Once upon a time in a small Indian village, there were two inseparable friends, Anoop and Sidda. They were not rich, but they had a bond that was worth more than any treasure. Each day, they ventured into the lush forest to cut bamboo, crafting beautiful baskets and other goods to sell in the nearby town. The earnings they made barely covered the rice and dal they needed to feed their families, but they were content and happy in their simple lives.
One fine morning, while they were deep in the forest, Sidda’s axe hit something unexpected – a pot brimming with shimmering gold coins. The sight left them awestruck, and their dreams ran wild.
Sidda: (excited) Anoop, look at this! We’re going to be rich!
Anoop: (grinning) Oh, Sidda, our lives are about to change!
Realizing that it wouldn’t be wise to carry the gold openly through the village, they decided to return at night.
Sidda: (whispering) We’ll come back under the cover of darkness. No one will know.
Anoop: (nodding) You’re right, my friend. Let’s keep this a secret for now.
To avoid suspicion, Anoop decided to sneak back into the village and buy some food. He promised to return soon, leaving Sidda alone with the pot of gold.
Sidda, however, let greed corrupt his heart. He pondered how much better his life would be without Anoop. As Anoop ventured into the village, Sidda picked up his axe and, in a heartless act, he ended his friend’s life.
Sidda: (with a sinister look) Anoop, my friend, I’m sorry, but I can’t share this with you.
As the night fell and the village lay still, Anoop never returned. Instead, he met a cruel fate at the hands of his once-dear friend.
Sidda: (grinning, talking to himself) Now, all the gold is mine!
But what Sidda didn’t know was that Anoop had been wise. He had prepared for the possibility of betrayal. In his last moments, Anoop had mixed poison in the food he brought back for Sidda.
Sidda devoured the food hungrily, believing himself victorious, but little did he know that the poison had already sealed his fate.
Sidda: (suddenly clutching his chest) What’s happening to me? I can’t breathe!
As the poison coursed through Sidda’s veins, he realized the gravity of his actions. His greed and betrayal had cost him not only his dear friend but also the wealth he had killed for. In the end, both friends perished, their dreams of riches unfulfilled.
The moral of this tale is clear: greed and betrayal lead to a bitter end. True wealth isn’t in gold or material possessions but in the bonds of friendship, love, and trust. It’s a reminder that the pursuit of wealth at the expense of one’s integrity and relationships can lead to a lonely, tragic demise. This story serves as a timeless lesson that real treasure lies not in what we possess but in the goodness of our hearts and the loyalty we show to those we hold dear.
Story rewritten by William Paul. Inspired by the movie Kasargold
William Paul's Blog 