THE BARGAIN





A poor man came to Nizamuddin Aulia, a Moghal saint, asking for alms at a time when there was nothing left in the khaneqah(palace) to be given. The saint expressed his helplessness, but pointed to a torn and tattered pair of sandals that belonged to him, saying if those could be of any help to the poor man, he could take them. The faqir(poor), having no choice, decided to take them any way, and left. When he was on his way to some other city, he met Amir Khusrau(saint's protege') who was returning from his royal journey with camels and horses loaded with wealth. Khusrau sensed something odd as he met this man, and told him:

"Bu-e Shaikh mi aayad, Bu-e Shaikh mi aayad". (I smell my master, I smell my master).

This man dejectedly told him the story about how he could only get these sandals from Nizamuddin Aulia. It is said that Khusrau after seeing his pir's(mentor's) belongings decided to trade his entire entourage of wealth for this pair of sandals, placed them on his head and came rushing to see Nizamuddin Aulia. His pir saw the sandals and asked Khusrau how he found them. When Khusrau told him about the price he has paid for them, Nizamuddin Aulia said:


"Arzaan khareedi". (Well, you 've got them quite cheap).