Nailing Down The Truth

One day, Emperor Akbar was holding court. A merchant, who owned a major outlet for ghee , entered."Who are you and what brings you here the emperor asked."

"Shahenshah (emperor), I'm Madhusudan Pande. I sell ghee. A month back, one of my friends, Aslam Khan, who also owns a ghee shop, approached me for a loan. He said he had run short of cash and promised to return the amount in a fortnight. But he has not returned the money I lent him."What is more, he now claims that he had never taken any loan from me!" said the merchant.

"Did you take a receipt for the amount lent the emperor asked."No, Alampana (emperor) I trusted him," said the merchant."So it is your word against his. I can only say that if you have spoken the truth, you will get back your money," said the emperor, signaling that the merchant should leave.
 After the merchant left the court, the emperor turned to Birbal and asked him to look into the matter. Following the emperor's orders, Birbal went to Aslam Khan's house."Aslam Khan, I have received a complaint against you," said Birbal and he narrated the nature of the complaint. Without any hesitation, Aslam Khan declared himself to be innocent. 

"Why should I borrow money from Pande? I have enough landed property, a house of my own, and make a good profit from my business. Why should I borrow money? He is lying," he said.

 â€œWell,” said Birbal in an unconcerned voice, “Let”s forget all this, I have a favour to ask of you”. Aslam Khan smiled triumphantly and encouraged Birbal to go on. “A month ago, I sent word to a friend in my village to send me a tin of pure ghee. He has sent me two. I don”t know what to do with the second tin. Ghee is tasty only when fresh, can you sell it for me and give me the cash asked Birbal. Aslam Khan agreed at once and Birbal parted with a smile on his face.
Next day, Birbal called on Madhusudan Pande and repeated the same request that he had made to Aslam Khan. Like the former, the latter too agreed to sell the tin of ghee and give Birbal the cash. The tins of ghee were delivered to the two merchants at noon on that very day. Birbal was watering the garden, when Madhusudan Pande rushed to his house.