The Golden Touch

Once upon a time, in a prosperous kingdom, there lived a wealthy king named Midas. King Midas was known for his vast riches and his insatiable desire for more. Despite his immense wealth, he always wished for more gold and believed it was the key to true happiness.

One day, while wandering through his palace garden, King Midas encountered a mysterious figure cloaked in golden robes. The figure introduced himself as a magical being and offered Midas a wish in exchange for a small favor. Eager to obtain more gold, Midas wished that everything he touched would turn to gold.

The magical being granted Midas’s wish with a smile and vanished, leaving Midas overjoyed. He immediately tested his new power by touching a nearby rose. The rose turned to solid gold. Delighted, Midas continued to touch various objects, each turning to gold before his eyes.

Midas rushed to the palace and eagerly touched everything in sight—his furniture, his treasures, his walls—all turning to gold. His excitement grew as his entire palace transformed into a golden wonderland. 

But as the evening approached, Midas began to realize the consequences of his wish.

Feeling hungry, Midas went to the dining hall and reached for a piece of bread. To his dismay, the bread turned to gold as soon as he touched it. He tried to eat some fruit, but it, too, turned to gold. The realization struck him hard: he could no longer eat or drink, as everything he touched became a lifeless, golden object.

Desperate and starving, Midas saw his daughter, Princess Lily, entering the palace. He ran to her and embraced her, hoping to find some comfort. But as he hugged her, she too turned to gold, leaving Midas heartbroken and alone in his golden palace.

With a heavy heart, Midas fell to his knees and wept. He realized that his greed had turned his greatest treasures—his food and his beloved daughter—into lifeless gold. He had gained everything he wished for, but lost what truly mattered.

Just then, the magical figure reappeared. Seeing Midas’s sorrow, the figure said, “Your wish has been fulfilled, but you have learned a valuable lesson. True happiness does not come from material wealth, but from love and the simple joys of life.”

Midas begged the figure to reverse the wish. The figure agreed and restored everything to its original state. 

The once-golden objects returned to their former forms, and Princess Lily was brought back to life. Overwhelmed with relief and gratitude, Midas hugged his daughter tightly and vowed to cherish the simple pleasures of life and the love of his family.

From that day on, King Midas lived a more contented life, valuing what he had rather than seeking endless riches. He learned that true happiness lies not in material wealth but in love, family, and appreciating the simple joys of life.

The moral of the story is that the pursuit of material wealth can lead to losing what truly matters. True happiness comes from valuing and cherishing the simple, meaningful aspects of life.