The Pink Pouch

The Pink Pouch

One day, a poor man was walking by the marketplace, when he saw a pink pouch lying on the ground. There were a hundred gold coins in it. Just then, a man shouted, “Has anyone found my pouch? Whoever returns it shall be rewarded.” The poor man gave him the pouch. The rich man counted it and was about to leave, when the poor man said, “Sir, where’s my reward?” The rich man said, “What reward? You’ve taken your share. There were two hundred gold coins in my pouch. But now there are a hundred gold coins.” The poor man said, “Sir! I am poor, but I am not a thief.” Birbal was passing by. He asked, “What happened?” After the rich man had related the incident, Birbal told him, “Your pouch had two hundred gold coins. This pouch isn’t yours, since it has only a hundred coins.” Birbal gave the pouch to the poor man.