Chinese Whisper?
Sumir and Kanan were two brothers aged nine and ten. Their friend invited them to his birthday party. Sumir was feeling unwell and felt that he might throw up so he decided not to go and Kanan went alone. There were many other children there.
Rohan asked Kanan, “Why didn’t Sumir come?”
Kanan said, “Oh! He was feeling that he might vomit, so he decided to stay back.”
Rohan told Manik, “Did you know that Sumir has been vomiting all day?”
Manik said to Megha, “Poor Sumir vomited something black this morning.”
Megha informed Roopa, “I heard that Sumir vomited a crow this morning!”
Roopa further said to Naveen, “I believe that Sumir vomited a crow today and has been admitted to the hospital.”
Naveen said to Alok, “Did you know that Sumir has been hospitalized and he may die?”
Alok walked up to Kanan and said, “Kanan, I just came to know that your brother Sumir is going to die. Why are you here? Why aren’t you with him?”
Kanan said, “What did you say? Sumir is going to die? I didn’t know that”. Kanan sped home as fast as his feet could carry him. Sumir was playing games on the computer and munching popcorn. Mother looked up in surprise and asked, “Kanan, you are back early, what happened?” He hugged his brother and said, “Oh, it’s nothing, mother, I just wanted to come back.”
Such is the havoc that can be created by irresponsible speech.
False tales fly like feathers!
Bhagwan Baba says,
“Before you talk; think:
Is it necessary?
Is it true?
Is it kind?
Will it hurt anyone?
Will it improve upon the silence?”