Emperor Akbar was very fond of paan, especially Shaukat Ali's paan, his official paanwallah . A short, stout man, Shaukat Ali knew the art of choosing the best betel leaves, lining it with a thin coat of lime, topping it with the right amount of arecanut, minced tobacco and cardamom, and rolling up the best paan . The emperor simply loved him for his perfect paan , so much so that Shaukat Ali went wherever the emperor did.
Till one day, when the thin coat of lime got thicker, went unnoticed, and was served to the emperor. The emperor had hardly taken a bite and his tongue was on fire. His face contorted with rage, his nostrils flared and his eyes were bloodshot. He glared at Shaukat Ali, spat the paan at his face and screamed, "You wretch, your paan burnt my tongue. And you claim to be the best paan maker!"
Shaukat Ali shivered with fright. "Shaukat" the emperor sounded a little less harsh, "go and get a bag full of the best lime immediately." Relieved, that he was not sent to prison, he scurried off taking along an empty bag. He thanked his stars that his execution had not been ordered. He went to the shop and asked for a bag full of lime. "What for" What do you plan to do with it" asked the shopkeeper. "I have no clue, the emperor has ordered me, "said a shivering Shaukat Ali."Oh, the emperor, his command shouldn"t be disobeyed,? said Mahesh Das (Birbal) who was standing near the shop. "But why a bag full of lime" Has he ever made such a strange request earlier" asked Mahesh Das. "Never," replied Shaukat.
Mahesh Das tapped him on the shoulder, as he got ready to leave and said, "I've a piece of advice for you," "Make it snappy," Shaukat Ali said. He wasn't keen on the advice but decided to hear him out. Before you appear at the Royal Court , drink a big bowl of ghee,' Mahesh Das said. "Can't you see my potbelly, I am trying to reduce weight and you are asking me to drink a bowl of ghee. What for" Shaukat asked angrily. The shopkeeper intervened and said that he would take Mahesh's advice without thinking twice. Shaukat paid for the lime and left.
At home, Shaukat decided to follow Birbal?s advice and asked for a bowl of ghee. His wife fumed and fretted but finally gave into his request. He drank the ghee and rushed to the court with the bag full of lime. On reaching the court, he placed the bag of lime in front of the emperor.
Akbar asked the guards to take Shaukat out and make him eat the bag full of lime at one go. "Save me dear emperor, I will die if I have all that lime," Shaukat Ali burst into tears. "You deserve it," the emperor turned his face away.
The guard dragged Shaukat Ali to the courtyard. "Start eating," he said, feeling quite sorry. Reluctantly, Shaukat Ali started eating the lime. His stomach started rumbling. He ate and retched; and he retched and ate till no more lime was left. He felt terribly sick but was alive.
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