The room was dark, with only a faint light from the outside street lamp filtering in. Kirit was lying on the bed, not able to sleep.

For a 9-year old, that is unusual. It was certainly for him. He was used to falling asleep as soon as he was tucked into the bed.

He was trying very hard to get to sleep. Shutting his eyes off with his hands, sometimes blocking his ears with the help of the pillow and the blanket. But sleep alluded him.

The reason for this rather disturbing experience for Kirit was what had happened in the day earlier.

He was with his family, visiting some family friends. A usual catch up, except that this was the same people they had been going on vacations with too. Close friends of his dad and mom, he had expected them to be there for every trip.

This time though, as they were getting ready to leave their house, his mother told him not to talk about the summer holidays. When he looked quizzed, she mentioned that for a change, they had planned a trip only for the three of them this time.

And she wanted him not to bring up a topic which may end up in an unpleasant conversation. Kirit was flummoxed. He didn’t know what to do.

Naturally, he raised a pertinent question. What should he say if they ask him first. To this, his dad had replied that he can say they hadn’t planned yet.

Kirit was more confused now. He sensed this will be a lie, but his own parents were asking him to utter it. On the way, he tried to get some more discussion going, but his parents shut him off, saying the more he talks about it before, the difficult it will be for him to do what was being suggested.

It was of course difficult. Kirit had always believed in being a honest kid. He knew some kids his age were used to lying or resorted to it occasionally. He was proud he hadn’t done so. Until now.

He closed his eyes and prayed that the situation may never occur. God was perhaps not in a mood to listen though!

As soon as they got off and started playing, his friends Ahan and Deb asked him what were his holiday plans. They wanted to plan together. He looked sheepishly at his mom, who nudged him with her eyes.

Not too confidently, Kirit uttered the lie. He further asked them to clarify with his parents. He couldn’t take it anymore when his parents supported his version and lied too. Running to the bathroom, he closed the door and sobbed for a while.

That entire day, he was awkward. He expected someone to catch their lie. It was what he had learned in school. But by evening, when no one reacted adversely and feigned indifference, he realised that the lie had passed muster.

On the way back home, Kirit was quiet. He was reflecting on the situation and the behaviour. He had learnt something important today.

A lie well told and corroborated with can seem like a truth. And it wasn’t as bad as it was made out to be.

His conscience was still in conflict though. He kept on hearing his inner voice asking if he had done the right thing.

At first he tried ignoring it and carried on with his bed time routine. But when the question didn’t go away for a while, he firmly told his mind that since there was no fallout of the lie, it was ok.

Now in his bed, trying to get sleep, his mind had flipped and was constantly humming with ideas of where he may be able to lie and get away. His thoughts were racing at how he could use it smartly at school and home.

That was the reason for the struggle that night. The lie he had uttered in the day, had stayed with him in the night.

And the memory and change in behaviour for possibly all his life…