Akbar had a special cupboard. Whoever touched the cupboard would get stuck to it. One day, Akbar called Birbal and said, “Please get me an apple from that cupboard.” When Birbal touched the cupboard, he got stuck. Try as he might, he couldn’t free himself. Then onwards, Akbar often teased Birbal. He would ask, “How was the ghost of the apple?” One day, when Akbar went hunting, Birbal hid in the forest. As luck would have it, Akbar got separated from his soldiers. Suddenly, a ghost appeared in front of him. Akbar fainted. Akbar’s soldiers found him and took him to the palace. Akbar did not breathe a word about the incident. The next time when Akbar teased Birbal, “How was the ghost of the apple?” Birbal asked, “How was the ghost of the forest?” Akbar realised that Birbal had scared him in the forest. He never teased Birbal again.
Tit for Tat
