[ Try telling the truth.]

I told the truth till now in all my life, except for only once to save my best friend's professional career in his life. That was 64 years ago:-

My best friend and I had applied for our professional course and my best friend had filled his application form and gave it to me for submission to the institute's office. I went to the office to submit the form. There was a big 'Q" I stood in the 'Q' and as my turn came, the office Boy who stood near the door saw that I was holding 2 forms. He asked me that I should submit only 1 form. I kept one form in my pocket and went inside submitted the form at the counter the person behind took the form. The boy standing at the back pushed me and I left the spot.

I took the form, from my best friend telling him that I would go to the institute and submit the form since my home was nearer to the institute and his home was far away at that time. When I came out of the building to make sure I had given my form and not my best friends. I had to go again and submit my best friend's application form. A few days later I went with the form and when I went near the counter I saw a different person. He took the form and asked me if it was 'me' submitting that form. I said 'Yes' as he dropped the form in the tray again the boy behind me pushed me and I left the office.

I never told my friend what happened at the office even now after 64 years. He would have never liked the reply I gave at the counter while submitting his application form. I know, he would have said 'NO' in my place. He was a Gujarati and they are mostly Mahatma Gandhi followers since Mahatma Gandhi has said: "SATYAMEVA JAYATHE" meaning "Truth is Victory. He would never say anything other than 'Truth' under all and any circumstances that were his good quality which I liked and kept it. He had many good qualities. He was punctual, soft-spoken, never spoke against anyone, He would wink before he spoke he remembered me whenever he went to his place in the north and get me some gift, he never said sorry to anyone since he hardly spoke to anyone, he, of course, had money always as his father was an industrialist.etc, etc.

I thought about the incident that had happened at the institute and satisfied my self that it was I who was submitting the form and not the person in the application form ( my best friend ) over and over again and still felt I had not told the truth.

I also remember one of my Boss telling me 'a truth coming out of the tongue' cannot be changed but a written that is 'not true' can be corrected. I also remember another 'Boss' telling me 'trust is higher than truth' and the truth is the 'basis of trust'.

Having worked in the industry and managed independently as Manager, General Manager, CEO, and MD in all each branch of the industry from administration, banking, all human relations, sales, production planning, responsible for profits, training of recruits, attending national and research organizations conferences, responsible and accountable for everything, can I work for 35 years telling an untruth and keep bluffing?. Make others insecure and doubt my intentions.

Now at the fag end of my Life if someone most dearer to me says "Try telling the truth" in an argument, What should I say?

Is it not fair, to stop discussing with that person.