Seven years ago, I was pursuing my bachelor’s degree while also running my own business as a polythene bag manufacturer. Life was smooth—my business was doing well, and everything seemed stable. I was around 20 years old and engaged at the time, but it was an arranged engagement chosen by my family, not by me. I wasn’t truly happy about it.
During this time, one day, I received an unknown call from a girl. It started with a simple “Hello,” and soon we got into a conversation. Talking to her made me feel good, and gradually, we started talking more often. Over time, we developed feelings for each other and began meeting in person. However, she lived in a different city, nearly 230 km away from mine.
The Start of a New Path
After about two years, she started encouraging me to explore online work. At that time, I had no knowledge of it, nor did I feel the need, since my business was running well. So, I ignored her suggestion, while she and her brother continued working online.
A year later, we decided to get married. But my family strongly opposed it because I was already engaged. They emotionally manipulated me, and despite my protests, they forced me into marriage. However, I wasn’t happy.
The very next day after my wedding, I received a call from that girl—she was crying, feeling helpless. I reassured her that I wasn’t happy either, and soon, my entire family realized it too. Within three months, my marriage ended in divorce.
Losing Everything
As a consequence of going against my family’s wishes, they took everything away from me—my business, my earnings, my stability. The business I had worked so hard to build over 3–4 years was snatched from me, and I was left with nothing.
At my lowest point, I remembered what the girl had told me about online work. I reached out to her and asked if she would still help me learn. She agreed, but I had to travel to her city for training. She spoke to her brother, who was already skilled in online work, and he agreed to help as well.
A New Beginning in an Unfamiliar City
However, the training fee was around 50,000 PKR, and I was completely broke. I had no place to stay either. Desperate, I borrowed money from a friend to cover the fee, and another friend arranged a small room for me to live in. With just 10,000 PKR in my pocket—money that had to last me three months—I left for her city, completely uncertain about what lay ahead.
The city was unfamiliar, and apart from that girl, I knew no one. But I had no other option, and perhaps, luck had brought me here for a reason. The place where I stayed and the office where I trained were 7 km apart.
Struggles and Hard Work
Every morning, I would have just juice and a packet of biscuits for breakfast, then walk to my mentor Amjad’s office to learn. In the evening, I’d repeat the same routine—drink juice, eat a biscuit, and go to bed. I couldn’t afford proper meals, but I had no choice. I worked 16 to 18 hours a day, pushing myself to learn as much as possible.
My mentor, Amjad, was a kind man. Seeing my dedication, he assigned one of his best students, Salman, to train me. Salman took me under his wing and taught me everything with patience.
A Moment of Desperation
Before I could even complete my training, I reached a point where I had nothing left—not a single rupee. One night, I went to bed hungry, tears in my eyes. I turned to my Lord and prayed, “Ya Allah, You know my situation better than anyone. If I am at fault, destroy me completely. But if I deserve success, then guide me towards it.”
The very next day, I received a message from someone in a Facebook work group. He wanted to learn online work and asked if I could teach him. That moment felt like a divine sign. I agreed, and we settled on a training fee of 12,000 PKR. Grateful beyond words, I immediately traveled to his city, Bhakkar, to teach him.
Bhakkar – A Test of Endurance
When I reached Bhakkar, I faced another challenge—the unbearable smell of waste in the area where he lived. Breathing itself felt difficult, but I had no choice. I spent a few days training him, received my payment, and returned to my mentor.
When I came back, Salman asked me where I had been. When I told him about my daily 7 km commute, he was shocked. He immediately said, “From now on, you will live at my house. You will eat with us. No more struggling alone.”
His words brought tears to my eyes. The same world that had turned its back on me was now showing kindness in unexpected ways. While my own family abandoned me, my Creator never did. Allah continued to pave the way for me. Salman’s family treated me as their own—I never felt like an outsider in their home.
A Turning Point
For three months, I never met the girl who had guided me to this path, nor did I tell her about my struggles. I didn’t want to burden her with my hardships. Even when my family called, I assured them everything was fine.
Once I completed my training, I returned home and started working online. Soon, I got my first deal—a client paid me 4,000 PKR. It felt like 400,000 PKR to me! That moment was a turning point. With relentless hard work, I built my career. Within 1.5 years, I transformed my lifestyle completely. The same people who had abandoned me during my struggles now reached out, asking me to teach them. But I had moved on.
Success and Unfulfilled Love
Today, I have my own house, cars, and a successful business. But one regret remains—I couldn’t marry the girl who changed my life. Yet, I am endlessly grateful to Allah, who turned my hard work into good fortune.
