One day, Akbar said to Birbal, “Lying is bad. There are people who tell lies many times in their lives. I have neither told a lie in my life nor will I ever do so.” Birbal said, “Your Majesty, sometimes we lie to avoid hurting someone.” Akbar said, “I don’t think so. I will never lie.” After some days, Birbal told Akbar, “Your Majesty, God appeared in my house and said He wants to meet the person with the purest heart. I said it can be none other than you. Let’s go.” Akbar was pleased. He went to Birbal’s house. Birbal pointed to the place of worship and said, “There, Your Majesty.” But Akbar couldn’t see God. ‘What a shame!’ he thought. But he told Birbal that he had seen God. Birbal smiled mischievously. Akbar asked, “God didn’t appear in front of you, did He? Birbal, you made me lie!”
Little Lies
