A wealthy businessman sat in his study late one evening, surrounded by piles of cash.
He was counting his money carefully, focused, serious, as if every note represented a piece of his success.
Just then, his ten-year-old son quietly walked into the room.
He looked at his father for a moment and asked softly,
“Dad, what are you doing?”
The father didn’t answer. He was too busy counting.
The boy waited for a while, then stepped closer and gently held his father’s hand.
“Dad, please tell me… what are you doing?”
Without looking up, the father replied,
“I’m counting money, son.”
The boy fell silent for a few seconds. Then he asked innocently,
“Dad, how much money do you make in one hour?”
The father frowned slightly and said,
“Why do you want to know that?”
The boy insisted,
“Please, Dad, just tell me. How much do you earn in an hour?”
After a short pause, the father sighed and said,
“About five hundred rupees an hour.”
(roughly $6 in today’s money)
The boy nodded slowly. Then he whispered,
“Dad… can I have 250 rupees?”
The father looked up, irritated.
“What? What do you need that money for?”
The boy said quietly,
“Please, Dad… I just need it.”
The father, though confused, opened his wallet and handed him the money.
The boy smiled faintly, took the 250 rupees, and ran to his room.
After a few minutes, he came back — holding another 250 rupees from his piggy bank.
He walked up to his father, placed all 500 rupees carefully in his father’s hand,
and said in a trembling voice,
“Dad… can I buy one hour of your time?”
The father froze.
The money slipped from his hand.
And in that moment, he realized something that all his wealth had blinded him from —
he was giving the world everything, except his family.
He stood up, hugged his son tightly, and whispered,
“I’m so sorry, son… you never have to buy my time again.”
This short story is a mirror for all of us —
for those who are busy chasing success, forgetting the people we’re chasing it for.
Yes, work is important. Money is necessary.
But your family, your loved ones, your moments — they are your real life.
They don’t need your wealth. They need you.
So take a breath.
Close the laptop.
Put the phone away.
And give the ones who love you the only thing they truly want — your time.