Mullah Nazaruddin: Shifting Houses

Basheer was a high official in the Caliph's court. Every day he met the Caliph and took orders from him. He was very influential. He used his influence to make money. Soon he became very rich. 

Basheer needed to have a major house. So he purchased a huge plot of land in a close by town and fabricated a house there. It was a gigantic house with two stories and many rooms. There was a lovely nursery before the house.

Only one thing troubled Basheer. All his neighbours were poor. They were not good company for him.

On the left side of his house lived Ahmed. He was the village carpenter. He made tables and chairs, doors and windows for the villagers. Though he was poor, he was happy. He worked from morning till night. As he worked on wood, he made a lot of noise. The noise disturbed Basheer.

 

On the right side of Basheer's house lived Hameed, the village blacksmith. He made knives and spoons and shovels for the villagers. Hameed too worked the whole day. As he beat the iron into shape, there was a lot of sound. It disturbed Basheer.

"I should make these two people thove away," Basheer said to himself. Then he called Ahmed and Hameed to his house and said: "You are both my neighbours. But your houses and workspots are very small.I'll give you 1,000 coins each. You purchase one more enormous spot and shift there. You'll be more cheerful there."

 

 

"In any case, I acknowledge you should move," said Basheer raising his voice. "Think for a few days and some time later re-appearance of me.

 

Ahmed and Hameed went out. "What shall we do?" asked Ahmed. "If we don't shift he might trouble us. I've heard that he is very close to the Caliph." "Yes," said Hameed. "He might complain to the Caliph. The Caliph may put us in jail." "Let's ask Mullah Nazaruddin. He will be able to help us." "Yes," said Hameed. "He is wise. He'll tell us what to do."

 

So they went to Mullah Nazaruddin and told him about their problem.

 

Mulla Nazaruddin listened very carefully. Then he thought for sometime and said, "Don't worry. Now go to Basheer and take the money from him. Tell him that you are ready to shift." "But we don't want to shift from here," said

 

Ahmed and Hameed together.

 

"Who's asking you to shift?" said Mullah Nazaruddin. Then he whispered something in their ears. "That's a good idea," they said.

 

The next day, Ahmed and Hameed went to Basheer's house and said: "We are ready to shift tonight. Please give us the money."

 

Basheer was happy. He gave them a thousand coins each. Then he dreamed of living peacefully in his house.

 

The following morning, Basheer awakened. He was astounded to hear the uproarious sound from his area. He called his workers and said, "Bring

 

Ahmed and Hameed here right away."

 

Before long the two men showed up before him. Basheer was shaking with outrage. "You've bamboozled me," he said.

 

"You bring cash from me, how ever have not moved. I'll gripe to the Caliph and put you in jail."

 

"Yet, we have moved," said Ahmed.

 

"Indeed," said Hameed. "I've moved to Ahmed's home and he has moved to my home. Presently we are working from our new houses."

 

Ahmed and Hameed disappeared. Basheer didn't have the foggiest idea what to say.