The Most Beautiful Story
The courtiers in King Akbar’s court were always making plans to remove Birbal from the favored position he held. One day one of the courtiers went to Hussain Khan, King Akbar’s brother-in-law, and said, “You are the Queen’s brother. Being the King’s brother-in-law, you must hold the post that Birbal occupies.”
“Oh, that’s impossible. I can’t do anything about it,” said Hussain Khan helplessly.
“Why not? Just ask your sister to put in a word for you. The King can never turn down the Queen’s request.”
Hussain Khan agreed. He went to the Queen and asked her to put in a word for him. That evening when King Akbar came to meet the Queen, she was not in a good mood.
King Akbar said, “Begum, something is surely bothering you. What’s the matter ?”
The Queen said, “I want my brother Hussain to get the post that Birbal holds.”
King Akbar said, “I can’t give him that post Begum. Hussain Khan is foolish and stubborn. One needs the intelligence of Birbal to help in the royal administration. Furthermore, I have no reason to dismiss Birbal.”
The Queen said, “I have a plan. Tomorrow evening you must ask Birbal to fetch me in the royal garden for a stroll with you. I will refuse and when he won’t be able to persuade me, then you can dismiss him in anger.”
King Akbar agreed. The next evening he called Birbal into the garden and said, “Begum Sahiba is angry with me. Can you go and ask her to join me for a stroll here? You must try to please her. If you don’t bring her here, then I will dismiss you. I’ll give your post to my brother-in-law, Hussain Khan.”
Birbal realized that it was a plan to remove him. After making a plan, he went into the Queen’s chamber and said, “Her Majesty, the King has asked you to join him for a ”
As Birbal was speaking, a servant came and whispered something in his ears. The Queen could not hear all of it. She only heard three words….The most beautiful.”
Then Birbal turned to the Queen and said, “Sorry, Your Majesty, the plan is changed now,” and then Birbal took his leave.
The Queen got worried. She thought, “The servant said something about “the most beautiful’ and then Birbal stopped requesting me to go into the garden. Oh, my God, has the King found some beautiful woman for company! Maybe that’s why Birbal talked of a changed plan as I was not needed any longer.”
Seething in jealousy, the Queen rushed to the royal garden. There she saw the King waiting for her alone. Seeing her, King Akbar said, “Begum, you had said that you’ll not heed Birbal’s words. That’s why you were not supposed to come here. Now you’ve lost the challenge. Tell me what made you come to the garden anyway?”
The Queen had no answer to give. Clever Birbal had used his plan to secure his position once more. The Queen could not tell anything to the King out of embarrassment.