YoU aLwAyS tHrOw MuD oN yOuR fAcE

Rohan had always considered himself fortunate. He worked at Apex Corp, a place where, unusually for the corporate world, speaking your mind was not just tolerated, it was encouraged. He'd built his career on it. His honesty, his directness, his refusal to sugarcoat uncomfortable truths – these were his strengths. He’d been raised professionally in an environment where “calling a spade a spade” was a virtue, not a vice. He’d thrived.

Apex, under its previous management, had valued candor. Rohan’s insights, even when delivered bluntly, were respected. He wasn't aggressive or rude, just… truthful. If a project was flawed, he pointed it out. If a strategy was weak, he said so. And, more often than not, Apex was better for it.

Then, the inevitable happened. Management changed. A new regime swept in, bringing with it a new culture, a new language. "Synergy," "optics," and "positive messaging" became the mantras. The open forum where Rohan had flourished began to feel like a minefield.

The change was gradual at first. Subtle shifts in body language, a carefully worded email, a project subtly veering off course despite his earlier warnings. Then, it became more overt. His input was still solicited, but it was clear it wasn't truly wanted.

The first time he openly disagreed with a new initiative in a large meeting, pointing out a fundamental flaw, he was met not with debate, but with a polite, almost pitying silence. Later that day, his boss, Mr. Sharma, summoned him to his office.

Mr. Sharma's office was all sleek lines and muted colors, a stark contrast to Rohan's cluttered, functional space. The air was thick with the scent of expensive cologne. "Rohan," Mr. Sharma began, his voice smooth but firm, "we need to talk about your… communication style."

Rohan felt a knot tightening in his stomach. "I was just pointing out the potential risks—"

Mr. Sharma raised a hand, cutting him off. "I understand your… perspective. However, we're a team, Rohan. We need to project a united front. Constructive feedback is valuable, but…" He paused, a small, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips. "You always throw mud on your face, Rohan. You always throw mud on your face."

The phrase hung in the air, heavy and cloying. Rohan felt a surge of anger, quickly followed by a wave of confusion. "I’m just trying to be honest—"

"Honesty is important," Mr. Sharma interrupted, "but it’s also about presentation. We need to frame our concerns in a more… positive light. Focus on solutions, not problems."

Rohan left the office feeling disoriented. "You always throw mud on your face." The phrase echoed in his mind, a constant, irritating buzz. He knew what it meant. It wasn't about how he said things. It was about what he said. Truth, it seemed, was no longer an asset at Apex. It was a liability. And Rohan, the man who had built his career on speaking it, now faced a stark choice: adapt and survive, or stay true to himself and risk being sidelined.

The air in Mr. Sharma's office was thick with expensive cologne and unspoken disapproval. Rohan knew he was in trouble. His honesty had finally caught up with him.

Rohan is unaware that the company's fundamental values, its "DNA," have shifted. He's simply doing what he's always done.

Was Rohan right to continue speaking his mind, or was his boss rigRohan is unaware that the company's fundamental values, its "DNA," have shifted. He's simply doing what he's always done.

Was Rohan right to continue speaking his mind, or was his boss right in telling him to change his approach? Let us know what you think in the comments below!ht in telling him to change his approach? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

Vikram Malhotra Shivansh Bhatnagar Ashish Kumar Misra VAIBHAV CHAUHAN Naveen Pathela Paramvir Singh Kaushal Kanani Prabhash Khamesra Dr. Vijayta Taneja Sandeep Tandon Nikhil Mukherjee Vikas Vashist Jitesh Goel Parminder Singh Saini Ashish Singh, SCG Azhar Hussain Contractor Amit Gujral Giriraj S Prihana Bhasin