Am I a Villain or a Hero? If I’m a Hero, Then Why Do I Feel Like a Zero?

By: [Liaqat Ali]

emotional real life story

There comes a time in life when the silence of your struggles becomes louder than any scream. A moment when everything you do, every burden you carry, and every effort you make is ignored, while you are misunderstood and judged. Someone told me I’m a villain—a big devil. Why? Because I didn’t fulfill their selfish desires.

But let me share the truth. My truth.

Behind the Curtain

I run a small truck sale and purchase business. It’s not a business I chose from passion—it came from pressure. My father forced me into a partnership with his friend, a man with a violent family history, whose brothers have taken lives. I never judged him. I just wanted to work honestly. But when I couldn’t give him the profits he wanted, he turned on me, calling me selfish. A villain. A devil.

But while I’m called names, I carry the burden of my family’s survival.

My mother is a stroke patient who needs constant care. My younger brother is studying civil engineering—his future depends on me. My sisters look to me for security. And in the middle of all this, I’m trying to complete my MS. One semester left—but no money left to finish it.

My father? He supports my partner in words and neglects my sacrifices. He tells me I’m not a good person. Every time I reach for his support, I’m met with cold silence. And still—I do not quit.

A Life of Quiet Sacrifice

I don’t smoke, I don’t party, I don’t spend money on luxuries. I have no girlfriend. No secret lifestyle. No one can accuse me of wasting time or wealth. Yet I feel like I’m drowning.

Every time I try to focus on building my future, life hits me with a new storm. And even though people around me say I’m a genius, I feel like a complete failure.

I once dreamed of becoming a top engineer, an innovator, a multitasker. But those dreams were buried under family burdens, financial crises, and emotional chaos. I never gave up on them; I just had to pause them, again and again.

So I ask again: if I’m a hero, why do I feel like a zero?

Why People Misjudge the Quiet Ones

People think heroes should be loud, dominant, and visibly successful. But real life doesn’t work that way.

People misjudge those who don’t complain. They assume silence means weakness. But silence sometimes holds the weight of a thousand screams.

It’s easy to call someone a failure when you don’t understand their fight. It’s easier to call them a villain when they say “no” to injustice, or stand up quietly against manipulation.

But that doesn’t make them wrong. That makes them brave.

Because Real Heroes Are Unseen

True heroes don’t wear capes. They don’t show off. They don’t chase applause.

They are the people who stay awake all night, silently fixing broken things. They give up their own dreams so others can chase theirs. They face a mountain of problems every day, and still, they move forward.

The world values success, status, and visibility. But what about silent sacrifices? What about the people who never stop trying—even when no one sees them?

You may feel tired. You may feel worthless. But your struggle is shaping you into someone unbreakable.

Lessons Learned from the Pain

I’ve learned that your value isn’t measured by how others treat you, but by how you keep moving forward when you want to give up.

I’ve learned that responsibilities don’t wait, and dreams must sometimes be patient.

I’ve learned that being called a villain doesn’t make you one. And being a hero doesn’t always feel like glory.

Sometimes, being a hero means showing up for your family, again and again, even when no one claps.

To Everyone—and Myself

To those who judge me: You never saw the full story. To my family: I will not give up on you. To myself: You’re not a zero. You’re surviving. You’re growing.

Because each tear I’ve hidden, each burden I’ve carried, each failure I’ve faced—has built in me a kind of strength the world can’t measure.

I am not a villain. I am not a failure.

I am a quiet, relentless hero.