July 07, 2007

“Tiko brush your teeth”, “Tiko how much will you eat?” “Tiko wash your feet,” and more. He had to listen to this everyday. It was all in his routine, being scolded by everyone, because he was a very, very naughty and mischievous boy. He never used to listen to anyone in his family. His grandmother, grandfather, father and everyone else told him not to eat too much, but he never listened to any of them.

His mother desperately tried to explain to him the importance of staying tidy, and asked that he keep himself clean. He never brushed his teeth before bed, never bathed when he came back from school, and was not accustomed to washing his hands before a meal.

One thing he could do very well was eat junk food, chocolate and other unhealthy things. His mother always scolded him, and told him not to have these things. She explained how they could harm him, but as usual, he never listened. Basically, he had always been a stubborn child. Initially, people let him get what he wanted, and now he was out of control. His bad habits were increasing almost as rapidly as his weight, but still he paid no heed to his mother’s advice, “Don’t live to eat, eat only to live.”

This was said in vain, as he ignored all advice and said, “Oh! Nothing happens, don’t be so superstitious. I won’t have any problems.” But Tiko’s misconception led him to many difficulties, and he started putting on weight dramatically. Day by day, he was getting fatter and dirtier. His mother put all her effort into making him understand, but he didn’t listen.

One day his mother decided to leave him to his own devices, and let him do what he wanted. He would only learn when it was too late. Only then would he realise how right she had been. One day, Tiko’s teacher called his name during attendance, but he was not there. Nor was he there the next day, or the next either. When his teacher asked some of his friends, they told her that Tiko had been suffering from fever and was seriously ill and vomiting continuously.

Tiko’s mother took him to a doctor, who said that it was because he was filthy, and his body was ill from all the unhealthy food that he should not have eaten. The doctor told him that if his weight kept increasing, he would be struck with dangerous illnesses. He advised him not to eat unhealthy food, and to exercise, keep himself neat and clean, cut his nails, brush his teeth twice a day, bathe daily, and have a glass of milk before going to bed. He would be healthy soon.

Now Tiko understood how right his mother was. Only after he had faced such dreadful consequences, did he decide to follow the instructions from the doctor, and obey his mother. After lots of effort and hard work, Tiko gradually regained his health, and changed his filthy, stubborn ways.