Bad Influence

“Rahul, c’mon ya, let’s go to the movies,” said his friend Harry.

“No ya, I can’t, I’ve got to prepare for the forthcoming exams,” he replied.

“Hey, but that’s two weeks away, I’m sure a movie is not going to affect your preparation.”

“No Harry, I’m afraid it will.,” said Rahul.

Rahul and Harry studied in the seventh standard and their exams were fast approaching. Both of them were not very bright students though Rahul had an edge over Harry whose grades were dropping gradually. The boys resided in the same society and travelled to school together. They also met in the evenings for games. Rahul’s parents encouraged him to divide his time correctly between studies and other activities and did not stop him from playing or socializing. His mother a teacher herself, sat with him at study time and was a big influence on him to excel. Rahul himself had a firm head on his shoulders and refrained from succumbing to the various temptations his other friends indulged in.

Harry on the other hand was a happy go lucky boy whose parents were IT professionals and busy in their own work. They returned at dinnertime tired and therefore spent very less time with him. His grandmother was the one who looked after him. After school Harry would be seen in the company of friends either playing some games or just whiling away his time. He seldom returned home early evening since both his parents returned late thereby missing out on quality study time. He would sit to study only nearing the exams aiming only for minimum passing marks which luckily, he obtained each time. “We can’t be failed till eighth standard, so why struggle so much,” Harry was heard saying.

“Hey c’mon Rahul, I need some company” persisted Harry.

Rahul, tempted to abandon his studies for a movie was actually plotting in his mind as to what he would tell his mother on her return.

“No yaar, I’m scared, what will I tell my mom”.

“Don’t worry yaar, tell her we were studying with Gautam”

“Ok c’mon, let’s go” said Rahul getting his encouragement to lie from Harry.

Both Rahul and Harry went for the movies and enjoyed themselves immensely. Rahul forgot about his studies, his mother and everything concerning his home and didn’t for even a minute think of what awaited him on his return home.

Rahul’s mom returned to find the door locked and she had to dig into her purse to get the spare keys. She was extremely worried and knocked at the neighbor’s doors to enquire about Rahul, but blank, they didn’t know. ‘Where could he have gone’, she asked herself. She regretted not giving him a phone. ‘If only he had a phone, he could’ve called me’, she thought to herself. She didn’t want to call up her husband and trouble him but decided to wait for some time.

After an hour of waiting, she heard the knock on the front door. She opened it to see Rahul standing there with a smile on his face.

“Where have you been? I was very worried” she asked.

“Oh mom, Harry and I went to Gautam’s house to study” answered Rahul.

“Then where’s your books? “Asked his mom. She somehow gauged that he was lying but out of respect she did not want to brazenly rub it in.

Rahul sensed the mistrust in his mother’s voice and couldn’t continue his lying charade and blurted out, “Mom I’m so sorry, I lied, Harry and I went for a movie.

His mom embraced him and said, Son I was worried.

Rahul said he was sorry and told his mom how Harry had pestered him.

“Son, remember never to be led by bad influence and never lie to cover up. Doing so will only lead to telling more lies.”

Rahul learnt a very important lesson that day.