth and respect for a man from a different faith, teaching a lesson many among us have forgotten.
I asked him one more thing, “Sir, you have male staff and managers. Why do you take this responsibility upon yourself personally?”
His reply was simple, yet unforgettable, “When someone truly wants to protect women’s dignity and uphold discipline, they don’t think about position, workload, or status. They take responsibility themselves. Most mothers, out of love, can sometimes become emotionally swayed by their daughters. A father, however, thinks more cautiously about his daughter’s safety, especially when she leaves work early. That’s why I always confirm with the father too.”
His words stayed in my heart long after I left his office.
That day, without preaching or delivering a lecture, this young businessman taught me a lifelong lesson. He proved that real guardianship, discipline, and respect for women need no slogans or speeches. They require sincere, quiet and fearless actions by genuine human responsibility.
Yesterday, I didn’t just walk out of a businessman’s office, I stepped out of a place where humanity still lives, where faith makes way for character, where a man showed that in this careless and distracted world, true guardians still exist.
And in doing so, he left behind a lesson for all of us, a lesson for our society, our business owners, our homes, and for each one of us.
(The author is a government officer and freelancer. He can be reached at [email protected])
