There was this one strange moment when the great Khan came down from his high mountain hideout in the great Himalayas and decided to travel with his cousins to smuggle whatever it was that they smuggled, and drove in to the war zone of Middle Europe. Various wars were being fought after perestroika, and soon enough, in the great European tradition, nobody knew who was fighting whom.
The Khans of the Himalayas had decided that it was simply good business to be involved in the war, and true enough to their traditions, they never knew what it was that they supplied to whom, and which part of it was legal or not. The great Khan simply accompanied his cousins for the fun of it, and just to travel here and there. Once, in one of these middle European countries, a senior UN official called a peace meeting in a big museum hall, and they invited all the warring parties and served good food.
The great Khan who was wandering about outside the museum was pushed inside by the UN troops, to attend the peace meeting. Sure enough, there was a big crowd inside, and all warring parties had gathered inside. The senior UN official wanted to select the two best mediators he could find, and wanted to eliminate all the others. So, he started on some questions for elimination.
UN Official: Thank you for coming. Those who do not know the UN may leave. 2000 people leave the room. The great Khan says to himself, 'I do not know the UN but I have nothing to lose if I stay. This is a warm place, and there is good food. I'll give it a try'
UN Official: Candidates who never had experience of managing more than 100 people may leave. 2000 people leave the room. The great Khan says to himself ' I never managed anybody by myself but I have nothing to lose if I stay. What can happen to me?' So he stays.
UN official: Candidates who do not have any degree-level education may leave. 500 people leave the room. The great Khan says to himself, 'I never went to school but what have I got to lose?' So he stays in the room.
Lastly, The UN official asked the candidates who do not speak the local middle European language to leave. 498 people leave the room. The great Khan says to himself, ' I do not speak one word of the local middle European language but what do I have to lose?' So he stays and finds himself with one other candidate.
Everyone else has gone. The UN official joined them and said 'Apparently you are the only two candidates who speak the local middle European language, so I'd now like to hear you have a conversation together in that language.' Calmly, the great Khan turns to the other candidate and says `Salaam Aleikum, Sab Khairiyat?' The other candidate answers 'Aleikum Salaam, Janaab. Khairiyat. Aur aap..?'
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