Once, Mulla Nasruddin saw a precious ring lying on the street. “What a good paymaster Allah is!” he said as he picked it up. But the law of Bukhara said that if anyone found an unclaimed article, he must announce thrice asking if anyone had lost that article. If no one claimed it even after three announcements, the finder could keep it. Mulla wondered, ‘How can I complete the legal formality without parting with the ring?’ So, late that evening when people had returned home, he whispered, “Has anyone lost this ring?” No one was looking at him as expected and he went home, satisfied that one announcement was done. At midnight, when everyone was asleep, Mulla made another announcement and went home satisfied. Then, he rose up at dawn and made the third announcement. A few people heard him and asked, “What is it?” “Folks, isn’t it cute?” he said and walked into his house, happy with himself.
The Cute Ring
