At the edge of the village stood an old lantern house. People said a light appeared there at night—even though no one ever lit it. Rahat didn't believe such stories. He was curious and loved asking questions.
On a full-moon night, he went to the lantern house. As he pushed the door, it creaked loudly. Inside, he saw a dust-covered table, and on it lay a yellowed letter. The letter read:
"Whoever finds this light will choose hope, not fear."
Suddenly, the lantern lit itself. The light was warm and gentle. Rahat remembered how the villagers lived in fear of the dark, spreading rumors, afraid to move forward. He folded the letter, put it in his pocket, picked up the lantern, and walked out.
The next morning, the village buzzed with news—someone had been walking through the dark roads with a light. Slowly, people opened their doors and stepped outside. Rahat didn't say a word; he just kept walking. The light seemed to whisper that even with fear, one can still move forward.
A few days later, the lantern went out. But by then, the village had changed. People no longer walked alone at night; they stood beside one another. The light was gone—but its hope remained.