THE EXACT PORTRAIT
One day Birbal saw the court’s artist quite worried. Birbal knew the artist. He was a humble gentleman. Birbal asked him: “You are looking gloomy. What’s the cause?”
The artist said, “Sir, I’m really worried. One big businessman is ruining my reputation, which I have earned till now.” “What has happened?” inquired Birbal.
“One day the businessman was challenging that no artist could portray him perfectly. Hearing this, I accepted his challenge. When I finished the portrait, I visited the rich man’s house and showed the portrait to him.
But seeing the portrait, he screamed: ‘You have portrayed me in beard!’
I tried to convince him that at that time he was possessing beard. But he did not listen to me at all.”
The artist was crying. Birbal consoled him and enquired further.
The artist said, “Sir, then I asked him to give me one more chance.
He agreed. After a few days I visited his house with a new portrait, I was quiet confident this time.
But when I saw him his face had changed. As I feared, he shouted – ‘this can’t be my picture. This picture is showing moustache, whereas I don’t possess it.’ I tried to convince him that it was not my fault.
However, he declared that I failed to fulfil my challenge. I asked for one more chance. But he tricked me the next time, too. I have portrayed him five times. Now I understооd that he was an evil man.”
The artist then showed Birbal all the five portraits. All the portraits were indeed nice ones. Birbal was kind hearted man. So he decided to help the artist. He briefed the artist and went with him to the rich man’s house. Birbal remained outside the house, whereas the artist entered inside.
As soon as the rich man saw the artist, he said mockingly, “O great artist! You are here again! It seems you have come again with some of your rubbish item.”
The artist humbly replied, “Sir, I’m sure, what I’ve brought today will match with your face.” Saying so, he passed on a framed piece to him.
The rich man held it in his hand and looked at it. But it was just a mirror. He screamed angrily, “What a silly joke it is? You’ve brought just a mirror!” Then Birbal, who was standing outside and was listening to their conversation, entered. Birbal said, “Are you not happy with the mirror which is showing your exact picture? I think only mirror can depict your present face. You don’t need a portrait but a mirror, my friend.”
The rich man was very much ashamed to hear Birbal. He begged his pardon and paid the artist well.
