The Bandits, the Jewels, and the Cheeks

The Desert Express was rattling through the endless dunes under a wild desert sky. Inside the train, passengers dozed, munched on dry dates, or argued about politics no one cared about. But one man couldn’t sit still. His eyes kept darting left and right, like a cat planning to steal milk.

That was Kaloo. Everyone in the underworld knew the name. They said if Kaloo sat next to you for ten minutes, by the eleventh, whatever was in your pocket would magically belong to him. He wasn’t famous for his face—it was plain enough—but his eyes, sharp and restless, gave away his profession.

Next to him sat his partner, Rupert, a former railway guard turned reluctant sidekick. He leaned close and whispered, “Kaloo, I heard something. There’s a rich lady on this train. Name’s Sabri. And listen—she’s got jewels worth a fortune. But forget the jewels, brother… her cheeks are round. Round like hot bread.”

Kaloo froze. His one weakness was not gold or diamonds—it was round, chubby cheeks. He muttered under his breath, “Treasure is fine… but cheeks that make you smile? That’s real wealth.”

Rupert rolled his eyes. “Focus, man! We’re here for the jewels, not poetry.”

Kaloo ignored him. His mind was already racing. This wouldn’t just be a robbery—it might be love.

The train screeched as a desert windstorm slammed into it, shaking windows. Word spread quickly: bandits were waiting at the next station, ready to attack the train. Passengers gasped, clutching their bags.

Kaloo grinned. “Oh-ho! This is going to be fun. We came to steal, and now someone wants to steal from us.”

Rupert groaned. “Fantastic. We’ll get robbed before we can even rob anyone else.”

Kaloo finally saw her. Sabri sat in a private cabin, draped in silk, carefully dabbing powder on her cheeks with a tiny mirror. Kaloo nearly collapsed. “Good heavens! Those cheeks… they should charge rent for existing.”

He slipped into her cabin with his trademark sly smile. “Madam, such heavy jewels… don’t they weigh down your neck? Maybe I could, uh… lighten the burden?”

Sabri lowered her mirror and smirked. “Kaloo, do you think I don’t know who you are?”

Kaloo nearly choked. “Wait—how… how do you know me?”

She leaned in. “Your name is famous across the desert. But I won’t hand you to the police. I might actually need you.”

Kaloo blinked. “Need me? For what?”

She whispered, “The bandits coming to loot this train. If you help me stop them, maybe these jewels could be yours.”

Kaloo’s chest puffed up like a rooster. Jewels, cheeks, and heroism? Is this destiny or what?

When the train slowed near a lonely desert halt, the bandits made their move, banging on doors and shouting threats. Passengers panicked. Sabri glanced at Kaloo and raised an eyebrow. “Your turn.”

Kaloo’s knees were trembling, but he couldn’t back down now. He rushed out, grabbed one of the old chain levers between the cars, and yanked. With a violent clang, one of the train’s coaches disconnected. The bandits, trying to jump aboard, tumbled straight into the sandstorm as the rest of the train lurched forward.

The whole carriage erupted in cheers. “Kaloo! Kaloo! Long live Kaloo!”

Rupert slapped his back, laughing. “Look at you! We came here to be thieves, and you ended up a hero!”

Kaloo tried to look modest but failed miserably. His grin stretched from ear to ear.

Later, as the dust settled, Sabri called him over. Her smile was softer now. “Without you, we’d all have lost everything. Tell me, do you still want these jewels?”

Kaloo scratched his head. For once, he wasn’t thinking about riches. He looked straight at her and said, “Jewels sparkle for a moment. But your cheeks… those are priceless.”

Sabri laughed so hard she nearly dropped her bangles. “Kaloo, you’re a thief, but your heart might be more dangerous than your hands.”

The train rolled deeper into the desert night. Kaloo sat by the window, watching the dunes race by, a silly smile plastered on his face. He whispered to himself, “Sometimes the real treasure isn’t gold… it’s just cheeks that make you forget about it.”