Imran spends busy days in a Dhaka office. Once a week he phones his father: 'Abba, are you well? Taking your medicine?' A two-minute call.
That day his father said: 'Son, the mango tree in the yard is full of blossom this year. Remember how you used to study under it?' His voice sounded lonely somehow.
Imran remembered the verse in which Allah says that when parents reach old age, do not say even 'uff' to them, and speak to them with honour.
۞ وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلۡوَٰلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَٰنًاۚ إِمَّا يَبۡلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلۡكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوۡ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفّٖ وَلَا تَنۡهَرۡهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوۡلٗا كَرِيمٗا
“And your Lord has decreed that you worship not except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.”
Surah Al-Isra 17:23
Translation: Saheeh International (QuranEnc)
He took two days off. On Thursday night he took the bus and reached the village at dawn. His father was sitting under the mango tree. Seeing his son he could say nothing — he only held him. For those two days Imran answered no calls; he just listened to his father's stories.