Long, long ago, a man called Buddhichand took from his neighbor Laxminandan a loan of rupees one thousand on the occasion of his daughter's marriage. Only a few days after the marriage, Laxminandan asked Buddhichand to repay the loan.
Buddhichand said, "I will repay every pie of yours. But you know very well that I am a poor man. I will need some time to repay the loan."
Laxminandan said, "I thought you were an honest man. But now I feel that I was wrong in my judgement."
Buddhichand said, "Please have patience, my dear friend. I will surely repay your loan. I am an honest man."
Laxminandan said, "If you are really an honest man, as you say, come with me to the Kazi's court and sign the papers saying that you have mortgaged your house to me against the loan."
Buddhichand said, "There is no need of going to the court. Please trust me and I will repay the loan as early as possible."
But Laxminandan would not listen to Buddhichand. He insisted that Buddhichand must go with him to the court and sign the papers. Actually, he wanted to take over the house of Buddhichand,
Buddhichand saw through the evil design of Laxminandan. So he said, "I don't have a horse to ride to the court."
"I will give you my horse to ride," said Laxminandan.
"I don't have good clothes to wear," said Buddhichand.
"I will give you my clothes too,'' said Laxminandan.
"I have no sandals to put on," said Buddhichand
"I will give you my sandals also," said Laxminandan.
When Laxminandan supplied all his needs, Buddhichand agreed to go with him to the court.
Buddhichand put on Laxminandan's clothes and sandals. He mounted Laxminandan's horse and rode to the court.
When Buddhichand's name was called out, he stood before the Kazi and said, "Your Worship, my friend Laxminandan claims that my house and all my possessions belong to him. He quarrels with me all the time. He has forcibly brought me to the court. Please allow me to ask him a few questions.
The Kazi called Laxminandan and ordered him to answer the questions put to him by Buddhichand.
"Whom does the cap on my head belong to?" asked Buddhichand.
"It belongs to me," said Laxminandan.
"Whom do the clothes I wear belong to?" asked Buddhichand.
"They belong to me, " said Laxminandan.
"And whom do the sandals on my feet belong to?" asked Buddhichand.
"The sandals also belong to me,"said Laxminandan in an offending tone.
"And whom does the horse which I rode to the court belong to?"asked Buddhichand.
"The horse also belongs to me, " cried out Laxminandan excitedly. "The cap, the clothes, the sandals and the horse are all mine."
All the people in the court laughed more and more loudly at Laxminandan. The Kazi, too, stifled his laughted with difficulty. Everybody in the court believed that Laxminandan had gone mad. He stood aghast amidst the peals of laughter. The Kazi, finally dismissed the case.
Buddhichand made Laxminandan a laughing stock in the court and thus foiled the evil plot of Laxminandan.
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