Emperor Akbar's fondness for paan was quite wellknown. Therein lies a tale. Shaukat Ali was theofficial paan-wallah for the emperor. When theemperor engaged Shaukat Ali, the man knew that Akbarwanted nothing but the best. Not everyone could prepareit the way he liked it. The only man who could do it wasShaukat Ali.
Shaukat Ali looked like a barrel on the roll everytime he moved. Whenever he wanted to pay his obeisanceto the emperor, he would strain to bow low or bring hispalms together.
Akbar would be amused by his efforts. "Enough,man. If you persist in your efforts, your stomach will burstand then there will be nothing left of you," the emperor bantered.
"Alampana! Your slave is here to do your bidding,"Shaukat Ali took a deep breath while he straightenedhimself up.
"I am told you are an expert in preparing paan," theemperor asked.
"I am honoured, Alampana. My old man was theleading paan maker in this town. I was eight years oldwhen he made me sit and watch him at work. My fathertrained me in the art. It took me a dozen years to masterthe art. It took another ten years before my father happily told me that I was as good as him. He was happy his artwould not die with him," Shaukat Ali spoke politely whilechoosing the best of betel leaves from a bag that hebrought along, lined it with a thin coat of lime, topped itwith arecanut and minced tobacco and cardamom, androlled up the leaves.
Akbar had never tasted such delicious paan everbefore.
"Wah! Wah!" The emperor had difficulty saying thosewords while chewing the paan.
That was how Shaukat Ali became the Royal paan-wallah. He became a permanent member of the royalretinue. Wherever the emperor went, Shaukat was sureto go.
All went well till one day . . .
To err is human. Shaukat was human and he erred.He failed to notice that the lime he was using was rathertoo sharp on the tongue. He prepared the paan andserved it to the emperor. He had hardly taken a bite when he felt as if his tongue was on fire. His face contortedwith rage. His nostrils quivered. His eyes turnedbloodshot. He glared at Shaukat Ali, spat the paan athis face and screamed, "You wretch. Your paan burntmy tongue. And you say you are the best paan maker inmy land!"
Shaukat Ali waited, shivering with fright. "haukat!"he emperor sounded a little less harsh. Shaukat Ali stoodin a daze, not knowing what was to follow.
"Shaukat, go and fetch immediately a packet of bestlime. Fill up the bag that you usually carry around withlime. Fill it up to the brim. Understand?" said the emperor.
