Abhinav's Dilemma

Abhinav was a smart boy. He was in senior kindergarten. He loved to learn in school.

One day, the teacher taught road rules. She showed the traffic signal. She talked about wearing a helmet. She told them to walk on the left side.
Abhinav listened carefully.

After school, his father came. Father made Abhinav wear a helmet. Abhinav said, “My teacher taught me this!” They started driving home.

Suddenly,

Abhinav asked, “Papa, why are we on the right side?”

Father said, “It is faster this way.”

Abhinav was confused.
He kept quiet.

At the signal, the light was red. Father stopped for a moment. Then he drove forward again.

Abhinav said, “Papa, the signal is red. We must wait for green.”

Father said, “No cars are coming. It is okay.”

Abhinav still felt worried.

At the next road, people crossed anywhere. There was no zebra crossing.

Abhinav asked, “Papa, why do people cross anywhere?
My teacher told us to use a zebra crossing.”

Father said, “People forget the rules.”

Abhinav became sad.

At home, he did his homework.
Then he asked his mother,
“Mama, did your teacher teach road rules?”
Mother said, “Yes, she did.”

Abhinav said, “Then why don’t people follow them?”

Mother said, “It’s okay. Sometimes people forget.”

Later, while going to sleep, he hugged his father.
“Papa,” he said softly,
“I think we should follow all the road rules.”

Father smiled and nodded.
But Abhinav still wondered in his mind:

“If everyone knows the rules,
Why don’t they follow them?
Should I listen to what I was taught,
Or do what my parents and others are doing?”

Abhinav went to bed quietly,
still thinking about what was right
and what people really do.