Once upon a time, there was a poor man named Babar in a certain town in Turkey. He was young and able-bodied. His well-to-do neighbours offered him jobs in their shops or households. But if Babar took up any work, it was for a short time. He thought the benefits he received were too small for his merit. He would rather pass his time begging than working for a livelihood.
One day he was idling away his time leaning against the wall of a public bath when he saw a nobleman entering the house. He was surprised to see that the nobleman totally resembled him—as if the two were twins! He peeped in and saw the nobleman being received by the staff of the bath with a show of great honour.
Babar kept gazing at the nobleman for a long. “Only if I could step into his position!” he thought. Then he did something unexpected. He saw that all the workers of the bath were busy cleaning the bathing pool, leaving the nobleman alone. Babar went in and told him, “Don’t I look like you?”
“Indeed, you do,” said the nobleman looking amazed.
“Do you want to know the mystery? Come with me,” he said. Babar then led the nobleman to a corner of the hall where there was a pit. He pushed the nobleman into it and shut its mouth with a slab of stone.
Soon the staff of the house came to prepare the nobleman for his bath. They easily mistook Babar to be the nobleman
and gave him a massage with oil. He finished taking a bath. His own servants who were waiting in an outer chamber came in with costly clothes. He put them on. The servants then gave him the purse. He paid the staff generously and came out of the house.
“Mount your horse, sir! We will follow you!” said the servant.
Babar was in a difficult situation. He had never mounted a horse. However, he managed to climb it and the horse started strutting towards its master’s house of its own accord.
The horse stopped in front of a palatial house. Guards at the door saluted him and took hold of the horse. He was ushered into a room. “My lord, will you like to have your lunch alone? Or, should our mistress join you?” asked a maid-servant.
“I’ll eat alone,” said Babar.
“As you please,” said the maid-servant and she clapped her hands. Six maids brought delicious dishes and arranged
them before him. Babar ate them, but he could not enjoy them. He was wondering what will happen next. He was in the grip of panic.
No sooner had he finished eating than a beautiful lady entered his room and greeted him with a loving smile. “My lord, why do you wish to be left alone? Why are you looking so pensive?” she asked.
Babar took his eyes away. He coughed and hemmed but could say nothing.
“By the way, my lord, only this morning a childhood friend of mine wanted to know your full name. Imagine my embarrassment when I could not answer her. I have been calling you my lord! Now, will you please tell me what is your name?”
Babar kept quiet. She cast a steady look at him.
“Yes, what is your name?” she repeated her question.
Babar felt as if a knife was pierced in his heart. He broke down and said, “I’m only poor Babar, not the master of this
house!” Then he confessed to his mischief and said, “Please pardon me!”
“I can pardon you provided my husband is safe. I will send it to him now. But what about the Caliph? Here comes the
messenger from him. My husband was to discuss philosophy with him,” said the lady.
“What should I do?”
“Go with the messenger. You will find two thrones in the Caliph’s chamber arranged face to face. One is studded with
diamonds, the other with gold. Occupy the diamond-studded throne and wait for the Caliph.”
The messenger came in. Babar followed him without a word, but his heart beat faster than ever. As advised by the
lady, he sat down on the diamond-studded throne.
Soon the Caliph entered the room. “How dare you insult me by sitting on my throne?” he shouted. His bodyguards rushed in. “Behead this imposter!” he said. The guards unsheathed their swords.
Babar gave out a shriek of horror.
His dream ended, He thanked his fate that all this was not true! He had thought of stepping into the nobleman’s position
when he dozed off.
He saw the nobleman coming out of the bath. He greeted him.
The nobleman ‘smiled at him and observed, “How strange, you look like me!”
Babar said nothing but smiled sadly.
“What do you do?” asked the nobleman.
“I am a poor man—without any work, sir!”
“I see. Will you like to work under me?” asked the nobleman.
“Happily, my lord,” said Babar.
The fearful dream had removed from his mind his idle wish to step into. someone’s position. He was now ready to
work and be himself.
