I joined the army in 1942 and retired in 1968 as a full Colonel. During my army life, I had no idea whatsoever of the civil life. I had a happy living with no financial worry because my monthly salary was good enough for sustenance. As a matter of fact, money had no value for me at that time. During my service, I held many lucrative jobs where I could have made a lot of money legitimately but I missed the bus being a fool. During the World War-II, I was in Burma and Indo-China where I had many chances of making money but I did not. It was only when I retired in 1968 that rough realities of civil life hit me with full force. For 12 years, I had no house to keep the family. I was running from pillar to post to find a house or some job as I was still a robust young man when I left the army and badly needed money to make ends meet. I found a house within my budget but after a year was forcibly evicted because the house belonged to a senior CSP officer. He was such an influential officer that he took me to court, filing four cases against me. I was running from one court to the other for two months. A kind General came to my rescue and forced the officer to settle the issue out of court and even made him pay me compensation. An old man now, whenever somebody tells me that money is of no value, I cannot help but laugh at that. Money, these days, is God, believe it or not -COL (Rtd) R. M. AKHTAR, Lahore, September 17.