THE RIGHT CHOICE

After the queen had failed in making Hussain Khan a minister in the court, Hussain asked two of his loyal men to go and speak to Akbar in his favor.

They went to Akbar and said, "Your Majesty, please appoint Hussain Khan as the minister in Birbal's place."

Akbar replied, "Birbal is very clever and the most competent of all my ministers."

As the courtier's insisted, Akbar thought, "These people are adamant and might harm Birbal. I must put an end to this once and for all."

The next day in te court, Akbar said, "Hussain Khan and Bribal, come here."

Both came and bowed before Akbar and stood silently in front of him. Hussain Khan was happy because he thought that Akbar would now dismiss Birbal and appoints him instead.

But Akbar said, "This is a sealed letter that both of you will not open at all. You both have to go to Burma at once and give it to the King of Burma."

Both Birbal and Hussain Khan did not know what Akbar actually wanted but they could not refuse.

After a long and tiring journey, they reached the palace of the King of Burma. The guards on duty escorted them to the king.

When they met the king, they paid their respects to him and handed him the sealed letter from Akbar.

The king read the letter and said to his trusted minister, "See that they are put up in comfortable rooms but keep a close watch on them. They should not be able to escape."

As Birbal and Hussain Khan left the court the king said to his other ministers, Emperor Akbar wants me to hang these two men on a full moon night. I don't understand? Why were they sent here?"

A minister said, "Maybe they are important men and the Emperor did not want his people to know that they were to be killed for the fear of a rebellion."

The king said, "We must find out more about them before hanging them."

Meanwhile, Birbal began to feel uneasy. He talked to Hussain Khan and said, "I think we are in danger. Something is wrong. Will you forget that I am your enemy so that we can save ourselves?"

"Yes Birbal. I can see the guards guarding us as if we were criminals. But what can we do? I am too scared to think. You are wise and clever. Do something."

Birbal thought and said, "I will try my best. You must repeat what I say so that both of us say the same thing."

Then a minister came to see them and said, "One of you is Birbal and the other, Hussain Khan. In his letter, Emperor Akbar has asked us to hang you both on the night of the full moon."

"What! Cried Hussain Khan with fear.

But Birbal said, "Our Emperor is great. Please do what he says."

Hussain Khan remembered to repeat, "Yes, please hang us on the full moon night as our Emperor wishes."

The king and the ministers of Burma were surprised at the way Birbal and Hussain Khan took the news of their own death. Burmese were worried.

The king said, "Something is wrong in the way these two are prepared to die. But if we don't hang them, then Emperor Akbar will be angry with us."

A day before the full moon night, Birbal said, "Let us decide as to what we should do tomorrow when they take us for hanging. It will not help if we fear. Just let us think of a way out."