Once there lived an intelligent boy named Aman. He always got the highest marks in every subject in his class. However, he had a shortcoming — he never respected his parents, friends, classmates, or elders in general. He considered himself the king of his class. He was very rude with everyone and used to make fun of those who got less marks than him.

“My dear, it is praiseworthy that you get good marks and the first position, but why do you disrespect your elders? It is very bad to be a rude person, no one will like and respect you in return and this can harm you and your career,” advised his father.

Aman replied with pride, “Being the first is everything is enough to make everyone respect me. I am the one who deserves respect, I do not want to give respect.”

His father tried to explain, “Until you will not give respect to others, how will they give respect to you? It is rightly said, ‘Give respect, take respect’.”

“Dad, I do not believe in such things,” replied Aman. He did not bother to reflect on what his father said to him.

Aman soon noticed that in his class, no one wanted to sit with him, even his friends started to ignore him. Aman just laughed at this and said, “Today, you don’t want to sit with me, but whenever you will not understand anything, then I know you will come to me to solve the question for you.”

The others did not react much to this and continued to ignore him.

A week passed, but none of his classmates agreed to sit with him or talk to him. Aman had started to get a bit concerned about this cold treatment he was getting, but he tried not to show it. He continued to act in a high-headed manner and ignored his classmates. He tried to console himself with the thought that being a good student, he had the respect of his teachers.

But soon he got to know that it was all his delusion that he had the admiration and respect of his teachers. At the end of the school year, his classmate Ikram (who got the second position in the class) was selected as the best performer of the year. Aman was completely shocked and could not believe it.

“Sir, why have you selected Ikram as the best performer of the class? In each weekly and monthly test, I have scored the highest marks, so I deserved to be respected and selected as the best performer of the class!” Aman asked his class teacher rather rudely.

His teacher replied, “My dear, getting the first position doesn’t make a person the best student of the class. I have observed everything in the class. Though you always score the highest marks, you don’t respect anyone nor do you have very good terms with your classmates and teachers. A best performer is best in all ways, his conduct is exemplary, his effort is extraordinary and then come his marks.”

Hearing this, Aman was on the verge of tears.

“My dear, I know who is the best. Ikram used to support his classmates, he gave respect to his classmates and as a reward he received respect in return. But you failed to respect anyone, even your elders,” his teacher explained.

When Aman arrived home that day, he looked very sad and dejected. His father saw him and realised something was wrong and asked, “What happened to you? You are looking upset.”

Aman narrated the whole story to his father.

“My dear, I used to tell you that if you will not respect others, then you will never gain respect. So give respect and receive respect,” his father reminded him.

The whole the night, Aman could not sleep as he was thinking about his teacher’s and father’s words.

The next morning, he went to his father and said, “Dad, I promise that I will start respecting my elders, friends and classmates, and will always be polite and kind to them. I now understand that no one likes those who are proud.”

In the school that day, the first thing Aman did was to apologise to his class teacher and classmates for the disrespect he had always showed them and promised that he would never do so again. They were all delighted to see the change in him. His class teacher was also glad to see Aman speaking so sweetly and humbly to others.

All the classmates hugged him and said, “Welcome back Aman, we would love to be your friend again.”

Aman excitedly replied, “I am so happy and I love you all too! From today our friendship will never break!”

Published in Dawn, Young World, December 23rd, 2017