The Golden Touch

The Golden Touch

Once upon a time, in a land of mountains and rivers, there lived a wealthy merchant named Arman. He had everything a man could dream of—large houses, beautiful clothes, chests full of gold, and ships that brought in treasures from distant lands.

But Arman was not content. The more he had, the more he wanted.

One evening, while walking in his garden, Arman saw an old man sitting beneath a tree. The man had kind eyes and a calm smile. Curious, Arman approached him.

“You seem at peace, old man. Yet you wear rags and own nothing,” Arman said.

The old man looked up and replied, “True peace comes not from riches but from contentment.”

Arman scoffed. “Contentment is for the poor. I want more gold. Gold brings power—and happiness.”

The old man’s eyes twinkled. “Very well,” he said. “Since gold means so much to you, I will grant you a wish. From now on, whatever you touch will turn to gold.”

Arman’s eyes widened. “Anything?”

“Anything,” said the old man. “But be warned—this gift can also be a curse.”

Without a second thought, Arman agreed. The old man touched his forehead and vanished into thin air.

The next morning, Arman awoke to the sunlight streaming through his window. He stretched out his hand and touched the blanket. It instantly turned into pure gold. His eyes sparkled with joy.

He jumped out of bed and began touching everything—his slippers, his curtains, the door—each turned into gleaming gold. He rushed to his garden, turning leaves and flowers into golden ornaments.

“I will be the richest man who ever lived!” he shouted in delight.

Later that day, his young daughter, Lila, ran toward him with open arms. “Father! Come play with me!”

Without thinking, Arman picked her up—and in an instant, she turned to a golden statue.

His heart stopped.

“Lila?” he cried, shaking her frozen form. “No, no, no! What have I done?”

Tears filled his eyes as he collapsed beside her, realizing the price of his greed. Everything he loved was gone—his daughter, his garden, even the food he tried to eat turned to gold before it reached his mouth.

For the first time in his life, Arman understood that all the gold in the world meant nothing without love, warmth, and the simple joys of life.

Desperate, he ran back to the old tree in his garden and cried out, “Please! Take it back! I don’t want the golden touch! I want my daughter!”

The old man reappeared, his face calm. “Have you learned your lesson, Arman?”

“Yes,” Arman sobbed. “Gold cannot replace love. I was blind. Please, give me back my daughter and take this curse away.”

The old man nodded. He touched Arman’s shoulder, and a warm wind swept through the garden.

When Arman returned to his home, everything was as it was before—his furniture, his garden, and most importantly, Lila—alive and smiling.

From that day on, Arman changed. He no longer chased wealth for its own sake. Instead, he spent his time helping the poor, building schools, and enjoying the laughter of his daughter.

His house became simpler, but his heart was full. And though he had less gold, he had found something far more precious—true happiness.

Moral of the Story:

Greed can blind us to what truly matters. Real wealth lies in love, family, and the simple joys of life.