Short Story:

Always tell the truth

by Husna Inayathullah

There was a boy who always wished to get rid of bad habits. He was brought up in such an environment which made him adopt bad habits. His parents too were responsible for his behaviour. They always fought with each other. His father used to smoke and take intoxicants.

His mother too was in a depressed state. She always kept on worrying. She did not have the time or inclination to show affection or care for her son. She did not have the time to teach her son good manners.

Chamara, the boy was very worried. He wanted a change in his ways. He knew that his parents were wrong so he waited eagerly for someone to discipline him. Then he remembered his English teacher.

Chamara went to his teacher and said, "Sir, I have many bad habits. Which one of them should I give up first?" The teacher said, "Give up telling lies first and always tell the truth." The boy promised to do so and went home.

At night Chamara had the urge to go out and steal with his friends. Before setting out, he thought for a moment about the promise he made to the teacher. "If the teacher asks me tomorrow where I had been, what shall I say?"

"Shall I say that I went out stealing? No, I cannot say that, nor can I tell a lie. If I tell the truth, everyone will start calling me a thief. What is more, I would be punished for stealing." Chamara decided not to steal that night and gave up the bad habit.

The next day, he felt like smoking. When he was about to do so, he said to himself, "What shall I tell the teacher if she asks me what I did during the day? I cannot tell a lie, and if I tell the truth people will hate me, because a child is not supposed to smoke."

Then he gave up the idea of smoking. In this way, whenever Chamara thought of doing something bad, he remembered his promise to tell the truth at all times. One by one, he gave up all his bad habits and became a good boy.

Chamara's parents too saw this change in their child. Ultimately they too realised their fault. They felt guilty and tried to show affection and care for the child.

The boy who did a lot of bad things, reformed himself and his parents due to his promise to tell the truth. Telling the truth is a good habit. If you tell the truth others will always respect you.