No Word

Sheikh Chilli’s father-in-law once complained about Sheikh’s strange behaviour when he had run away from their place just as his wife entered his room. Sheikh’s mother and her brother decided to set things right. She instructed Sheikh to stay quiet when he met his in-laws. “Say no word”, she said. Her brother repeated, “Say no word, Sheikhu.” Sheikh’s mother and uncle apologised many times for what Sheikh had done. His father-in-law accepted the apology. While returning, he asked Sheikh to promise that he would never hurt his daughter’s feelings now. “Do you give your word, son?” he asked. Sheikh said, “No word.” The bewildered man, asked again, “No word?” “No word”, Sheikh stated emphatically. His father-in-law went back alone, in anger. On returning home, his shocked mother and uncle glared at Sheikh, who said, “You told me to say ‘no word’.” Poor Sheikh Chilli did not understand what he had done now!