In the end, the headmaster asked, out with your “Now come opinion.” I give it Sekhar asked tentatively. “Can’t tomorrow, sir?’ I want it immediately your frank opinion. Was it “No, – good?” Sekhar replied. “No, sir…” my “Oh!... Is there any use continuing lessons?” Sekar said with his voice trembling. He felt very unhappy that he “Absolutely none, sir…” could not speak more soothingly. Truth, he reflected, required as much strength to give as to receive. All the way home he felt worried. He felt that his official life was not going to be smooth sailing hereafter. Everything depends on the will. Did not Harischandra lose his headmaster’s throne, wife, child, because he would speak nothing less than the absolute Truth whatever happened? At home his wife served him a sullen face. He knew she was still angry with him for his remark of the morning. Two casualties for today, Sekhar said to himself. If I practice it for a week, I think I shall have a single friend left. don’t He received a call from the headmaster in his classroom next day. He went up apprehensively. was useful. Thank you. By the way, what about those test “Your suggestion papers?’ gave me ten days, for “You correcting them.” it. I must positively have “Oh, I’ve reconsidered them here tomorrow…” A hundred papers in a day! That meant all me a couple of days, night’s sitting up! “Give sir…” I must have them tomorrow morning. And remember, every paper must be thoroughly “No, scrutinized.” Sekhar said, feeling that sitting up all night with a hundred test papers was a small “Yes, sir,” price to pay for the luxury of practicing truth.
In the end, the headmaster asked, “Now come out with your opinion.” “Can’t I give it tomorrow, sir?’ Sekhar asked tentatively. “No, I want it immediately – your frank opinion. Was it good?” “No, sir…” Sekhar replied. “Oh!... Is there any use continuing my lessons?” “Absolutely none, sir…” Sekar said with his voice trembling. He felt very unhappy that he could not speak more soothingly. Truth, he reflected, required as much strength to give as to receive. All the way home he felt worried. He felt that his official life was not going to be smooth sailing hereafter. Everything depends on the headmaster’s will. Did not Harischandra lose his throne, wife, child, because he would speak nothing less than the absolute Truth whatever happened? At home his wife served him a sullen face. He knew she was still angry with him for his remark of the morning. Two casualties for today, Sekhar said to himself. If I practice it for a week, I don’t think I shall have a single friend left. He received a call from the headmaster in his classroom next day. He went up apprehensively. “Your suggestion was useful. Thank you. By the way, what about those test papers?’ “You gave me ten days, for correcting them.” “Oh, I’ve reconsidered it. I must positively have them here tomorrow…” A hundred papers in a day! That meant all night’s sitting up! “Give me a couple of days, sir…” “No, I must have them tomorrow morning. And remember, every paper must be thoroughly scrutinized.” “Yes, sir,” Sekhar said, feeling that sitting up all night with a hundred test papers was a small price to pay for the luxury of practicing truth.