Nasreddin Hodja admired his neighbor’s kettle a lot. It was big and beautiful, painted and glazed in many lovely colours. He wanted that kettle for himself. Being a witty and intelligent man, he decided to play a trick, by which he would get the kettle for his own.
He went to his neighbor and said, “My dear neighbor, I need to borrow your kettle. My own has developed a leak and I have relatives visiting me shortly.”
The neighbor did not like Hodja but he was a pious man and gave his kettle anyway. Hodja took the kettle, and promised to return it the next day.
Many days passed and there was no sign of the kettle. At length the neighbor went to Hodja’s house and called, “Neighbor, I have been waiting for so many days. Why did you not bring my kettle back?”
Hodja replied, “Oh my friend! You come at a wonderful time. Your kettle was actually in a delicate condition and she gave birth to a little kettle. I was only waiting for the small kettle to be strong enough so I could bring the mother and the child kettle to you.” So saying, Hodja handed over the neighbor’s kettle, along with a smaller one back to him.
The neighbor was amazed and overjoyed. He took his kettle and the other little one, wondering at the miracle. Could a kettle have really given birth!
After a few days, Nasreddin Hodja again went and asked again to borrow the kettle. This time the neighbour was pleased to lend it and readily agreed.
Again he waited for a few days and finally went to Hodja and asked, “Neighbor, I have been waiting for many days. Why don’t you bring me back my kettle?”
“Oh my friend! How I wish I had better news!” replied Hodja, wringing his hands. “That kettle was old and sick, and she died. I looked for you so we could bury her together, but you weren’t around. Her corpse was starting to rot so finally I found some other people and we buried her together.”
The neighbor was angry and took the matter before a judge. This judge called Nasreddin Hodja and asked, “Why did you take this man’s kettle for your own?”
Hodja answered, “The kettle was old and sick, and she died. I looked for my neighbor to help bury her, but he wasn’t around. I found some other people to help and we buried her.”
“What is this?!” exclaimed the judge. “Is it possible for a kettle to die?”
“Oh yes! If a kettle can give birth to a baby kettle, it can also die. Whatever is born eventually dies.”
The judge was baffled and he asked for the complete story. Hodja narrated all the incidents that led to the kettle’s disappearance. The neighbor looked at the ground, ashamed. The judge laughed and understood that Hodja was a very shrewd man. And decided that Hodja should be given the kettle.
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Recommended Reading: The Tale of Hodja Nasreddin: Disturber of the Peace
