Addiction

Addiction

A boy is very addicted to his mobile phone.

Rafi was a bright student. He excelled in academics and was also great at sports. He had a curious mind and loved to learn new things. Seeing his enthusiasm for knowledge, his father decided to buy him a smartphone, thinking it would help him in his studies.

At first, Rafi used the phone wisely—searching for information, watching educational videos, and solving math problems. It became his little assistant, always ready to help. However, as time passed, his focus shifted. He discovered mobile games, social media, and endless YouTube videos. What started as occasional fun soon became an addiction. The smartphone, which was supposed to aid his learning, turned into a source of endless distraction.

He stopped playing outside with his friends. His books started gathering dust. His once neat and organized study desk became cluttered with empty snack packets and charging cables. At night, he would stay up playing games, immersed in the virtual world, completely unaware of time. The next morning, he could barely keep his eyes open in class. His grades started dropping, but he convinced himself that he would make up for it later.

His parents noticed the change but assumed it was just a phase. His mother often reminded him to study, but he would assure her, "Just five more minutes, Ma!" Those five minutes would turn into hours. His father, who had once proudly gifted him the phone, started regretting his decision.

One evening, his best friend Arif came to his house.

"Hey Rafi, let's go play football. We haven't played together in weeks!"

Rafi barely looked up from his screen. "Not today, man. I'm in the middle of an important match."

Arif sighed. "You always say that. Do you even care about anything else anymore?"

But Rafi was too deep into his game to respond.

Days turned into weeks, and then came the exam results. Rafi, once a top student, had failed in two subjects. He couldn’t believe his eyes. His hands trembled as he held his report card. His parents were heartbroken. His mother sat quietly, wiping her tears, while his father, who had always been patient with him, finally lost his temper.

"Rafi, look at yourself! You were one of the best students in your class. What happened to you? Do you think wasting time on that phone will take you anywhere?" his father asked, disappointment heavy in his voice.

Rafi had no answer. He could see the pain in his parents' eyes. That night, he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. He realized he had lost control of his life. He thought about how much he had changed. He used to be passionate about learning, excited to play outside, and full of energy. Now, he was just a tired, frustrated boy stuck behind a screen.

The next morning, he made a decision—he would take back control. He deleted most of the unnecessary apps from his phone and set strict rules for himself: study first, then some time for outdoor games, and only a limited time for his phone. It wasn’t easy at first. Every few minutes, his hands itched to pick up his phone. The temptation was strong, but he reminded himself why he was doing this.

Slowly, he started enjoying his old routine again. He spent more time with his family, reconnected with his friends, and started paying attention in class. His grades improved, and most importantly, he felt happy again.

One day, Arif saw him on the football field and smiled. "Looks like the old Rafi is back."

Rafi grinned. "Yeah, and I’m never letting a screen control my life again."

Technology is not bad, but when it starts controlling us, we lose sight of what truly matters. Rafi learned this lesson the hard way, but in the end, he found his way back.

The End. 😊