How they met ?

Emperor Akbar loved to go hunting. Even as a child, he would run away from his lessons and his tutors in order to go riding and hunting. When he grew up, he was a better rider and a more fearless hunter than any of his courtiers. One day, chasing a tiger, Akbar and few brave soldiers rode so fast that they left all the others behind. They had gone a long distance from the royal capital at Agra and, as evening came, they realized that they were lost. They went on slowly. They were hot, dusty, and tired. Presently, they reached a place where three roads met. "Ah at last", the emperor exclaimed. Then, turning to his men, he asked, "Which way shall we go ? Which road goes to Agra ?"

The roads all looked the same. It was hard to tell which road led to Agra. The men looked at each other. Just then, a young man came walking down one of the roads. Seeing him the Emperor's men called out to him and ordered him to come forward. He did so, looking up at the richly-dressed hunters with bright eyes. "Tell us, boy", said Emperor Akbar, "which road goes to Agra?" The young man began to smile. "Huzoor, everybody knows that roads cannot move. How can this road go to Agra, or go anywhere else?" he said, and he chuckled delightedly at his own joke. There was absolute silence. The emperor stared down at the youth. His soldiers held their breath. They knew the emperor's temper. Not one of them dared to say a single word. The boy again said, "People travel, not the roads, do they?"

"No, they don't", the emperor cried suddenly and began to laugh. Nervously, his soldiers began to laugh too. The youth ignored them and continued to look up at the emperor with twinkling eyes. "What's your name?" Emperor Akbar asked the young man. "Mahesh Das", he replied. "And what is your name, Huzoor?" The emperor pulled off an enormous emerald ring which he wore on his hand. Leaning down, he gave it to the young man. "You are speaking to Akbar, Emperor of Hindustan (India)", he said. "We need fearless young men such as you at our court, Mahesh Das. Bring this ring with you when you come, and I shall recognize and remember you. And now, show us the road we must take in order to got to Agra". Mahesh Das bowed low and pointed towards the capital. The emperor turned his horse and galloped away, followed by his soldiers.

The End