The Boy Who Returned the Coin

Eleven-year-old Aaron loved stopping at old Mr D'Souza's shop after school. One evening, while buying a pencil, he noticed a shiny ten-rupee coin lying near the counter leg. Mr D'Souza was busy packing rice for another customer, and no one saw the coin except Aaron.

He picked it up quietly and slipped it into his pocket. All the way home he felt both proud and uneasy. "It is only one coin," he told himself. "And maybe it belonged to no one."

That night during family prayer, his mother read, "Whoever is faithful in little things will be faithful in great things." Aaron lowered his eyes. The coin felt heavier in his pocket than it had in his hand.

He could not sleep well. In the morning he went back to the shop before school. Mr D'Souza was arranging biscuits in a glass jar when Aaron placed the coin on the counter and said, "Uncle, I took this yesterday. I knew I should not have."

Mr D'Souza looked at him quietly. Aaron expected anger. Instead, the old man smiled softly and said, "Thank you for bringing back not just the coin, but your peace."

Then he opened the till, took out another coin and gave it to Aaron.

"This one," he said, "is not for taking. It is for being truthful."