The 'Clingy' Friend

Neil returned home from school, grumbling. Seeing him in such a mood, Ma asked, "What happened? Why are you in a bad mood today?" "Because of Sarthak," he grumbled.

- Dr. Alka Jain

"Why? Did Sarthak bother you?" Neil made a face and said, "Ma, he is such a clingy boy...so clingy!" "Why do surprised you call him clingy?" Ma asked, Neil said, "He keeps following me the whole day, and today..." "What happened today?" "Today the seating arrangements were changed, and now he will sit with me for a month," Neil replied.

"So what?" Ma smiled.

"Why are you smiling, Ma? You know he follows me all the time," Neil said.

"What's wrong with that? Does he have bad habits? Does he not complete his homework?" Ma asked.

"No, he has no bad habits, but I don't like his clingy behaviour," Neil said.

"Beta, try to be friends with him," Ma explained to him lovingly.

"No, I will never be friends with him," Neil declared and sat down to eat.

Ma didn't know how to make him understand.

Now Neil would come home from school every day and talk about Sarthak. One day, when Neil came home, he was silent.

Seeing him silent, Ma asked, "What's the matter? Is there nothing to talk about Sarthak today?" "He did not come to school today," Neil said.