Caught in a Friend\u2019s Lie<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nAnand noticed that Jothi\u2019s eyes were wandering constantly
\ntowards the door and away from the computer project they were\u00a0there to do.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\")
Finally, Anand
\ncomplained, \u201cJothi, I also want to
\ngo out and play. I stayed back to
\nhelp you complete your
\nassignment, but you\u2019re not paying
\nattention. At this rate, we\u2019ll be here
\nall night.\u201d
\nAfter a few more minutes of Jothi\u2019s
\nfooling around, Anand felt his
\ntemper rise a bit. He said, \u201cJothi,
\nfocus, or I\u2019m leaving!\u201d Nikhil and
\nVed, who were the only others in the room, looked up. They
\nwere surprised at the sharp tone in Anand\u2019s voice. Seeing the
\ntwo boys looking at him, Jothi flushed and barked back at
\nAnand, \u201cOh, you think you\u2019re a big shot, huh? You know all the
\nanswers, and the questions, too. I\u2019ll complete it at my own
\npace.\u201d
\n\u201cIn that case, you will have to do it on your own,\u201d replied Anand.
\nBut just as Anand was getting off his chair, Jothi\u2019s strong hand
\ncaught his arm from behind. \u201cNo, my friend, you can\u2019t just
\nleave. Let\u2019s wrestle. If you win, you can leave. If I win, then you
\nhave to complete my assignment.\u201d
\nJothi then pulled Anand toward him. Anand lost his balance. As
\nhe was about to fall, he tried to grab the edge of the desk.
\nInstead, he caught only some cables and fell hard to the
\nground. The keyboard came down, landing off to one side of
\nthe table. Then, with a loud crash, the computer monitor fell on
\nthe floor in front of him.
\nFor a few seconds, there was total silence. The boys were in
\nshock. Jothi was the first to speak: \u201cGet up, you fool. If the
\nteacher sees you lying down like that, we\u2019ll be in trouble.<\/p>\n
Quickly, Jothi picked up the monitor and put it back on the
\ntable. He switched it on, but the monitor seemed to be dead.
\nNikhil and Ved looked at each other fearfully. By now Anand
\nhad gotten up. He said, \u201cWhy did you push me like that? Look
\nwhat happened!\u201d
\nJothi calmly replied, \u201cAnand, it was all in fun. This doesn\u2019t have
\nto be anyone\u2019s fault. When our teacher Mr. Kumar asks, all of
\nyou can just tell him that I tripped on the cord and knocked the
\nmonitor down.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Anand said, \u201cBut that\u2019s a lie. That\u2019s not the truth.\u201d
\n\u201cSo, who cares if it\u2019s the truth or not? We\u2019ll get in trouble if we
\ntell the truth,\u201d replied Jothi.
\nJust then Mr. Kumar walked into the room and asked, \u201cWhat
\nwas that noise, boys?\u201d
\nJothi gave a soft smile and said, \u201cSir, my foot caught the power
\ncord on the floor and it pulled the monitor off the table. I think
\nthere\u2019s a problem with it, because it won\u2019t turn on.\u201d
\nMr. Kumar looked from one boy to the other. He switched on
\nthe monitor, but nothing happened. Turning to Anand, he
\nasked, \u201cWhat happened, Anand?\u201d<\/p>\n
Anand lowered his head. Out of
\nthe corner of his eye he saw Jothi
\nstaring threateningly at him. Telling
\nthe truth would be bad for Jothi.
\nAlready the boy had gotten in
\ntrouble several times this school
\nyear. Another incident, and he
\ncould be suspended. In spite of his
\nbetter senses, Anand said, \u201cIt
\nhappened the way Jothi just told you, Sir.\u201d
\nShaking his head, he turned to the other two boys. They were
\nobviously scared and backed up Jothi\u2019s story that it was all an
\naccident.
\nJothi smiled broadly and said, \u201cSir, they say I told you the truth.
\nDo you believe me now?\u201d
\nThe teacher shook his head again and said, \u201cYou have to learn
\nto be careful. This computer is valuable. You should take care
\nof it the way you take care of your personal belongings.\u201d Saying
\nthese words, Mr. Kumar began to walk out of the room, but just
\nas he reached the door, he turned suddenly and looked at
\nAnand. He was quick to notice the way Anand immediately
\naverted his eyes and stared at the wall. Mr. Kumar knew
\nsomeone was lying.
\nAnand walked out of the lab room feeling upset and confused.
\nWhy had Jothi pushed him down? After all, he had been trying
\nto help Jothi! And then he had to lie for him! Maybe Jothi wasn\u2019t
\nsuch a good friend. This certainly did not feel right.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Anand set off to walk home. The evening sun was slowly
\nsetting. The tops of the trees glowed with a bright orange
\nshade. The sunlight reflected on the clear blue lake on the way
\nto his house. He saw a flock of swans land gracefully on the
\nwater. Surely they never had to lie about anything, he thought.
\nWhy do people lie? Isn\u2019t it easier to speak the truth? Yes,
\nsometimes speaking the truth is scary because you can get
\nyourself in trouble, but at least that will be the end of it. But one
\nlie always seems to lead to another. The problem might be
\ncovered up, but inside, deep inside, something will always
\nbother you.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Inspiration<\/strong><\/span>
\nIn the video below Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami discusses
\nthe how we can face life\u2019s challenges.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n