A Short Story

DRUGS

He is a 16-year-old smart boy, and he is beloved by his parents. He is an SSLC student. He is mild and silent in nature, but he is keen on his studies. His teachers have mentioned this to his parents. He scored high marks in his term examinations.

His parents loved him more and more, and all their dreams were centred around him. After his secondary education, his mother wished to send him to study medicine. His father dreamt of him becoming an IAS officer. But he wished to become an IPS officer.

Contrary to all these dreams, recently he had scored low marks in his term examinations. His teachers noticed this sudden change and promptly informed his parents.

Hearing this, his parents were shocked. Even then, they gently asked him about the matter. But, contrary to their expectations, the boy replied angrily in a harsh tone and warned them:

“Both of you… don’t ask me anything about the examination or my marks. I am disturbed myself now. Moreover, I dislike seeing or speaking with you about exams and marks. Don’t try to harass me again. I don’t want to see either of you!”

He ended his reply in deep anguish.

This sort of unprecedented behaviour on the part of their beloved son left the parents confused and depressed. Drops of tears rolled down the mother’s eyes. She murmured uncertainly and slowly asked her husband:

“Dear… what has happened to our son? I can’t bear it any longer. What is the cause of this sudden change? Besides, his face looks gloomy and has lost its natural smartness…”

She said so and wept in sorrow.

Then the husband, overcome with grief, said to her:

“We must immediately meet his teachers and find out the truth.”

The parents met his teachers and discussed their son’s deterioration in studies and his sudden change in character. The teachers advised them to take him to a qualified psychologist for consultation and counselling.

As soon as possible, the parents compulsorily brought him before a psychologist and consulted the doctor. The outcome was painfully shocking to them. They heard a secret about their son that they had never expected to hear in their lives.

Their son was addicted to drugs.

He could no longer live without them.

On hearing this “naked truth” from the doctor, his mother suddenly collapsed and fell unconscious. But the son stood there without any change of expression, merely looking at her.

The broken-hearted father looked at his son with pity. His mind was trembling with agony.

He asked his son in a tearful voice:

“Dear son… how did this happen? Who trapped you in this vicious net? Was it your fellow students… or some unscrupulous drug sellers?”

The boy did not reply. He stood there with a gloomy face, without showing any emotion.

This tragic incident caused deep wounds in the minds of his parents. The entire warmth that had once filled their hearts seemed to vanish forever. Instead, tears filled their eyes and spread darkness over their onward journey through life.

Finally, they came to know the bitter truth: some of his classmates and friends had instigated and persuaded him to enter this trap of drugs.

All friends are not good friends.

A crooked friend may try to deceive others to achieve his own selfish goals. Drug mafias are now moving like vultures around school students, waiting to drag them into their deadly trap.

Beware of such crooked friends and drug mafias. Observe them carefully, avoid their influence, and keep them away from the lives of our children.