Assalaam Alaikum Auntie,
I am a Larkana-based teacher currently preparing for the Central Superior Services (CSS) exam, besides managing a coaching centre, where I teach English grammar.

Around four months ago, I asked my mother, who lives in Quetta, to send me Rs300,000. I needed the money for my CSS journey and the expenses of living away from family. However, unfortunately, I spent the money elsewhere. Now, I think I have betrayed my mother, whom I love very much.

The feeling of regret is killing me every second of my life. My life has turned into a nightmare. The most unpleasant part, however, is that I don’t feel up to telling her the truth, which I am certain will hurt her feelings. My mother has said on multiple occasions that I am her last hope, as I am the only one among my siblings who is educated up to the university level. I feel I have betrayed not only her trust but also the hopes she has placed in me.

I want to right the wrong. How should I begin? I am really despondent.
Remorseful

‘I Betrayed My Mother’s Trust. How Do I Recover?’

Dear Remorseful,
The fact that you are suffering this much tells me something very important: that you have a conscience. People who really don’t care about betraying someone’s trust do not spend four months being tormented by it.

So, let’s be honest. You made a mistake by asking your mother for money for a particular purpose and then you used it for some other purpose. The guilt that you are feeling hasn’t just appeared out of nowhere. It is a sign that your values are clashing with your actions. And this guilt has a purpose, which is to make amends and correct your actions, instead of becoming some kind of ongoing self-punishment.

What is more worrying than the money is how you view yourself in relation to your mother. You describe yourself as her ‘last hope.’ That is a heavy burden for any child to carry for a parent. One mistake cannot take away your education, your efforts, your character and your future.

But you can right this wrong. It is simple, but I wouldn’t say it is easy. Start by making a plan to repay the money. Whether it takes months or years, you should commit yourself to returning the money.

As for telling your mother, you know her better than any outsider like me and you would know whether the truth would help her or hurt her. If you do decide to tell her, don’t do it because you want to remove your own burden of guilt. Instead, do it because honesty should be part of the deal. And please stop thinking of this as a major life failure. You have not stolen money from a stranger, or become irresponsible or even ruined your future. You made a bad decision with the money that was given to you. So treat this as a lesson learned.

If it helps you, let me just add here that the things that are making you miserable right now — your feelings of accountability and your concern for your mother’s feelings — are exactly the qualities that are helping you become the kind of man she probably hopes you will become.

So stop replaying the mistake over and over in your head, work on a repayment plan and start repairing the situation.

Disclaimer: If you or someone you know is in crisis and/or feeling suicidal, please go to your nearest emergency room and seek medical help immediately.

Auntie will not reply privately to any query. Please send concise queries to: auntieagni@gmail.com

Published in Dawn, EOS, June 14th, 2026