Bahlool and the Price of Steam

Once upon a time, a poor Arab traveler arrived in Baghdad. Hungry and penniless, he wandered through the bustling streets until he passed by a food shop. The aroma of the delicious dishes being cooked wafted through the air, captivating him and making his mouth water.

Realizing he had no money to buy anything, the man pulled out some dry bread from his pouch. Holding the bread over the steam rising from the shop’s pots, he let it soak up the moisture. When the bread softened, he eagerly ate it to satisfy his hunger.

The cook, silently watching this peculiar scene, was baffled but said nothing. However, as the man prepared to leave, the cook stopped him and demanded payment.

“You’ve benefited from the steam and aroma of my food,” the cook argued.

The poor traveler protested, saying, “I haven’t eaten your food, only softened my bread with the steam!”

A heated argument broke out between the two, drawing the attention of passersby, including the wise Bahlool, who happened to be nearby. The poor man turned to Bahlool and pleaded, “Please judge fairly between us!”

Bahlool listened patiently to both sides. Turning to the cook, he asked, “Did this man eat your food?”

The cook admitted, “No, but he used the steam and smell of it.”

Bahlool smiled and said, “Very well, let us resolve this matter fairly.”

Reaching into his pocket, Bahlool pulled out a few coins. One by one, he held them up for the cook to see, then dropped them onto the ground, allowing the clinking sound to echo in the air. Picking up the coins again, he said to the cook, “Take the sound of these coins as payment for the steam and aroma of your food.”

The cook, stunned by Bahlool’s judgment, exclaimed, “How is this fair?”

Bahlool calmly replied, “If you sell steam and aroma, then it is only just that you are paid with the sound of money.”

With that, the crowd burst into laughter, marveling at Bahlool’s wit and wisdom. The poor traveler went on his way, and the cook, albeit grudgingly, accepted the justice of the situation.

And so, Bahlool once again proved that justice isn’t always about strict rules but often about cleverness and fairness.