Indian short story - Birbal’s Khichdi

Once upon a time, Birbal and Akbar decided to take a stroll alongside
a beautiful lake. When thoughts took a turn, a simple question
occurred to Birbal: How far a man can go to have money? He expressed
it to Akbar, who while listening to Birbal sat downand touched the
water in the lake. He at once took his hand outas he realized the
stabbing cold in his hand. He exclaimed that no one would ever spend a
night in this cold water for any amount ofmoney. Birbal believed that
someone could. Akbar as determined on his belief as ever challenged
Birbal to bring one such being, and he would grant that man a total of
one thousand coins made of pure gold.
Birbal started his search, and kept looking for this one man
everywhere until he found one. This happened to be a poor guy who was
desperate enough to risk a whole night of severe cold to have the gold
coins reward.
Akbar when heard the news, appointed his trusty guards to make sure
that the poor guy stays in water for the whole night. Surprisingly,
the next morning, the poor man came to Akbar after completing his
challenge, all sound and healthy, and demanded his much awaitedreward.
Akbar couldn't believe it and asked that how he managed to spend the
whole night out there. The poor man talked abouta light post that he
saw around the lake which he kept in focus allnight. He believed that
by keepinghis attention focused on lamp, hemanaged to avoid thinking
aboutcold. To his surprise, Akbar refused to give him the gold coins
as he used lamp's energy tokeep himself warm.
The poor man all disappointed and hurt, informed Birbal. Birbal didn't
make it to the court next day. When Akbar inquired, Birbal conveyed
the message that he can't make it unless his Khichdi is ready. After
waiting for several hours, Akbar along with his guards went to visit
Birbal. Birbal had a pot of khichdi hanging from the roof of the room
severalfeet away from the fire. Akbar asked Birbal that how he expects
for a fire to cook khichdi from such a distance. Birbal very
intelligently replied that the same way the poor man received warmth
from a lamp post so far away from himself. Akbar once left speechless
and had to pay thepoor man at the end.