Inability to keep a secret

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     It is said that it is very difficult, if not impossible to reach the fathomless

depth of a woman’s heart and see what lies buried in it. They also say that a woman, especially a virgin, cannot keep a secret and she ca be at peace only when she passes it on, in false confidence, to another. It is believed that that this latter predication came into force with a curse on Kunti, mother of the Pandavas for suppressing till a very late stage that Karna was her first son. All the same, Company bosses prefer ladies to men, for appointment as Private secretaries. Maybe there are other considerations besides keeping things absolutely confidential. I am not aware of those nor am I interested in knowing them. My present purpose is to narrate a true story that proves the postulate that women, particularly virgins, cannot keep a secret.
     Akbar the Moghul emperor had, in Birbal, a friend, guide and philosopher with wisdom to rely on always. Other courtiers in the palace envied Birbal and were continually plotting something or other to cause, if possible, a relegation of his importance in the King’s esteem and regard. In a private conversation with the King, Birbal had asserted that, in matters needing confidentiality, women should be kept off as they were constitutionally incapable of keeping secrets. On learning this, the jealous courtiers animatedly argued that Birbal was a traducer of women and that, on peril of appropriate punishment, he should be called upon to justify his statement adequately. Akbar was sure that Birbal could take care of himself but asked him what he had to say. Birbal requested leave of absence from daily attendance at the court for a period of 1 month to let him prove his point.
     Birbal’s wife was greatly intrigued when she found him a stay-at-home not anxious to attend court. She was very worried that it may incense the King whose wrath was proverbial. After putting her curiosity and patience to breaking point, Birbal whispered into her ear ‘I am pregnant. It is so unnatural. Nobody believes it, but I am going through all the syndromes associated with the state, morning sickness etc, etc. I have made secret arrangement with a Doctor for termination of pregnancy. That is my plight. Please manage to keep mum until the operation is over’.
  Birbal’s wife tried hard but could not repress her urge to tell somebody of an extraordinary situation of which it was her privilege to hear first. By word of mouth the story reached the Queen who had a hearty laugh with the king over it. Birbal ultimately proved his point and also showed that the temptation to circulate a story is greater when it cannot be true.Write your abstract here.