The Barbers Folly

Once upon a time, in a bustling town, lived a man named Hamid. Once a wealthy merchant, fate had been unkind to him, and he had lost all his riches. Now, he struggled to feed his four children, and each day, his wife’s worried voice filled their tiny home.

"Hamid, do something! Our children are starving!" she would plead.

Hamid tried everything but failed to find work. His heart ached to see his children sleep on empty stomachs. One night, as he lay awake, he had the strangest dream. A mysterious monk appeared before him and whispered, “Strike my head lightly with a stick, and I shall turn to gold.”

Hamid woke up in shock. Could it be a sign? he wondered.

The next morning, while wandering the streets, he saw the same monk from his dream! His heart pounded. He decided to take a chance. He picked up a small stick, approached the monk, and lightly tapped his head.

And then—magic! The monk instantly transformed into solid gold.

Hamid was stunned but overjoyed. He quickly took the golden figure home, melted it down, and sold the gold. Overnight, his fortunes changed. He bought a beautiful house, fine clothes, and enough food to never go hungry again.

But someone had been watching—his barber.

The barber had seen everything and greed filled his heart. “If Hamid can turn a monk into gold, I can do it too. And I will be the richest man in town!” he thought.

Determined to make his fortune, the barber rushed to the nearby monastery. He greeted the monks politely and said, “Respected sirs, I am hosting a grand feast at my home tomorrow. Please honor me with your presence.”

The monks, pleased by the offer, happily agreed. The next day, a group of monks arrived at the barber’s house, expecting a delicious meal. But as soon as they entered, the barber locked the doors behind them.

Grinning greedily, he grabbed a stick and walked toward them.

"Forgive me, but I need you to turn into gold!" he declared.

Then, one by one, he began hitting the monks on their heads—hard!

"Why are they not turning into gold?" he muttered in frustration. He struck harder and harder, but the monks remained the same—only now, they were in pain and furious.

Realizing the danger, the monks shouted for help. The neighbors heard the commotion and rushed to see what was happening. Soon, the town guards arrived, and the barber was caught red-handed.

He was dragged to the town square, where the judge, after hearing everything, shook his head and said, "Greed has blinded you. Instead of learning from Hamid's fortune, you tried to steal it through cruelty. You shall spend the rest of your life in prison!"

And so, the barber, who had dreamt of endless riches, found himself in a cold, dark cell, with nothing but regret for company.

Moral:

Greed and foolishness lead to downfall. One should never blindly copy others without understanding the truth.