As usual, Pintu looked around and then pushed the toy car in his pocket. His friend Montu had once again noticed Pintu stealing his toys but he decided not to object.
When Pintu left, Montu’s mom started arranging his toys in the basket. “Where is that blue car which I had brought yesterday?” she wondered.
Montu was taken aback, “Oh ho! It must be somewhere around. I might have kept it somewhere. I will put it back in the basket when I find it. Don’t worry, mom.”
Many people doubted Pintu of stealing their belongings, but nobody had spotted him doing this except Montu. So, Pintu was never openly accused by anyone.
Many of Pintu’s friends lost their toys after he visited their home. So, many of them had stopped inviting him home.
A plan is hatched
One morning, Pintu came to class, excited. “I will be celebrating my birthday this evening. You all are invited to the party at my home,” he said.
“Oh yes sure………” Montu smiled
During recess, his classmates decided not to join Pintu’s party.
Montu tried to convince his classmates, “We should definitely visit him. After all, it is his birthday and he is our buddy.”
James was annoyed, “But he steals our toys.”
“But I have an idea. I am sure he will give up his bad habit,” said Montu confidently.
“Please tell us as well,” said his class mates.
Montu explained his plan. When he had finished all his friends agreed that it was indeed a good plan and agreed to visit Pintu that evening.
In the evening, when they reached Pintu’s home, they found him eagerly waiting for them, wearing his new dress. The house was decorated with white, red, pink and blue balloons. Floral strings on the walls were beautiful.
Soon, Pintu’s friends gave him their gifts and he was excited. After enjoying the cake and snacks, all of them danced and played games. Then, Pintu said, “I will open the gifts. I cannot wait any more.”
“Yes, let us go into your room,” all of them said and helped Pintu carry the gifts to his room.
As Pintu unpacked one box after the other, he started becoming nervous and his face turned pale. Every box contained a paper slip with something written on it — my blue car, my red pencil box……….and so on. My green pen……..
Pintu could not bear it any more. Tears started falling from his eyes. He was ashamed and was feeling awkward. “All of you are my good friends and were always aware about my bad habit. But you never pointed out,” he said and started sobbing. “I promise you that I will never steal anything and will return everything that I have stolen,” he added.
Montu realised that Pintu had learnt his lesson. He turned around and signalled to Deepu who accompanied Rehan out of the room. Soon, they returned with boxes wrapped in gift wrapping paper.
Pintu could not understand anything and Montu said, “Your gifts are here. Take these to your room.”
Pintu ran to Montu and hugged him and then started unpacking the boxes while his friends shouted, “Happy birthday.”
