Once upon a time, in a kingdom lost to your books and buried under the sands of time.

There was a king who lacked many skills and abilities. One too many times was his kingdom on the verge of famine, rebellion and war. All these attributes made the king a bitter and cruel man.

You might wonder how he was still not deposed, his statues broken and paintings torn.

Well my friends, as with some in our lives, he too had a trusted aid. Not in the form of a Vazir or noble but a rather scrupulous servant.

One too many times was the king in great peril and one too many times did the wise servant serve his master where others had failed him.

As a result, the king confined the matters of state with the servant and trusted his judgement with one and all things.

As with all incorruptible men who had a jealous foe, this story too has one in the form of a grand Vazir.

There were many instances that the grand Vazir had failed his task to aid the king where the servant succeeded.

The fires of jealousy burned brazenly in his heart and did all within his power and perhaps much more to get rid of the servant but each and every time he failed to entrap the wise servant in his schemes.

One day, the tired servant was more displeased than he had ever been.

He advised the king just so the Vazir could come in and try to dissuade the king because he was but a servant.

The wise servant hatched a plan and so in the dead of night, he snuck out of the palace; away from this clamour.

News reached the Grand Vazir and he jumped out of his bed with excitement; got dressed in a matter of seconds and dashed towards the king's bed chamber.

The Vazir knew that it was forbidden by the king's decree for anyone to leave the palace grounds.

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"Your majesty! That insolent servant has fled from the grounds of your divine palace. I have sent men to capture him at once." said Grand Vazir

The king who was still in his nightgown stood up from his chair and said "How dares he! Bring him to me. An example must be made."

The Gand Vazir made a sly smile and bowed towards his king. They then made their way towards the throne room to wait for the accused.

Time passed and the holy sun was about to rise and then

*CREAK*

The great door of the throne room opened and the conscientious servant was bought in.

"Impotent fool! You knew that to leave the palace grounds without orders is to undermine the king. Did you not know that there will be severe punishments for it!" said the king to the servant.

The king turned towards the Grand Vazir and asked "Grand Vazir, what should the punishment for leaving the palace grounds be?"

The Gand Vazir who had been waiting for this moment for a very long time said "Oh great king! He who knowingly runs away from the palace and fears not of the repercussions from his majesty must be killed so that it would serve as an example to others that disobey."

The king was taken aback by this response. He knew that the Vazir had his own animosity with the servant and wanted nothing but to take out his rival.

The king did not really want to harm the servant and knew that he would need his advice in the future as well and so he stood there in silence and pondered on what to do.

The wise servant who noticed the king's hesitance in neither killing nor torturing him said "Oh exalted king! It is well within reason that I might be at fault for your grace but in the eyes of God I am innocent."

The wise servant shifted his gaze to the Vazir and said to the king "My king if you still wish to kill me and not be responsible in the presence of god then might I suggest allowing me to kill this evil and deceitful Vazir. This way I will no longer be innocent and you would be executing a murderer and be absolved of all blame to the end of time."

The king laughed as he was amused by the cunning plan his servant hatched against to now-pale Vazir.

"Oh, Grand Vazir. Now what are your thoughts about the execution of the servant?" said the king

The Grand Vazir who was frightened by the idea that like with all matters; the king would accept the servant's words said "Oh Great king! Please forgive this selfish servant's mistake for it is said in times of old 'The joy that is there in forgiveness is not there in vengeance.'"

The king once again laughed and said "Because of your words I have decided not to execute him."

The king then made a serious expression with zeal in his eyes and said "Oh Vazir. Mark my words and itch them in your soul. Never dig a pit to entrap others for you might be the one who falls into it."