Monday, April 11, 2005

Banta Singh

There was once a great actor, Banta, who had a problem. He could no longer remember his lines. Finally after many years he finds a theater where they are prepared to give him a chance to shine again. The director says, "This is the most important part, and it has only one line, you must walk on to the stage carrying a rose, you must hold the rose with just one finger and your thumb to your nose, sniff the rose deeply and then say the line `Ah, the sweet aroma of my mistress.`"

Banta is thrilled. All day long before the play he`s practicing his line over and over again. Finally the time came. The curtain went up, Banta walked onto the stage, and with great passion delivered the line; "Ah, the sweet aroma of my mistress."

The theater erupted, the audience was screaming with laughter and the director was steaming! "You bloody fool!" he cried, "You have ruined me!"

Banta was bewildered, "What happened, did I forget my line?" Banta asked.

"No!" the director screamed, "You forgot the bloody rose!"