June 14, 2003

Hira was a very hard-working and brilliant student. She stood first in class all the time. No one could compete with her. Hira, too, loved getting the first position and always worked very hard to earn it. She couldn’t bear to lose her position.

Once Hira had a science test. On the morning of the test, Hira was very worried. She had not studied for her test properly because last night she was out late at a party. “Now what will I do? I will definitely score badly and lose my position. I can’t bear this... Oh no!” She thought unhappily. Suddenly an idea struck her. “Yes,” she thought, “I can cheat in the test! I can write the important answers on small chits and hide them in my desk, and then I can copy these answers during the test.” But then something inside her told her that this was very wrong. But even then she ignored her call of conscience. “I don’t think I’d get caught, I will do this very carefully and secretly. Other students also cheat but are never caught, so I too can do the same. Besides, this is the first and last time ever that I’d do this ... because I haven’t studied for the test, and I can’t allow my grade to fall,” she thought. And then she carried on with her plan.

During the test, Hira did as she had planned — she cheated. She was not caught, and her test went off successfully. After the test the students discussed the answers among themselves, Hira had got all the answers right. But Hira was not happy ... she felt very tense and worried. “This is not right ... this is not right...” a voice condemned her from inside. “I have cheated in the test. I have done wrong,” she thought. All day long in school Hira felt very worried and guilty. She couldn’t concentrate on her work. After school Hira went home even then she was too upset, she couldn’t study or eat properly. Her thoughts revolved around the same sentence. “I have cheated ... I have done wrong.” All the time she felt very uncomfortable. Her mother noted the tension on her face, but ashamed to tell her mother what she had done, Hira remained quite.

The next day Hira went to school. In the science period, the teacher gave out the test papers. Hira waited uncomfortably to receive her paper. At last the teacher called out Hira’s name, and very happily handed out her paper and announced in the class that her test was the best. Hira took her paper. She had got full marks and the whole class was cheering. Instead of feeling happy and proud, Hira felt even more unhappy and guilty. “I have obtained these marks through dishonesty. Others have not obtained full marks, but whatever marks they have they got by being honest. I don’t deserve these marks. I have cheated. I have cheated,” she thought. Hira decided to confess to the teacher that she had cheated.

So, during recess, Hira went to the teacher and told her everything. At first the teacher was very angry. But suddenly her anger cooled down and she smiled. She was happy that though Hira had cheated, she was decent and bold enough to realize she had done wrong and admit it. Hira apologized to the teacher who forgave her and told her always to be honest, no matter what. She also asked her never to do such a thing again. Hira also confessed everything to her parents.

Although Hira did not come first in class this time, as she lost her marks in the science test for cheating, she was happy and satisfied. “It’s better to get less by honest means, than to get more by dishonest means”, she said.

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