Every Drop is PRECIOUS

Raju enjoyed playing with water. He used plenty of water whenever he took bath. And he often forgot to turn off the tap. His parents wanted to teach him the value of water. But Raju never cared for the advice of his parents. He thought that since his father was paying the water bill he could waste water. On holidays he would sit under the shower and keep water running while he sang all the nursery rhymes he knew. The father would say, "Son, due to population increase water has become a precious thing. This nature's gift is limited in supply, and it keeps us alive. Your wastage of water is keeping some field dry or someone without water to cook food".

For Raju it was all nonsense. There is water everywhere. Water is just water. Seas are full of water. In monsoons clouds pour down water as if to drown you. There are rivers of water, seaside lakes and ponds.

One day Raju forgot to take his drinking water bottle to school. On that day school taps went dry due to low pressure. Raju felt thirsty but there was no water. By the time periods ended his lips and throat were drying up. He felt giddy. On the way he knocked at a door and asked for some water to drink. The lady of the house said, "My son, in ths colony, taps have been dried for two days. For sake of water I couldn't wash even a tea cup myself, sorry".

On weak legs Raju toddled ahead. He sat down under a tree panting. Had God appeared to him and asked for a wish, Raju would've asked for a glass of water.

Just then a cyclist who was passing by braked and asked Raju if he was alright. Raju opened his mouth to say how thirsty he was but words struck in this throat which was too dry to let out sounds. His mouth pantomimed. His eyes were fixed on the water bottle in the cycle basket. It had some water. The cyclist understood and handed the bottle to Raju. As he drank water life surged in him.

Now Raju turns off the taps after using water so tight that his parents have some difficulty in turning it on. They smile because it tells them that their son now knows how precious water is.

MORAL: In coming times water will be scarce that it can start wars. We must realise it right now and learn the value of water.