Zaffar's Courage and the Silent Battle Against Addiction

On the peaceful edge of a city, surrounded by greenery, lived a simple family, Zaffar, his wife Zarina, and their children.

- BY SYED MAJID GILANI

Zaffar was a kind and soft-spoken man, whose heart was full of love, respect, and quiet strength. He was raised with strict values of discipline, good character, and clean living. He hated bad habits and anything that could weaken a person's character. From a young age, he had seen how addictions and bad choices could destroy families and lives. He promised himself that such darkness would never enter his own home.

When Zaffar married Zarina, a woman he deeply loved, he dreamed of building a home filled with love, discipline, and moral values. However, life often tests even the strongest hearts.

Unknown to Zaffar, long before their marriage, Zarina had fallen into a habit that would one day disturb the peace of their home. It had started during her school days. In her family, chewing tobacco was seen as a harmless tradition, casually passed down from one generation to the next. What began as innocent curiosity quietly turned into an addiction. Zarina herself did not realize when it took control of her life.

With time, her addiction grew stronger. She would chew tobacco while cooking, cleaning, and even while helping their children with schoolwork. Slowly, she started avoiding Zaffar, staying away from him both physically and emotionally. Her addiction mattered more than the man who loved her, and the warmth of their home began to fade.

Small hints appeared tiny colourful sachets and small tins of chewing tobacco hidden under mattresses, behind cup boards, inside pillows, and in the bathroom. Zarina thought she was hiding it well, but truth has a way of revealing itself.

Her smile lost its glow. Her teeth turned pale and stained. A bitter smell lingered on her breath. She suffered mouth sores, ulcers, and mood swings. The happy, cheerful home turned heavy with an unspoken sadness.