A Tale of Two Friends

Once upon a time Truth and Falsehood met each other on the road. “Good afternoon”, said Truth “Good afternoon”, returned Falsehood. “And how are you doing these days?” asked Falsehood. “Not very well at all, I ‘m afraid”, sighed Truth, “Times are tough for a fellow like me, you know”. “Yes I can see that”, said Falsehood glancing up and down at Truth ragged clothes, “You look like you haven’t had a bite to eat in quite some time.”

“To be honest, I haven’t,” admitted Truth. “No one seems to want to employ me now-a-days. Whenever I go, most of people ignore me or mock me. It’s getting discouraging. I can’t tell you I‘m beginning to ask myself why I put up with it”. “And why the devil do you? Come with me, and I‘ll show you how to get along. There’s no reason in the world why you can’t stuff yourself with as much as you want to eat, like me, and dress in the finest clothes, like me. But you must promise not to say a word against me while we’re together.”

So, Truth promised and agreed to go along with Falsehood for while, not because he liked his company so much, but because he was so hungry and would faint soon if he didn’t get something into his stomach. They walked down the road until they came to a city, and Falsehood at once led the way to the very best table at the very best restaurant.

“Waiter, bring us your choicest meat and your sweetest sweet dish”, he ordered. They ate drank all afternoon.  At last, when they could hold no more, Falsehood began banging his fist on the table and calling for the manager who came running at once.

“What the devil kind of place is this”, Falsehood snapped, “I gave the waiter a gold piece nearly an hour ago, and he still hasn’t brought our change.” The manager summoned the waiter, who said he’d never ever seen a penny out of the gentleman.

“What?” Falsehood shouted, so that everyone in the place turned and looked. “I can’t believe this place! Innocent, law-abiding citizens come into eat, and you rob them of their hard-earned money! You’re pack of thieves and lairs! You may have fooled me once, you‘ll never see me again! Here!” He threw a gold piece at the manager, “Now this time bring my change!”

But the manager, fearing his restaurant’s reputation would suffer, refused to take the gold piece, and instead bring Falsehood change for the first gold piece he claimed to have spent. Then he took the waiter aside and called him a scoundrel, as the waiter protest that he’d never collected a cent from the man, the manger refused to believe him.

“Oh Truth, where have you been hiding yourself?” the waiter sighed. “Have you now deserted even us, hard working souls?”

“No, I’m here,” Truth groaned to himself, “but my judgment gave way to my hungers, and now I can’t speak up any word without breaking my promise to Falsehood.”

As soon as they were on the street, Falsehood gave a hearty laugh and slapped Truth on the back. “You see how the world works?” he cried.

“I managed it all quiet well, don’t you think?” But Truth slipped from his side as he was deeply embarrassed by himself of what he had done due to his hunger. “I rather starve than alive as you do”, he said.

And that day Truth and Falsehood went their separate ways, and never travelled together again.

P.S. But Truth has lost his way after that day and I think it has died in some disaster may be floods, rains, tsunami, cyclone, hurricane  or may be somewhere inside us. Lets hope that we find Truth on this Eid day. Happy Eid to all of you in advance.