The Portrait

One day, Fazalji, the royal painter, went to Birbal. He said, “Please help me.” Birbal asked, “What happened?” Fazalji replied, “Liaqat Ali asked me for a portrait. I spent a day painting his picture. He had a beard and a moustache then. But the next day, Liaqat Ali refused to accept it. He had shaved off his beard and said the painting did not look exactly like him. I had to paint another portrait of him without the beard. But now he has shaved his moustache and refuses to accept it.” Birbal whispered his plan in Fazalji’s ear. Fazalji met Liaqat Ali and gave him a package and said, “Your portrait is ready.” Liaqat Ali opened the package and found a mirror. “Where is my painting?” he fumed. “Only a mirror can fulfil your ever-changing demands,” he said. Liaqat Ali realised his mistake. He paid Fazalji’s for all the portraits.