TWO HANDFUL OF COLD

It was very cold in Delhi. People were shivering with cold. They would wear woollen clothes at the time of going out.

One evening, Emperor Akbar and Birbal were roaming in the city in disguise. Suddenly, the Emperor asked Birbal, “How cold is it today?”

Birbal was surprised. At that time, no device had been invented to measure temperature. Birbal thought what answer to give to the emperor.

Suddenly, Birbal’s eyes fell on an old man who was sitting on the roadside. He was sitting with clinched fists because of extreme cold. He quickly said, ” Lord, it is two handful of cold.”

On hearing the answer, the emperor was surprised. He asked, “How can you say that?”

Birbal pointed at the old man who was sitting with his two fists clinched. The emperor stared at Birbal and smiled at him.