Bano and Rano: The Rewards of Kindness and the Cost of Laziness

The Tale of Bano and Rano: A Lesson in Kindness

BY: Ubaid

Once upon a time, in a small neighborhood, there lived two young girls named Shama Naz Bano and Rano. They were close friends, but very different in nature. Bano was intelligent, hardworking, and thoughtful. She took her schoolwork seriously and always helped with household chores. Everyone admired her wisdom and sense of responsibility.

Rano, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. She was carefree, lazy, and not very sharp. Instead of helping others, she often avoided work and preferred an easy life. Despite their differences, the two girls spent a lot of time together.


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Bano’s Journey to Her Grandmother’s House

One summer, Bano decided to visit her grandmother, who lived in another village. She packed her things and happily set out on her journey. On the way, she encountered a cow sitting in the field.

The cow looked at her and said,
“Dear child, will you please clean away the dung around me so that I may sit comfortably?”

Bano did not hesitate. She quickly cleaned the area, leaving the cow in peace, and continued her journey.

A little further down the road, she came across a banyan tree. The tree spoke gently,
“My child, look at all these dry leaves scattered around me. People sit in my shade and leave a mess. Could you kindly clean it up for me?”

Bano smiled, gathered the leaves, and tidied up the space beneath the tree.

After walking some distance, she saw a large stone. The stone, too, spoke to her:
“Dear one, there are broken pieces of rock scattered all around me. Please clear them away.”

Bano once again obeyed, tidying up the pieces. With her kind actions, she reached her grandmother’s house safely.


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Rewards of Kindness

At her grandmother’s house, Bano helped with everything—sweeping, cooking, washing, and even taking care of her grandmother. Her grandmother was touched by her kindness and affection. When it was time for Bano to return home, the old woman gave her many gifts: clothes, sweets, and other lovely things.

On the way back, Bano once again passed the same places. But this time, each one rewarded her.

The stone had turned into a golden stone, surrounded by bricks of gold. It said,
“Dear child, take as many bricks as you wish.”
Bano took only a few, enough to help her family.

When she reached the banyan tree, its branches now hung with beautiful and precious clothes. The tree said,
“Take some for yourself, my child.”
She selected a few garments and thanked the tree.

Finally, the cow offered her fresh, sweet milk and delicious sweets to carry home.


Bano returned home with joy, bringing her treasures to share with her family.


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Rano’s Jealousy

When Rano saw Bano’s gifts and heard about her journey, she grew jealous. “If Bano can get all these wonderful things, so can I,” she thought to herself. Without wasting time, Rano announced that she too would visit her grandmother.

On her way, she met the same cow. The cow requested,
“Dear child, could you clean the dung around me?”

But Rano frowned and replied rudely,
“I am not Bano. Do your own cleaning!”

She walked away arrogantly.

Soon she reached the banyan tree, which asked her to clear away the fallen leaves. Rano scoffed,
“I am not your servant! Why should I clean up your mess?”

The tree fell silent, disappointed.

Then she met the stone, which made the same request as before. Rano kicked the stones aside and shouted,
“I don’t have time for this nonsense.”


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Disrespect Leads to Punishment

Finally, Rano reached her grandmother’s home. Unlike Bano, she did no work, offered no help, and showed no respect. Instead, she demanded food, gifts, and attention. She spent her time eating, playing, and ordering her grandmother around.

When it was time to return, her grandmother gave her nothing. She had seen through her laziness and selfishness.

On her way back, the punishments began.

The stone rained sharp little rocks upon her, leaving her bruised.

The banyan tree showered her with dry leaves, covering her from head to toe.

And when she reached the cow, it kicked her so hard that she fell to the ground, injured and crying.


Rano limped back home, humiliated and hurt.


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The Moral of the Story

The contrasting journeys of Bano and Rano hold a timeless lesson: kindness always brings rewards, while selfishness and arrogance lead to loss and suffering.

Bano’s generosity and willingness to help others not only made her grandmother proud but also earned her blessings in unexpected ways. Rano’s rudeness and laziness, however, left her empty-handed and punished.

The story reminds us that life often mirrors our actions. When we respect and support others, goodness comes back to us in abundance. But when we act with selfishness, we may find ourselves facing hardships.

So, let us all remember: Helping others is never wasted—it always returns to us in beautiful ways.