Hello my friends,

This is my participation in the competition”1 Picture 1 Story Week #101 organized by @suboohi in SteemFor Pakistan

[Picture created by perplexity AI]

It was 3 a.m. midnight in the winter season, everyone was snuggled up in their thick blankets, when suddenly, it felt like someone was knocking at the door. Salim had finally gotten a chance to sleep at around 12:50 a.m. after working late into the night. A knock at the door woke him. At first, he thought he was hallucinating, as he couldn't think of any reason for anyone to be there so late at night.

He lay awake for a while, trying to regain his composure. Meanwhile, there was no sound at the door. He saw his wife, Farzana, fast asleep. They had been married just a few months earlier; Farzana had also gone to sleep at around 11 p.m.

Just then, there were three loud knocks on his door. Alerted, he mustered his courage, got out of bed, put on a long woolen coat, and grabbed a stick he'd kept in a corner of the house for emergencies. He also woke Farzana, who was sleeping, and told her that someone was at the door.

He mustered courage and reached the door, and without opening it, called out loudly, "Who's outside?"

A voice came from outside, "Hey, dear friend, I'm your father. I've been standing outside in the cold for a long time. Open the door quickly. My hands and feet are stiff from the cold."

Salim, unable to recognize his father's voice due to the cold, became even more frightened. He asked loudly, "Why and how have you come so late at night?"

His father's voice came softly, "Son, open the door, I'll tell you everything."

Salim had no choice. He slowly opened the door. He saw his father standing outside, shivering with cold.

Salim immediately brought his father inside, gave him a blanket to cover him, and asked Farzana to make him hot coffee.

After drinking coffee, his father seemed to have recovered from the cold. Salim asked him, "Where are you coming from so late at night?"

Father said, "I left home on time, but our bus met with an accident on the way, and our fellow passengers were taken to the hospital. 1-2 people died, some were injured. Thank God, I wasn't hurt. But because of this, we were all stranded there for 4-5 hours. Then, the government sent us here on another bus."

The father further explained that he had wanted to come unannounced to give him a surprise. But the accident itself surprised him.

Salim breathed a sigh of relief and thanked Allah for saving his father from such a terrible accident.

Then, after talking to his father, everyone went to sleep.

I also want to invite here @haidee @solperez and @ulfatulrahmah

With lots of love and respect,

Sur-riti❤️