It was a hot afternoon. People were busy shopping in the village market. Suddenly, Sheikh came running and started shouting in the middle of the market square, “It has started, friends! It has started…” Panic-stricken people started running here and there without bothering to find out anything. They thought some sort of riots might have started among people. Shopkeepers closed their shops and vegetable vendors ran away with their carts. Soon, panic gripped the entire village. Lallan, the clever friend of Sheikh, asked him, “Hey Sheikh, what happened? Why are you shouting? Where have the riots started?” Sheikh said, “Hold on, Lallan! What sort of riots?” Lallan was surprised at Sheikh’s reaction. He asked about the riots again. To this, Sheikh replied, “No, no. No riots have started. In fact, I was shouting because the miser merchant at the corner of our street has started a new discount scheme for the benefit of the buyers. Aren’t you happy?” And so saying, Sheikh calmly walked off from the scene, leaving Lallan and the others dumbfounded.
Panicky Sheikh
