The story of a man who has lied all his life.
Varun hurried towards the event hall, reminding himself that he still needed to pick up a bouquet for the guest of honour—his national sales head. Making a lasting impression tonight was crucial; his long-awaited promotion to city sales head depended on it.
A Life Built on a Lie
Back in college, Varun had struggled with academics. Eight arrears loomed over his future, and despite multiple attempts, he couldn’t clear them. A friend’s suggestion changed everything: an agency that printed fake degrees for a price. At first, Varun hesitated. But when he saw his friend land a lucrative corporate job with a fabricated degree, doubt turned into determination. He paid the fee and received his own fake degree, sealing his fate.
The first job he applied for was as a salesman at an Audi showroom, a dream opportunity for someone passionate about luxury cars. During the interview, he spoke so knowledgeably about every Audi model that he outshone the existing sales team. He got the job, though fear gnawed at him during the background verification. When the confirmation came that he had cleared it, he wasn’t sure if it was a weak vetting process or sheer luck. Either way, he had an opportunity, and he seized it.
Varun thrived in his role. Over the next few years, his natural passion translated into top-tier sales numbers, and he quickly became the best-performing salesman in the region. The hefty paycheck allowed him to send money to his mother in his hometown while leasing an Audi for himself. Driving his dream car every day felt like success, but an undercurrent of fear remained — the fear of being found out.
Now, standing on the brink of a promotion, Varun saw it as his ticket to security. Once he became city sales head, he believed his past would no longer haunt him.
A Ghost from the Past
Spotting a flower shop, Varun parked and rushed inside, picking a vibrant bouquet. As he approached the counter, the cashier stared at him in shock.
“Varun? You don’t remember me?” the man asked.
Varun forced a smile, recognizing his college buddy. “Harish? Oh, yes! It’s been ages. How are you?”
“I’m good,” Harish said, eyeing Varun’s expensive suit with a hint of envy. “You’ve done well for yourself.”
“Thanks. Can you bill this quickly? I’m in a hurry.”
Harish nodded, processed the payment, and handed over the bouquet. As Varun turned to leave, Harish called out again.
“Varun, I won’t take much of your time. I’m struggling to find a decent job. Could you help me out? Here’s my resume.”
Varun took the resume reluctantly, already knowing he wouldn’t be helping. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thanks, buddy! Means a lot.”
Without another word, Varun sped off toward the hotel, the award waiting for him.
The Reckoning
At the event, Varun mingled, feeling confident. His career was reaching new heights, and he was ready for the recognition he deserved. Just then, two security guards approached.
“Mr. Varun, please come with us.”
His stomach twisted. “What’s this about?”
“You’ll find out soon.”
Following them down a long corridor, he entered a small meeting room where suited executives sat around a table. At the center was the national sales head.
“Please, have a seat,” he said.
Varun obeyed, his pulse quickening.
“You were at the top of the list for this promotion,” the sales head began. “As part of our process, we conduct a final background check before any major promotion. Usually, it’s a formality, up until now.”
A bead of sweat rolled down Varun’s forehead.
“We’ve discovered that you’ve worked here for four years using a fake degree. Do you realize this is a criminal offense?”
Varun’s mouth went dry. “Sir, my degree may have been fake, but my dedication was real! I’ve given everything to this company — my hard work, my passion. Can’t we let this slide?”
The sales head sighed. “Varun, you can’t build a skyscraper on a weak foundation. Integrity is everything. That being said, we won’t press charges — we don’t want the scandal. But your employment with us ends today.”
Varun’s mind reeled. “What about my experience certificate? My final settlement?”
A dry laugh escaped the sales head’s lips. “You want a certificate for cheating us? Your relationship with this company is over. Walk away now.”
Varun seethed. “This isn’t fair! I’ve brought in millions in sales. You can’t just discard me like this. I’ll take this to court.”
The company lawyer smirked. “Go ahead. Waste your money. You’re the criminal here, not us. Now, hand over the car keys.”
Defeated, Varun slid the keys across the table. The metal jingled as they left his fingers, carrying away his years of effort. Tears welled in his eyes as he walked out into the night, his future crumbling around him.
His phone rang — it was his mother. Guilt struck him harder than ever. What was he going to tell her?
A New Beginning
Varun vacated his apartment within days. Job prospects looked bleak without a valid degree. With nowhere else to go, he boarded a bus to his hometown. His mother welcomed him warmly, serving his favourite meal. Her kindness shattered him.
Overwhelmed, he confessed everything.
To his surprise, she simply said, “You did wrong, and you paid the price. But this isn’t the end. First, correct your mistake. Get that degree. Worry about a job later.”
“But how? We have no money.”
She smiled. “I saved most of what you sent me. Use it to study. Do it the right way this time.”
Varun broke down, hugging her tightly. “I’ll fix this.”
For the next few months, he poured his soul into preparing for his arrear exams. Returning to studying after years was hard, but he persevered. On the day of his exam, he caught an early morning bus to the city, revising his notes.
Then, tragedy struck.
A reckless car swerved in front of the bus. The driver lost control, and the bus careened off the road into a ditch. Screams filled the air. Varun’s head slammed against the seat. Blood trickled onto his book, staining his notes in crimson.
Redemption
Months later, a well-dressed young man entered a flower shop, picked up a bouquet, and walked to the counter. Behind it sat Varun, carefully keying in the billing details. He handed over the bouquet with a smile.
As the man left, Varun reached for his book under the counter and resumed studying.
His life was far from perfect, but the weight of his lies was gone. He was leading an honest life now — one filled with hope for a future he could truly earn.
