Age: Elderly (around 70+)
Appearance: Wears old, torn clothes, long messy beard, quiet and isolated.
Personality: Wise, kind, calm, and humble. Doesn’t care about what people think of him.
Background: Once a respected university science professor. After a tragic accident that took his family, he chose a life of solitude.
Role in Story: The misunderstood wise man who plays a mentor’s role. He teaches Zayan valuable life lessons and skills.
Symbolizes: Hidden knowledge, inner beauty, and the danger of judging others by appearance.
Zayan (Supporting Character)
Age: Around 12–14 years old.
Personality: Curious, open-minded, respectful, and kind-hearted.
Role in Story: The only one who sees Baba Kareem for who he really is. Learns from him and becomes a bridge between the old man and the villagers.
Symbolizes: Youth with a pure heart and the willingness to see beyond surface-level judgments.
[ Al generated Image ]
In a small village surrounded by green hills and wide fields, there lived an old man named Baba Kareem. His clothes were torn, his beard long and messy, and he rarely spoke to anyone. People in the village called him "Pagal Baba" (the crazy man) and often made fun of him. Children were told to stay away from him, and no one ever visited his small broken hut near the forest.
One day, a young boy named Zayan, who had just moved to the village with his parents, saw Baba Kareem feeding a wounded bird gently with his bare hands. Curious and kind-hearted, Zayan approached him and asked,
“Why are you helping the bird, Baba?”
The old man looked up and smiled, “Because it needed someone to care.”
Over the next few weeks, Zayan began secretly visiting Baba Kareem. He learned that the old man used to be a professor of science in a city university. After his family died in an accident, he left everything and came to live a quiet life in the village.
[ AI generated image ]
Zayan was shocked — this “crazy old man” was full of knowledge and wisdom. Baba Kareem taught Zayan how to fix simple electronics, showed him plants with healing powers, and even helped him with schoolwork.
One day, the village school announced a science fair. Zayan built a water purifier system using what he learned from Baba Kareem. His project was so unique that he won first prize and was selected for the National Science Competition.
When people asked him how he built such a brilliant system, Zayan proudly said,
“I learned it all from Baba Kareem — the man you all ignore.”
The villagers were stunned. Ashamed of how they had judged him, they apologized and began treating Baba Kareem with respect. He was later invited to teach at the local school part-time.
[ AI generated image ]
Judgment, wisdom, kindness, and the hidden value in people we overlook.
Never judge a book by its cover
