AKB-BIR11-TheChildsCry

AKB-BIR11-TheBaby’sCry 1. Some sycophantic yes-men were always at Akbar’s side agreeing with whatever he said. Birbal wondered whether theses yes-men were Akbar’s minions or tail-wagging dogs. One day, Birbal told them what he had on his mind about them for a long time. Anger seized them. ''What audacity! How dare you called us dogs? You must seek forgiveness from us.'' They were boiling with anger. 2. Birbal asked them, ''Why can’t I call you dogs?'' They retorted, ''We are men with intelligence.'' Birbal continued his characterization saying, ''That I can see!'' They pleaded with him, ''Why then you call us dogs?'' Birbal sharpened his criticism with his biting remarks, ''Why cannot I call you dogs?'' They said, ''We are men with six senses.'' Birbal undercut them by saying, ''That I can see.'' They said, ''If that is so, why do you call us dogs?'' Birbal: ''My mistake. Dogs have tails. You don’t.'' The minions: ''Control your tongue.'' They were becoming increasingly angry. Birbal: ''You are jumping up and down, seized with anger. I did not tell any falsehood. You do not have any courage. You are cowards. Is it wrong?'' One sycophantic minion: ''OK. Drop it. We will never be cowards. Are you any better than us? Are you bold? '' Birbal beat his chest and said, ''Yes. Where is the doubt? How could I ever prove my courage to you? Tell me now.'' One sycophant: ''Could you arrive at the Durbar late without prior permission? '' That all must arrive at the Durbar before Akbar’s arrival was Akbar’s standing order. Akbar was used to taking severe action against the late comers. Birbal knew about it. Birbal did not want to back down and said, ''I will arrive late without prior permission.'' 3. The sycophants left the premises happily thinking that the emperor would impose severe punishment to Birbal next day. Next day, when the sycophants entered the Durbar, everyone was there except Birbal. Everyone stood up upon entry of the emperor. Akbar sat on his throne and realized Birbal was missing in his seat. Akbar addressed the assembled people, and said, ''Why is not Birbal here? Did he send any prior note? One member of the assembly stood up and said, ''No Prabhu!'' Akbar ordered, ''Birbal did not arrive at the Durbar, and did not send any information. Send an official to fetch him.'' The messenger returned a short while later. 4. The messenger said, ''Prabhu! His child is crying incessantly. After pacifying the child, he said he will show up in the Durbar.'' Akbar observed, ''What audacity for Birbal to send such a reply. The intelligent Birbal is unable to pacify a crying child. It does not sound believable.'' Akbar in a fit of anger said, ''Birbal must report here immediately. Let him know of my order to him. If he gives any excuses, tie him up and bring him here.'' As Akbar was pronouncing his order with anger, Birbal entered the Durbar in great haste. Akbar took a stern look at him from head to toe. 5. Birbal addressed Akbar, ''Forgive me Prabhu! My three-year-old child is incessantly crying from this morning. I could not pacify the child. That is the reason, I could not arrive at Durbar on time. My child is still crying.'' Akbar: ''I cannot believe that you cannot placate a three-year-old child.'' Birbal: ''Please hear what I say. My child asked for sugar cane upon waking up. I bought and brought it home. The child asked me to press it and give the cane juice. I pressed the sugar cane and gave the juice in a vessel. Soon, my child spilled the juice on the floor and asked me to collect the juice from the floor and put it in the vessel. How could I do it? I told the child it was an impossible proposition. It won’t listen. That was the reason for my delay.'' He said that with great sorrow. 6. Akbar: ''You are unable to pacify a three-year-old. I appointed you as my prime minister, advisor, and confidant.'' Birbal: ''The most difficult job in the world was consoling a three-year-old child. Did you ever console a crying child? Try for once. Let me play the child.'' Akbar agreed to the experiment. Birbal lay down on the floor and like a child thrashed the feet and legs and acted as if crying. Akbar walked off the lion-throne and said, ''Don’t cry, child. Ask me what you want.'' The child: ''Ngai-Ngai. I want a gold ring.'' Birbal made the demand in a puerile voice. Akbar removed the ring from his finger and put it on Birbal’s finger. Birbal again began crying, even louder. Birbal as a child: ''I want an elephant.'' Akbar immediately brought an elephant. Birbal as a child began thrashing the hands and feet and cried. Birbal as a child, said, ''I want the elephant to go through the ring and exit.'' The child began crying again. Akbar, holding his head, said, ''I can not console you any more.'' Birbal: ''Do you understand now that it is hard to pacify a crying child.'' Hearing this, Akbar laughed hard and long and said, ''Birbal! What you say is 100% true. The sycophantic officials looked silly in their faces, though they expected punishment dealt to Birbal.