Long, long ago there lived a wealthy businessman in Baghdad named Zakir. He lived alone in his mansion like home. He was a widower. Besides his big estate, he had gathered an immense amount of wealth in the form of gold, silver and money.
He wanted to go on a long journey and he wanted to entrust his worldly goods with someone reliable. His friend Rafeeq came to mind. Rafeeq owned a neighbourhood store. The two of them had had several business deals in the past and would often spend the evenings chatting with each other.
A year later, Zakir returned from his journey and asked Rafeeq for his valuables. Zakir was rudely shocked when Rafeeq feigned ignorance of such a thing. They argued for a while. People gathered around the disputing duo, but they could be of no help as Rafeeq had a fair reputation and Zakir had no proof.
The masterplan
A couple of days later, Zakir approached the royal court seeking the King’s intervention in the matter. After hearing the full story, the King asked Zakir to visit Rafeeq’s shop every evening. He told him that he, the King, would pass by the thoroughfare on the third day and would greet him loudly. He whispered the subsequent strategy into Zakir’s ear.
Zakir followed the king’s advice. Every evening, he would visit Rafeeq’s shop and chat with him. On the third day, the King passed by on his horse-drawn carriage. Spotting him, the King greeted him loudly, then, stepped out of the carriage and stood by him. Zakir returned the greetings, but sat unconcerned about the King’s presence.
The King patted him on the shoulders and said: “What is the matter? What happened to you? It seems you are avoiding me these days. I was so keen to learn about the accounts of your travel abroad and your mission.”
Zakir sat with a glum face and jerked his head sideways. There was no reply. At this the King left the place with his entourage. While leaving, he invited Zakir to the palace for a personal audience. Rafeeq was dumbfounded by all this. The whole thing frightened him. He thought, “Zakir is no ordinary mortal. The King spots him in a crowded bazaar, beseeches his attention, covets his company, expresses his keenness to learn about travel abroad and invites him to his palace. Yet the man, Zakir, has the temerity to respond to the King so clumsily.” Thoughts raced through his mind.
Rafeeq went home and retired for the day, sleep eluded him, as he was troubled by all that had happened. “Zakir’s intimacy with the King could be useful to me too. By cheating him, I will be losing a useful contact with the royal court. And I cannot imagine what would befall me if Zakir took the complaint to the King. I cannot escape severe retribution,” he thought.
Next morning, Rafeeq was at Zakir’s door with the casket containing the valuables. He returned the valuables and with folded hands, he asked for Zakir’s pardon and pleaded with him not to utter a word about the incident to the King.
The trick had worked. Zakir appeared at the royal court the next day, thanked His Majesty for the invaluable help in redeeming his life’s savings and praised him for his ingenuity.
