There was a king that led a lavish lifestyle. He has the best food, best clothes, best horses, best copywriter, best musician, best court jester and many other bests. He doesn't have anything which is not the best.
He has this passion for food. He is picky and he eats only the finest. He would summon the best cook and if the dish fails to satisfy him he would be angry, very angry. An angry king isn't going to be a nice king. Many cooks have lost their lives to this king and none dared to cook for him. From cooks they became cat groomers. Its a dangerous job.
One day, the King could no longer find himself any cook. He summon the last one that is available. He summoned for Sireh. Sireh is not a cook but he has quite a reputation to be able to cook the best double fried chicken and thai styled steamed fish. He met the King and he told the King, he is prepared to be off with his head if he cannot deliver the food to the King's liking BUT he has conditions.
The King was curious. What conditions are those? The King apart from oogling at girls and donning his finest clothes has no other work. So he agreed. Even if he have to wrestle a buffalo, he would to taste the dishes Sireh has to offer. Sireh named his conditions:-
- You must dress and behave like a normal citizen (not as a king)
- You must pluck your own vegetables
- You must fish for your own fish
- You must catch your own chicken
The King realised it was no easy task. He was sweating profusely and he has hungry.
The chores took some time to complete and when it was done, the ingredients were passed to Sireh for him to work his magic. Sireh sprinkled some salt and did the most common dish the King has ever seen. But it smell so good...Sireh should be a cook rather than a cartoonist the King thought to himself. But again, he must taste the dishes to be convinced.
He tasted it, it was heavenly. His hungry stomach was healed and he became a very happy King. He was so happy that Sireh was bestowed many title and now Sireh's name is Tun Tan Sri Dato' Bentara Sireh. The titles before the name can only be given by a King.
So, I sat down and pondered. Life is indeed funny, when we have little and we work for it, the fruits of labour seems to be sweeter. When we have everything, everything seems so unappetizing. Must be a human syndrome.
I pen off for now...
Yours faithfully,
Tun Tan Sri Dato Bentara Sireh (the titles are equivalent to a Baron or Lord's title in the English context)
