43. Hasty Reward

One fine day Birbal traveled to a far of place with his friends. On their way back to home, they came across a stream.

The bridge on the stream was old and rickety. It was flirty and narrow and was difficult to cross. Birbal somehow managed to cross the bridge but his friend got stuck in the mud and fell at the edge.

Seeing this, Birbal immediately turned tuo help him. He held out his hand to let his friend come out. Birbal succeeded in saving his friend.

The friend expressed his obligation and promised to give twenty cents to Birbal for saving his life.

Birbal said, 'Friend, thank you!' and then immediately let him go into the water again.

The man struggled hard and somehow managed to come out of the water. He was furious with what Birbal did and asked him, 'Why did you do so?'

Birbal replied, “It was to take my reward'.

The man was surprised. He said, 'You didn't even waited for me to come out safety from the water. If I would have drowned, how would you have got the reward?'

On this Birbal contended, 'Did you wait to come out of the water before promising the reward?'

Birbal's friend thanked him for the lesson he had taught him. They both returned home happily. The friend gave Birbal the reward he had promised him.