What a Pity!

“What! You think you’re cleverer than I am, do you? You’re a fool to think like that!” asserted Raghu.

“Ask anyone, and they will tell you that you and cleverness are two different things— as different as water and oil, which cannot mix!” retorted Balraj.

The village landlord happened to be passing by and overheard their quarrel. “I will pose a question to you both. He who can answer correctly shall be known as cleverer than the other,” he proposed.

“Pardon me, Sir!” mumbled Balraj, and he ran away without another word.

“It is clear that Balraj is the cleverer one. None of you could have answered the question I was going to ask. At least he knew how to escape!” the landlord declared before walking away.

Later, Raghu informed Balraj about what the landlord had said. Balraj chuckled and explained, “The truth is, I suddenly had a colic pain. That is why I left so hurriedly.”

Raghu felt remorseful for a moment and then said, “I too suffer from colic pain from time to time. But what a pity that it betrayed me today! Had it struck me a second earlier than it did you, I would have been the cleverer one!”