The saying, “A friend in need is a friend indeed” is relevant to only those situations when both the friends pursue the goals with justifiable means. I read an interesting story written by O. Henry entitle “After twenty years”. Two boyhood chums, Bob and Jimmy, decide to pursue their dream careers and decide to meet at Big Joe Brady’s Restaurant. Jimmy becomes a policeman and Bob a criminal and notorious robber. Jimmy recognizes the features of the most wanted criminal by Chicago police in Bob. The friend’s need is to help him escape but duty consciousness gives him painful choice of sending a plain clothes man to arrest him. So, the saying “A friend in need is a friend indeed” is not applicable at all occasions. When there is a debate with the conscience on moral grounds and professional ethics, one can’t continue to be a friend “in need”.
