The Ship’s Engine

Once there was a ship which was about to sail in a port city. Just, as the ship was about to sail a seaman came running to the Captain of the ship and said “Captain! Captain! The engine has a problem. It won’t start.” The Captain was frustrated and commanded the seaman “Get the engineers to look at it. Be quick about it. I don’t want to delay any further.”

The engineers worked hard on the engine but to no avail. They were not able to figure out the problem. One of the engineers suggested to the Captain “Sir, let us get Babu Mistry. There is nothing he does not know about ships. Maybe, he can fix the problem.”

“Get him then” ordered the Captain.

Babu Mistry came with his box of tools. He inspected the engine from top to bottom. After the inspection he tapped the engine two times with his hammer. “Tap! Tap!”

“WHRRRRRRRRR!” The engine started working. The Captain became very happy and said “You got the engine working. Amazing! It was such a simple thing. Tell me, my man, what are your fees.”

Babu Mistry replied “Five Thousand Only.” Hearing this the Captain was aghast. He exclaimed “Five Thousand? For just tapping the engine? Why! that is outrageous. Give me an itemized bill. I want to know the cost of each and every thing you did.”

Babu Mistry made the bill and handed it over to the Captain. He read the bill aloud “Rs. 2 for tapping with a hammer. Rs. 4998 for knowing where to tap with the hammer.”

Reading this the Captain quietly handed over the money to Babu Mistry.

The End