(Based on Akbar-Birbal story)
Lazing in the Court,
one afternoon
in absence of other courtiers,
Akbar took a fancy
to put brain-teasers
instead of state affairs
to a bewildered, yet an alert Birbal,
'Birbal, you surprise me,
to all my questions you have answers.'
'Your Majesty, always I give an honest try.'
'Well then, now give a try.
What is the distance between truth and a lie?'
Not to be outwitted, the witty minister smiled,
'The distance between the eyes and the ears -
what the eyes see is truth
and what the ears hear may not be.'
'Quite right. And tell me
what the sun and the moon
can not see?'
'It is darkness, my Lord!'
'You are smart, Birbal.
Here I draw two lines of equal length.
Without rubbing any make one shorter.'
Without any hesitation
Birbal extended one of the lines
one inch longer...
'Applause...
my friend, my guide, my minister,
to each question you have right answer.
You make me feel proud and bring cheer.
You are the real gem and my proud possession.'
Birbal bowed to accept the royal admiration...
