Who Says ONE SHOULD NEVER TELL A LIE

This is a true story of what happened in my life sometime in early 60s when I was employed in the manufacturing plant of what was then perhaps the largest multinational in the then called city of BOMBAY (now called MUMBAI)in India. In this plant we had a large Dispensory with an attached CRECHE which was looked after by a team of Nurses headed by a senior Nurse named Mary(Original name not revealed) whom we all used to refer to as SISTER Mary and whom I used to see almost every day being a part of the plant employees.On all these occasions I always found her in her WHITE DRESS typical of a Nurse.

It just so happened one evening during a weekend I accidentally met her in a shop in Chembur(A Suburb of Bombay)and she was then wearing a saree with made up face and high heeled shoes and I could not recognise her.So when she smiled at me I thought she was smiling at someone else and so I did not return the smile.She obviously felt hurt and calling me by my name asked me whther or not I recognised her. Realising that it was not a case of mistaken identity and at the same time not being able to recognise her, I simply Said--"Ofcourse I do But what brought you here ?" So saying I took leave of her but could see her feelings hurt due to my not recognising her.

It took me nearly two hours or so after my leaving her that it dawned on me that she was no other than Sister Mary Of the factory dispensory.I could understand her disappointment in my not recognising her in the Chembur shop earlier.

The next day morning when I reached the factory ,I went straight to the dispensory where I saw her in her typical white dress.I went straight to her with an intention to apologise for the previous evening episode And greeted her with a large smile enquiring--"Good Morning Sister How are you?"
Not still recovered from the previous evening shock, She responded mechanically
saying "Good Morning But you did not recognise me last evening".
Only then I realised the degree of hurt I had caused her the previous evening by my not recognising her And instantly decided not to give any reason for the same as I thought it only will hurt her further.Instead I was prepared to tell even a lie if by doing so I could appease her.The subsequent conversation that took place was as follows----

Myself---"what do you mean sister,I did not recognise you?How can it be?When did we meet?
Sister----Last evening in the Chembur market.
Myself---You mean in the Chembur market?At what time was it ,Sister?
Sister-----Say Around Six in the evening.
Myself----But sister I was in Churchgate* (*the main city area)Then.Probably you met my brother and have mistaken him for me.

On my so saying I could immediately see the relief on her face and she said "oh I now understand why I was not recognised.You and Your brother look so alike".

Sister still probably believes that she met my brother.Where ever she may be today,if she happens to read this write up of mine I only wish to say "I am so sorry sister.I could not think of a better way then to appease you from the hurt I had caused you the other day".

To my other Readers,I only ask "If by one harmless lie,one can appease a person,is there anything wrong in saying so?And if it is not wrong why do we say "One Should Never Tell A Lie?


Narrated by---BAIYU