The Golden Hens and the Betrayal of Friendship

The Tale of Two Friends

BY:Ubaid

Once upon a time, in a bustling little town surrounded by rolling green fields and busy marketplaces, there lived two friends. Their names were Ahmed and Shehryar. Both were young men, energetic and full of dreams about life. They had grown up together in the same neighborhood, studied in the same school, and shared countless childhood memories. Yet, as they grew older, their paths began to diverge.

Shehryar was born into wealth. His family owned land, shops, and a large beautiful house. But above all, the greatest source of his riches was rather unusual: he owned twelve magical hens. These hens were not ordinary hens. Each one of them laid a golden egg every single day. It was because of these hens that Shehryar’s family lived in abundance, never worrying about money. People admired his fortune and often envied his luck.

Ahmed, on the other hand, lived a modest life. He was not poor, but compared to Shehryar, his earnings were meager. He often visited Shehryar’s house, and though they still shared laughs and old memories, Ahmed’s heart secretly burned with envy. He could not stop himself from thinking:

“Why should Shehryar have all the wealth and luxury? Why does fortune smile on him and not me? If only I could get my hands on those golden hens, I too would live like a king.”

At first, these thoughts were only passing whispers in Ahmed’s mind. But as days turned into weeks, envy grew into greed, and greed began to control his heart. Finally, one night, he made a daring plan. He would sneak into his friend’s house under the cover of darkness and steal one of the golden hens.

That night, when the town fell asleep and silence covered the streets, Ahmed tiptoed through the shadows until he reached Shehryar’s house. His heart pounded loudly, yet greed pushed him forward. With trembling hands, he managed to slip inside and grab one hen. Before anyone noticed, he disappeared into the night with his prize.

The next morning, Shehryar went to the coop as usual to collect eggs. But to his shock, he found one hen missing. He searched everywhere and even asked his neighbors, but no one had seen anything. Though saddened, he consoled himself by thinking it must have escaped.

But the theft did not end there. The very next night, Ahmed returned. This time he stole another hen. Soon after, another went missing. Within a few days, Shehryar’s twelve hens were reduced to ten. His heart grew heavy with suspicion and fear. Something strange was happening, and he needed to find the truth.

That evening, Shehryar devised a plan. Instead of going to bed, he quietly hid in a dark corner of his yard, determined to catch the thief with his own eyes. Hours passed. The night was silent except for the chirping of crickets. Suddenly, Shehryar noticed a shadow moving slowly toward the coop. His breath caught in his throat as the figure came closer. When the moonlight fell upon the intruder’s face, Shehryar’s eyes widened with disbelief.

It was none other than Ahmed—his own childhood friend!

For a moment, Shehryar could not believe what he was seeing. How could Ahmed, the friend who had shared his joys and sorrows, betray him like this? His heart ached with sorrow more than anger. Yet, he knew he had to act. Just as Ahmed reached for another hen, Shehryar leapt forward and caught him by the arm.

“Ahmed! How could you?” Shehryar cried.

Ahmed froze, his face pale with shame. He struggled for excuses, but words failed him. He had been caught red-handed.

The commotion woke up the neighbors, who soon gathered around. When they learned the truth, they were shocked and saddened. Ahmed, once a trusted friend, had turned into a thief out of greed. According to the town’s strict laws, theft was considered a grave crime. The punishment was harsh: thieves would have their hands cut off so they could never steal again.

The elders of the town, after hearing the case, declared the judgment. Ahmed’s hands were to be cut as punishment. He begged for forgiveness, but it was too late. The law had to be upheld, and he had to face the consequences of his choices.

When the punishment was carried out, Ahmed wept bitterly. He realized too late that his greed had not only cost him his friendship with Shehryar but also his honor, his dignity, and even his freedom to live a normal life.

Shehryar, though heartbroken, could not undo what had happened. He had trusted Ahmed with all his heart, but Ahmed’s envy had destroyed their bond forever. The townspeople who witnessed the incident took a powerful lesson from the tragedy. Parents told their children, merchants warned their apprentices, and teachers reminded their students:

“Not everyone who smiles at you is truly your friend. Some may pretend to care, but their hearts hide jealousy and greed. Choose your friends wisely, and never let envy guide your actions.”

And so, the story of Ahmed and Shehryar became a lesson passed down through generations. It taught the dangers of greed, the value of honesty, and the painful truth that betrayal often comes from those closest to us.


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✨ Moral of the Story:
Greed and jealousy can destroy even the strongest bonds of friendship. True friends rejoice in each other’s happiness, while false friends cannot bear to see others succeed. Always cherish honesty and loyalty, for they are worth more than all the golden eggs in the world.