The Sheikh trying to be smart.

Naseeruddin Shah was one of the few courtiers that the Sheikh had for actual advice rather than to please his father's acquaintances.


As such, he tested Naseeruddin a lot when it came to matters of patience and understanding, hoping to know where he put the line between displeasing the Hierarch and making a frivolous joke.


One Ramadan evening, when the Palace was breaking the fast, the monarch and the courtiers were served dates (the fruit, not the bed-mates) as appetizers.


The Sheikh being the scumbag as on occasion, ate the fruit and placed the seeds on Naseeruddin's plate. This kept going on for a while, till the king stopped eating. Naseeruddin, knowing that the Sheikh and his antics, did not take this to heart. The pile of seeds began growing in Naseeruddin's plate


A bit sharp that Nasseruddin did not react to his brazen attitude, the Sheikh stoked the fire by saying:
"My Dear Naseeruddin, do you know what people will think after seeing you plate? They will think that you have eaten the most dates this evening."

Naseeruddin, a bit disgusted by his Sheikh said:
"My Highness, do you know what people will think when they see your plate? They will think that you have eaten the dates along with their seeds."

Edit Source: Translated from Tamil Standard Textbook, Class 6, 2006 edition.