Honesty Is the Best Policy

In the small town of Maplewood, nestled between hills and rivers, lived a 14-year-old boy named Arman. He was like any other school-going child—curious, energetic, and sometimes mischievous. His family was not rich, but they were proud, living in a modest home where values were taught before wealth.

One bright Saturday morning, Arman set out to buy groceries for his mother. On the way, he took a shortcut through the town park. Birds chirped in the trees, children played on swings, and old men read newspapers under the sun. As he walked past a bench, something shiny near the bushes caught his eye. Curious, Arman moved closer and found a black leather wallet lying half-hidden in the grass.

He picked it up and opened it. Inside were several crisp currency notes, a few cards, and an ID. His heart skipped a beat—there was over 15,000 rupees inside! It was more money than he had ever seen in one place. For a moment, he looked around. The park was nearly empty. No one seemed to be searching for anything.

A battle began in Arman’s heart.

"I could keep it," he thought. "No one saw me. I could buy new shoes, school supplies, or even help Amma with house repairs. We really need the money."

But then another voice spoke inside him—quieter, but firmer. It was the voice of his father, who had passed away two years ago. “Arman,” he used to say, “we may not have much, but we have our honor. Always choose truth. Even when it's hard.”

Arman clenched the wallet and took a deep breath. He looked again at the ID card. The name read “Mr. Altaf Hussain,” and the address mentioned was just a few streets away. Without further delay, Arman turned and walked in that direction.

After a ten-minute walk, he reached a large white house with a nameplate that read "Altaf Hussain, Retired Bank Manager." He rang the bell. A maid answered the door, and Arman introduced himself and explained the situation.

Within minutes, an elderly man with graying hair and kind eyes came to the door. “Yes, I am Altaf Hussain,” he said, surprised.

Arman extended the wallet. “Sir, I found this in the park near the bench. I believe it belongs to you.”

The man took the wallet with trembling hands. “Ya Allah!” he exclaimed. “I’ve been looking everywhere! I thought it was lost forever.” He opened it, counted the money, and checked the cards. “Everything is intact. Beta, what is your name?”

“Arman, sir.”

“Arman, you’ve done something very rare today. Most people wouldn’t return a wallet with this much cash. You could have kept it, and no one would ever know. But you chose honesty.”

Arman smiled shyly. “My father always said honesty is the best policy. I just did what he would have done.”

The old man’s eyes welled up. “I want to reward you. Please take some money from this.”

But Arman shook his head. “No thank you, sir. I didn’t do it for a reward.”

Mr. Altaf nodded. “At least allow me to speak with your mother.”

That evening, Mr. Altaf visited Arman’s house. He spoke to Arman's mother about what had happened and praised Arman’s honesty. Then he said something that shocked them both.

“I run a small educational trust for deserving students. Arman has shown values that can’t be taught in books. I’d like to sponsor his education until university.”

Tears filled Arman's mother's eyes. “This is too generous, sir,” she whispered.

“No,” he replied, “it is just. Honesty must be rewarded, and the world needs more people like your son.”

From that day on, Arman’s life changed. He went to the best schools, received scholarships, and eventually became a civil servant known for his integrity. Years later, whenever anyone asked him what the turning point of his life was, he would smile and say:

“It all started with a wallet in the park and a choice between what’s easy and what’s right.”

He always ended with the same sentence his father had once told him:

“Honesty is the best policy—not because it is easy, but because it builds a life worth living.”


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Moral: Even when no one is watching, doing the right thing can open doors you never imagined. Honesty doesn’t just reward others—it builds the foundation of your own future.