Akbar was very
fond of hunting. One day when Akbar went for hunting, he and some of
his courtiers went so fast that they left the others behind. As the
evening fell, everybody got very hungry and thirsty. They then found
that they had lost their way and now did not know where to go.
At last they came to a junction of three roads. King was very happy to
see the roads that now he could reach his capital through one of these
roads, but which road was to go to his capital - Agra. They were all
thinking about it and could not decide it. In the mean time they saw a
young boy coming along one road. The boy was summoned and Akbar asked
him, " Hey young boy! Which road goes to Agra? " The boy
smiled and spoke, " Huzoor! everybody knows that road cannot move
so how these roads can go to Agra or anywhere else? " and laughed
at his own joke.
Everybody was silent, didn't say a word. The boy said again, "
People travel, not the roads. Do they? " Emperor laughed at this
and said, " No, you are right. " The Emperor asked him,
" What is your name, young boy?" "Mahesh Das" The
boy replied and asked the Emperor, "And who are you Huzoor? What
is your name?" The Emperor took out his ring and gave it to the
boy. "You are talking to Emperor Akbar - the King of Hindustan
(India). We need feerless people like you. You come to the court, with
this ring I will recognize you immediately. Now tell me the way to get
to Agra. We have to reach there soon?"
Mahesh Das pointed towards the road going to Agra, and the King headed
on that road.
That is how the Emperor Akbar met the future Birbal.
