THIS STORY IS ABOUT THE LEGENDS AND TALES OF GREAT EMPEROR, AKBAR AND HIS FAVOURITE COURT BIRBAL. BIRBAL IS ONE OF THE NINE GEMS OF AKBAR'S COURT AND AKBAR LOVED HIM BECAUSE OF HIS WIT AND HIS DESIRE TO HELP PEOPLE.

AN OLD WOMAN LIVED NEXT TO BIRBAL'S HOUSE. ONE DAY, BIRBAL HEARD THE SOUND OF CRYING FROM THE OLD WOMAN'S HOUSE. THE NEXT DAY, HE ASKED THE WOMAN WHAT THE MATTER WAS. SHE SAID" MY SON HAS PASSED AWAY IN A BATTLE. NOW, THERE IS NO ONE TO LOOK AFTER ME." BIRBAL TOOK PITY ON THE WOMAN AND ASKED HER," DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO OFFER TO EMPEROR?"

" I HAVE NOTHING TO EXCEPT AN OLD SWORD THAT BELONGED TO MY SON," REPLIED THE OLD WOMAN.

" GO AND GIFT THIS SWORD TO THE MAJESTY. HE WOULD GIVE SOMETHING IN RETURN," ADVISED BIRBAL.

THE WOMAN DID AS BIRBAL HAD SAID HER TO DO, SHE OFFERED THE SWORD TO AKBAR AND HE EXAMINED THE SWORD AND CAUGHT THAT THE SWORD WAS QUITE OLD AND RUSTY. H SAID ONE OF HIS SERVANTS TO GIVE THE WOMAN SOME SILVER COINS . BIRBAL KNEW THAT THESE FEW COINS WON'T BE ENOUGH FOR THAT WOMAN.

HE TOOK THE SWORD AND SAID," YOUR MAJESTY, IT IS SAID THAT WHATEVER YOU TOUCH TURNS TO GOLD BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM THAT WAY". AKBAR CAUGHT THE HINT AND SAID ONE OF HIS MEN TO WEIGH THE SWORD WITH GOLD COINS AND GIVE THE GOLD COINS TO THE OLD WOMAN. THE OLD WOMAN RETURNED HAPPILY WITH MANY GOLD COINS. AKBAR APPRECIATED BIRBAL FOR HIS INTELLIGENCE TO HELP THE OLD WOMAN.