INCOMPLETE PAINTINGS

One day, a painter came to the court of Emperor Akbar. He said to the emperor,”Your Majesty, I am a painter and have come from a distant country.”

Emperor Akbar asked the painter to draw a painting. For a few days, the painter was busy in painting a portrait of a woman. Then he went to Emperor Akbar and asked him to have a look at his masterpiece.

Emperor Akbar, Birbal and some courtiers went to see the painting made by the painter. They all praised the painter for making such a wonderful painting. But Birbal remained quiet.

When the emperor asked him the reason, he said, “Lord, look, one part of the face of the woman is missing.”

The emperor laughed and said, “Birbal, you will not understand this. It is a masterpiece. One needs to imagine the other part of the face.”

Some days after this, Akbar discussed with his courtiers that he was searching for a painter who could paint pictures for his new palace. Birbal said that he could do the job, as he had practiced this art a lot and had become an expert painter. Akbar gave the job to him.

After one month of hard work, Birbal informed Akbar that he had completed his work. Akbar and all the courtiers went to see the paintings. They were shocked to see them. In every painting, one or the other part of the body was missing.

On being asked for the reason, Birbal said, “Your Majesty, these all are master pieces. You have to imagine the missing parts of the painting.”

Akbar recalled what he had said to Birbal one month ago. He laughed heartily and embraced Birbal.