One evening, a strange complaint came from the palace kitchen. The cook said, “Your Majesty, for the last three days, sweet dishes have been disappearing from the kitchen every night. The locks are in place, guards are present, yet the things vanish!”
Akbar became annoyed. He called Birbal and said, “Birbal, solve this mystery.”
Birbal replied calmly, “Your Majesty, please give me just one night for investigation. By morning the matter will be clear.”
Night fell. Birbal quietly made a place for himself in a dark corner near the kitchen. He did not light any lamp. He only kept his eyes and ears open.
It was midnight. Suddenly there was a soft sound. Birbal watched carefully. A small shadow was moving towards the kitchen window. The shadow slowly opened the window and stretched its hand inside.
Birbal immediately lit the lamp. In the light, everyone was surprised to see — the thief was neither a servant nor a guard, but the palace’s little pet monkey! Every night it used to enter through the window and take away the sweet dishes.
Seeing the monkey, Birbal smiled. He gently caught the monkey and presented it in the court the next morning.
Akbar and all the courtiers burst out laughing. Akbar said, “Birbal, you solved the entire mystery in just one night’s investigation! And that too without punishing anyone.”
Birbal said, “Your Majesty, sometimes the culprit is not a bad person, but a naughty innocent creature. Proper investigation brings out the truth.”
From that day, the kitchen windows were made more secure, and a separate place was arranged for the monkey to eat sweet fruits.
Moral: It is better to investigate patiently than to jump to conclusions. The truth is often found through one night of careful effort.