Birbal was admired by Akbar for his wit, intellect and great presence of mind. Due to this, many courtiers envied Birbal. They more than often disputed and counter argued what Birbal affirmed. Once the courtiers got together and conspired against Birbal.
The courtiers decided to make Akbar addicted to story listening. Thus they took turns and recited various stories to Akbar. The stories had several twists and turn. They had drama, mystery, romance which made them very interesting. The courtiers sometimes looped one story into another before concluding them. Soon Akbar's entire attention was caught in story listening. He isolated himself from most of the routine tasks for dedicatedly listening to the stories.
Now the courtiers decided to push Birbal into the web of story telling. So next day, after concluding the story, the courtier who had been narrating a story to Akbar said, 'My Majesty, story listening is enchanting. It is pleasing and engaging especially if the story teller is good. I am sure that you favorite Birbal hold great intellectual ability to narrate good stories to you. Also, because Birbal is so close to you, you can spend a good time with him listening to his stories. Birbal is well read and sure would have many untold stories to narrate'.
Akbar was convinced. He asked the courtier to send Birbal to his chamber.
One day, King Akbar decided to listen to the stories of Birbal. Now, Birbal was caught in a vicious web. He hardly knew any story. Still the royal orders could not be violated. Birbal started narrating some of the stories that he knew.
Akbar listened to the stories with closed eyes and at some intervals of time, he said ‘and then . . .’ as if urging to narrate more stories. Birbal understood that this cycle of ‘and then . . .’ would never come to an end. Therefore, he started narrating peculiar story.
The story went like this ...
Once there lived a farmer. He was very hard working. He worked all day through to get good harvest, but when the harvest was ready, the birds came and pecked at it. A major part of the yield was consumed by the birds and the poor farmer could do nothing. He was very sad and went to his friend and told him about his problem. Birbal paused for a while. But Akbar was too eager to know what happened next in the story. So he asked with his eyes closed, 'and then...'.
Birbal continued ...
The friend suggested, 'You can protect your harvest from birds by storing it in a granary. Get a granary built near your farm, and place all the stacks with the produce safely inside it'.
The farmer was pleased to hear the idea. He went back and got a granary constructed near his farm. It was made of very strong bricks and cement and was guarded by large wooden doors. It was rodent and pest proof and not even a worm would enter it.
That day when the hungry sparrows came to the farm, they found no grain. They chirped loudly in hunger and anger. They found no grain to eat, and fed on worms that day. After returning to their nests, they assembled in the evening to discuss about their need for food and how to source it. They were in a fix and were unable to think of a way out. Birbal paused for a while. Akbar who had even pleasingly listening, adjusted himself against the cushion and affirmed, 'and then...'.
Birbal swallowed his anger. He was now more eager to end his loop of stories. So he continued, 'My Majesty, the birds were in a fix. They assembled and discussed'.
One of the little sparrow cried in rage, 'We are creatures of nature. We have the right to eat what nature gives. Why has this farmer locked the food grains in the granary?'
Hearing this, one of the elderly sparrows chirped, 'Calm down dear. We will find a way to access the granary. After all, we need food for ourselves and our little ones'. All sparrows chirped in agreement.
The old sparrow continued, 'Under this tree, there is a mouse hole. I often see the mouse coming and going out of the hole. We can take his help to make a hole in granary door. We can then enter the granary through the hole to feed ourselves'.
All sparrows liked the idea. They nodded in agreement. Some of the elderly sparrows went to the mouse and told him about their plea. They asked him to crave a hole in a granary door. But the mouse feared that the farmer would harm him. So the birds asked him to work during the night hours. The mouse agreed.
During the late hours of night, the mouse went to the granary and quietly carved a hole in the door.
'And then ....', asked Akbar.
Birbal now fished the twist in the story -
'My Majesty, the first sparrow entered the granary. She ate and ate until she was full and then came out'.
“And then,” Akbar asked again.
'Then the second little sparrow went inside the granary. She ate and satisfied her hunger. Then she returned', continued Birbal.
'And then', interrupted Akbar.
Now Birbal spoke in an elevated tone, 'My Majesty, now you will be surprised to hear what happened!'
Akbar opened his eyes, to gain full excitement of the story.
Birbal pepped, 'Now the third sparrow got us chance and went inside the granary. She ate well, burped and then flew out. And then the little fourth sparrow...'
Before Birbal could say further, Akbar interrupted him and said, 'Birbal, what is this loop? You are trying to engage me with repetitive thing. Why is the story not proceeding any further?'
Birbal spoke in a humble tone, 'My Majesty, there were about nine hundred sparrows. I should tell you about each of them, only then can the story go further'.
Akbar looked in surprise and said, 'No Birbal, but cannot sit behind and listen about each of those nine hundred sparrows. If your story has to tell about all those nine hundred sparrows, I am sorry but I cannot afford to listen it. You may go now'.
Birbal got the answer he had been waiting for. The loop of stories came to an end by the emperor's will and Birbal's wit. Birbal happily left the emperor's chamber and returned to his home.
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