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Eleven years old!

Alter Idem turns 11 today... and that means, story time! 

 It was a very cold, wintery morning, and, Akbar and Birbal were walking by the river. On a sudden whim, Akbar announced a huge reward to anyone who would spend an entire night standing in the river, neck deep in water.

 The biting cold deterred all except an extremely poor man, with a large family (let's call him 'Bechara'). Seeing his best opportunity to change his life forever, Bechara decided to take up the challenge. 

 After completing the challenge successfully, the winner was taken by the referees to Akbar's court to collect the reward. Jealous acquaintances thwarted the reward by telling Akbar that the lamps from the buildings nearby would have kept Bechara warm. The dejected Bechara rushed to Birbal for help.... 

 The next day, Birbal invited Akbar and the jealous acquaintances for lunch. An hour past lunch time, the invited guests began to get restless about the lunch not being served. Apologising for being late, Birbal led them to the place where the khichdi for the lunch was being cooked.

 A merry fire was burning in the ground, and a pot with ingredients for the khichdi was tied to a pole a few metres above the fire. Aghast and angry, the guests asked Birbal if he expected the khichdi to be cooked in a pot that didn't touch the fire. 

Birbal responded that if lamps several yards away could lend warmth, so could a fire a few metres away, cook a dish. Akbar saw the error in his judgement and immediately arranged for Bechara's reward. And, I hope Birbal pacified his guests with sumptuous food that should have been waiting in the kitchen!
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  1. Yamini16 November, 2020

    Did a cold, wintery morning remind you of this story? ;)
    Happy birthday, Alter Idem!

    ReplyDelete

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