The Loan of Laughter

There was once a notoriously stingy man who regularly visited Emperor Akbar’s court. Though wealthy, he was known for never sharing a coin, a smile, or even a kind word. He carried himself with pride, but joy seemed to avoid him and he never laughed.

One day, while attending a court session filled with amusing tales and witty exchanges, the man unexpectedly burst into laughter at one of Birbal’s clever jokes. The entire court turned to him in surprise it was the first time anyone had seen him genuinely laugh.

Without missing a beat, Birbal walked over and extended his hand.

The miser looked puzzled. “What do you want?”

“To be paid,” Birbal said cheerfully. “You’ve just taken something rare from yourself joy. And since you never give it freely, surely it's worth something.”

The man replied, “But laughter is free!”

Birbal smiled. “Then why do you guard it more fiercely than your gold? When a man gives so little of something so light, it becomes more precious than silver.”

The court chuckled, and even Emperor Akbar nodded in agreement.

The miser, embarrassed but enlightened, offered a few coins with a smile perhaps for the first time, freely given.

Moral: The stingy lose more than wealth they miss the riches of joy and sharing.