The List of fools Akbar Birbal Best Short Story
Emperor Akbar sometimes demanded strange things. One day he gave a bizarre order, “Birbal! Get me the four greatest fools of our city. You are given one week’s time for this.” Birbal bowed respectfully and said, “It is easy my Lord! I will soon present before you, four greatest fools of the city.”
Birbal left the palace to carry out the emperor’s order. As he was riding his horse, he saw a strange scene. A man, who was riding a horse, had kept a bundle of wood on his head instead of putting it on his horse’s back.
Birbal stopped him and asked, “Why are you carrying that weight on your head instead of keeping it on your horse?” The rider replied, “Sir, my horse is old and weak. He won’t be able to carry such a heavy weight. I am carrying it on my head instead of burdening the poor creature.”
“Who else would be a greater fool than this man”, Birbal thought. He said to him, “Come with me. I will get you a new stronger horse.” The man shouted, “Don’t do this! For God’s sake, don’t touch my hands.” “Are you in trouble?” Birbal asked.
” No, not at all. The thing is that my wife has asked me to get a vessel of this size. I would lose the measurements if my hands were touched. My wife is very hot-tempered. She would taunt upon me for the rest of my life.” What a fool he is, Birbal thought.
He said to the man, “Put your hands down and come with me. I will get you vessels of all sizes possible.” He then took both of them to Akbar’s court and explained their acts of foolishness. Then he told the Emperor about the two of them.
Akbar asked, “These are just two in number. I had asked you to get four of them?” “My Lord, all four are present here”, Birbal said. “But where are the remaining two?” Akbar asked. “Pardon me Lord, the remaining two are none but both of us.
We two are the greatest fools of them all. You, for giving me such a bizarre order and I, for tirelessly working to fulfill it”, Birbal said smilingly. Laughter broke out in the court room with emperor Akbar being the loudest of them all.