The Lost Lunchbox: A Lesson in Honesty

The Lunchbox and the Lesson

BY:Ubaid

Sara, Umar, Imran, and Changez were all classmates in the same school. Though they studied together, their upbringing and behavior were quite different. Imran had been raised with discipline, good manners, and values. His parents had left no stone unturned in his training. Changez, on the other hand, had grown up spoiled. Because of constant pampering at home, he had developed a habit of ignoring advice, rejecting rules, and always following his own whims. He was stubborn, mischievous, and often careless about the consequences of his actions.

One ordinary morning, Imran came to school carrying a lunchbox packed with delicious samosas that his mother had prepared for him. The savory aroma filled the classroom and caught Changez’s attention immediately. As soon as he realized that Imran had samosas for lunch, his mouth watered. A strong craving grew inside him. He began thinking about how he could taste those samosas. But there was one problem—Imran never offered food without being asked, and Changez, due to his ego and pride, never liked to ask anyone for anything. He preferred taking things in his own way.

Instead of politely requesting Imran to share his lunch, Changez’s mischievous mind started plotting. “Why not steal his lunchbox?” he thought. “If I manage to get hold of it, I can eat all the samosas by myself without anyone knowing.” The idea excited him, and from that very moment, he started waiting for the right opportunity.

When the bell rang for the lunch break, Imran placed his lunchbox on his desk and went to wash his hands, as was his habit. Changez immediately noticed this chance. With a sly smile, he sneaked to Imran’s desk, picked up the lunchbox, and quickly threw it out of the classroom window. The window opened into the back field of the school, a place not often visited by students. That area was used mostly for dumping old school furniture and equipment, and usually only the janitor went there.

By the time Imran returned, the classroom was nearly empty. He looked around in confusion. His lunchbox was gone. He checked under the desk, searched his bag, and asked a few students, but no one seemed to know. His heart sank. All his excitement about eating the samosas disappeared, replaced with worry and sadness. For the first time, he realized what it felt like to lose something precious. He spent the rest of the lunch break sitting quietly, without eating anything, his face clouded with disappointment.

Meanwhile, Changez had brought his own lunch that day—an egg paratha. Yet, his mind was not on it at all. He neither ate his paratha nor offered it to the hungry Imran. His only thought was about retrieving the hidden lunchbox and devouring the samosas secretly.

After the break, Imran gathered courage and went to the teacher to report the theft. The teacher, surprised and concerned, immediately searched all the students’ bags. But the lunchbox was not found anywhere. Imran was heartbroken, but he kept quiet. He decided not to create more fuss and endured the rest of the school day silently.

When the final bell rang, students rushed out toward their buses. Imran boarded his bus, still upset about his missing lunch. Changez, however, stayed behind, pretending to pack his things slowly. He was waiting for everyone to leave so he could go to the back field without being seen.

At last, when the corridors became silent, Changez slipped out and walked all the way to the back field. The window was too high to climb out from, so he had to take a longer route. After some searching among the piles of discarded furniture, he found Imran’s lunchbox exactly where he had thrown it. Triumphantly, he picked it up, tucked it inside his bag, and turned back toward the buses.

But fate had other plans. By the time he reached the bus stop, all the buses had already left. The school gate was locked, as the watchman assumed everyone had gone home. Changez froze. He was trapped inside the school premises. Panic rushed over him. He sat down on the ground, clutching the lunchbox, and tears filled his eyes. The plan that had seemed clever in the morning had now left him hungry, stranded, and guilty.

He cried bitterly, realizing that he had not only ruined his own day but also caused pain to his classmate. Neither had he eaten lunch nor allowed Imran to enjoy his food. The desire for a few samosas had cost him dearly. At that moment, he raised his hands and prayed silently, promising Allah that he would never repeat such a mistake. Exhausted from crying, he eventually fell asleep in the empty field, the lunchbox still in his hands.

Back at home, Changez’s absence created worry. His mother expected him to arrive on the school bus, but when he didn’t, she became anxious. She quickly phoned Imran’s house to ask if he had seen Changez. Imran’s parents explained that Imran had not seen him on the bus either, though he had been in school earlier. Concern grew, and Changez’s father returned from work. The family, along with Imran’s parents, went to the school to search for him.

When they arrived, they persuaded the watchman to unlock the gate. Inside the back field, they finally spotted Changez lying asleep. In his hands, to everyone’s surprise, was Imran’s missing lunchbox. His father woke him gently, and Changez burst into fresh tears. He confessed everything—the theft, the plan, the missed bus, and his fear. He apologized deeply to both Imran and his own parents.

Imran, though saddened by the day’s events, forgave him wholeheartedly. The teacher and parents explained the seriousness of his actions, reminding him that dishonesty and selfishness always lead to loss. Changez listened carefully, ashamed but also relieved that he was forgiven.

From that day forward, he changed. He promised never to steal again and to respect the belongings of others. Imran and Changez reconciled, and in a heartwarming gesture, Imran shared his samosas with him. They both sat together, eating from the same lunchbox—not as enemies, but as friends who had learned an important lesson about honesty, kindness, and forgiveness.