Brothers in Greed

A Tale of Friendship, Betrayal, and the Cost of Wanting More
In the quiet village of Darwan, nestled between rolling hills and whispering trees, lived three childhood friends—Arif, Babar, and Sajid. Their friendship was the kind that legends are built on. From chasing kites to building treehouses, they were inseparable. But as they grew older, something began to shift: their love for each other was slowly overtaken by a thirst for more—more wealth, more recognition, and more power.

One evening, as the three sat around a bonfire reminiscing about the old days, an old man limped into the village. His clothes were tattered, his beard silver, and his eyes glimmered with a strange mix of wisdom and mischief.

He approached them and said, “I’ve wandered this world long enough. Before I leave it, I want to give away something very precious—an old treasure buried in the forest. But beware, for this treasure tests not your strength, but your hearts.”

Intrigued, the three friends eagerly asked for more details. The old man gave them a crude map, marked with symbols and strange curves.

“There’s only one rule,” he added. “The treasure must be divided equally. If not, it will curse those who betray their bond.”

With hearts racing and eyes gleaming, they set out at dawn.

The Journey
The forest was thick and silent, the only sounds were their footsteps and occasional murmurs. After hours of hiking, deciphering clues, and pushing through thorns, they reached a moss-covered mound.

They dug feverishly until their hands struck something hard—a wooden chest, old but intact.

With bated breath, they opened it.

Inside sparkled gold coins, precious stones, and a single parchment that read:
"To those who share, I bless. To those who hoard, I curse."

For a moment, they were speechless. Then Arif spoke, “Let’s divide it now, equally. Like we agreed.”

But Babar’s eyes flickered with doubt. “Why should we? I found the last clue. I did most of the digging.”

Sajid jumped in, “And I carried the tools! If anyone deserves more, it’s me!”

Arif frowned. “That’s not how this works. We promised each other—and the old man warned us.”

But the taste of gold had already poisoned their minds.

They began arguing. Voices rose. Accusations flew.

Then, in a moment of impulsive rage, Babar grabbed a sharp rock and threatened the other two. “Back off! I’m taking what I deserve!”

Arif tried to calm him. “Don’t do this. It’s not worth losing everything.”

But Sajid had already lunged at Babar. The chest tipped over. Gold scattered. In the chaos, Babar struck Sajid’s shoulder. Arif tackled him to the ground. The three friends, once brothers by bond, now fought like enemies.

Eventually, they lay exhausted, bruised, and bitter.

The Curse Revealed
When they returned to the village, they tried to hide what had happened. Each kept a small share of the treasure, secretly believing he had won. But the old man’s warning wasn’t idle.

In the weeks that followed, strange things happened.

Arif’s once-thriving shop caught fire mysteriously.

Sajid began falling ill, unable to work, and no doctor could find the cause.

Babar found his gold missing, night after night, until he was left with nothing.

Their reputations crumbled. Friends turned away. The village whispered of a curse.

One rainy night, the three met again at the same bonfire where it all began. Soaked and defeated, they sat in silence.

It was Arif who finally spoke. “We lost everything. Not because of a curse. But because of us.”

Sajid nodded slowly. “We forgot who we were.”

Babar broke down. “I would give all the gold back just to laugh like we used to.”

They sat there, letting the rain cleanse more than just their clothes.

The next morning, they returned to the forest—not to look for treasure, but to bury what little gold they had left, along with the parchment. They marked the spot with a stone and carved into it:
“Here lies what once came between us. Let it stay buried.”

The Redemption
Years passed. Though they never regained the gold, they rebuilt their lives—together. They opened a small school in the village to teach children not just letters and numbers, but values: honesty, trust, and unity.

And though people still talked about “the treasure of Darwan,” the three friends knew the real treasure wasn’t under the ground—it was the bond they had nearly destroyed and thankfully, had reclaimed.

Moral of the Story:
True wealth lies in friendship, not fortune. Greed may promise gold, but it often takes what matters most.