《The Immortal Tales》 Fate There was once a king who cut his finger with a sharp knife while peeling an apple. When he yelled out for his physician to come to his aid; His minister said: "No deed of god is without a reason." The king was saddened to hear this; The king cried out: " What is the wisdom in cutting my finger?" He then ordered the minister to be imprisoned. And so a few days passed until the day when the king went hunting in the forest. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. In the thrill and excitement of the sport, he rode so far away from his soldiers that he suddenly found himself alone among the savage tribes. They arrested the king and tied him to a tree to kill him. But... This tribe had a strange custom. It was that the bodies of their victims should be perfectly healthy and complete. And because the king did not have a finger, they released him from his binds and let him be. The king returned to his palace. He was thinking about what his minister had said and ordered to set him free. When the minister came to the king''s service, the king said, "You are right, cutting my finger was wise for me, but what was the use of this prison for you other than suffering?" The minister smiled at the king and replied: It was useful for me as well my king." The minister continued: "You see my king, I am always by your side. If I had not been in prison that day, they would have killed me by now." The two men smiled as they truly realized how the wheels of fate turned. Never again would the king question the wisdom of fate. A Tale of Two Friends There were once two friends walking on a road trip in the desert. On the way, they disagreed on a subject and started to argue with each other. One of them slapped the other out of anger. The friend who had been slapped got upset. However, without saying anything, he wrote this on the sand ''Today my best friend slapped me in the face.'' They continued their trip together until they arrived at an oasis. They decided to stop there for a while to rest near the pond. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Suddenly the person; who had been slapped; slipped and fell into the water. He was about to drown when his friend came to help him and save him. After being saved from drowning, he carved into a rock this sentence. ''Today my best friend saved my life.'' His friend asked him surprisingly: "After I annoyed you with that slap, you wrote that sentence on the sand but now you carve this sentence into a stone rock?" The other friend smiled and said "When someone annoys us, we must write it on the sand so that the winds of forgiveness can remove it but when someone does us a favor, we must crave it into the stone so that no wind can remove it from our memory. The Good, The Bad, The Ugly Truth One day, a man was going into the desert and saw a snake burning in a fire. He put his staff into the fire and saved the snake. The snake climbing the staff, went into a defensive mode to sting the man. The man asked him: What are you doing? I saved you from the fire. The snake responded: Don''t you know that the response for goodness is badness? The man replied: What are you saying? Goodness must be responded with goodness. The discussion went up yet the snake would not accept it. Finally, they decided to ask 3 people for judgment. So they journeyed on until they reached a spring. They asked the spring for its judgment The spring stated "I agree with the snake. The response to goodness is badness." The man replied "How? How can this be?" The spring said, "Sit here and watch." The man soon saw a passerby come to the spring and drank from its cold and pure water and washed his face. He then blew his nose and threw it into the spring and went away. The spring said: Did you see? He drank from my water and quenched his thirst and washed his face; why did he blow his nose (inside me) then? If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. The man said, "Let us go to another person." They went until they came to a tree. They told the tree about the story and the tree too confirms that the snake was right. The man asked "How? How can this be?" The tree said, "Sit here and watch." They saw a tired shepherd come and sit in the shade of the tree to rest. He then picked up some fruits from the tree and ate them. In the end when he was about to leave; He broke a branch of the tree and took it with himself. The tree said "Oh man, you saw it, did you not? He rested under my shade; ate my fruits to get energy, then why must it be that he would harm me and brake my branch. Do you now see that the response to goodness is badness?" The man replied "This cannot be. we must ask one final judge." The man and the snake continued their journey until they got to a fox. They told the story to the fox and asked for his judgment. As the fox was very sly, he said "I cannot judge this way. We must make a fire and the snake must go into the fire and you (man), must take him out, and only then I''ll judge. Both sides, the man and the snake accepted the deal. They made a fire and threw the snake into it. As the man was going to put his staff into the fire to aid the snake; The fox said "What are you doing? Didn''t you learn a lesson that the response to goodness is goodness and badness is badness? Let the snake burn in the fire of his ignorance and save your own life." The man finally accepted and thanked the fox for his help. The fox said goodbye to the man and went away. The man was still standing beside the fire and watching the snake burning when a hunter came to him. The hunter asked "Have you seen anything for me to hunt around here? A rabbit, a fox, or something." The man said "Minutes ago, a fox went this way." As he pointed to the direction the fox took. The hunter went and after a while, he came back with the fox''s corpse, almost dead and with a few breaths. With those final breaths, the fox said to the man "Do you now see that the response to goodness is badness?" The fox continued "If I hadn''t saved you from the snake, I wouldn''t die today." Indeed. Normally, the response to goodness was badness. it was abnormal to respond in good. Plight On a hot summer day, there was once a lion and a boar; Who met at a spring to drink before they hit the floor. Yet the lion and the boar, each wanted to drink first; come what fate might instore. So they clashed with one another; Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. each of them a great fighter. After quarreling for an hour, the two decided to rest; Before they got rid of the other pest. But as fate would instore; A few vultures lay in wait for them to end the lore. When the two saw the vultures; They regret their actions. They said to each other "Instead of fighting to satiate the vultures, let us end this senseless war and drink with a friendly roar." This is where the wisdom of old comes into play; ''Why must a wise man; enter into a fray; that lead to regret on that day." A Date For A Camel There was once a man traveling in the desert with a giant traveling sack. The man was barefoot and tired from the day''s work and the journey he was in. From far away he spotted a man riding a camel toward his direction. The man waited for the rider; to ask if he could ride along with him. "Oh traveler, I am tired and my journey is long, can you not take pity on me and let me get along?" said the barefooted man. The rider looked at the barefooted man carefully and said "You have a giant sack on your back. Why did you not sell it to get a camel if that''s what you lack?" "This baggage is my livelihood, I sell it and I''m done at my root." said the barefooted man as he continued "We are both from the same city, let me ride with you as space you have plenty." "My camel has enough strength for one man, I don''t have time for this so move while you can." said the pouting rider. The barefooted man cursed at the rider as he saw him dash towards the town; but what could he do, other than continue. And so some time went by and the sun was still shining hot under the sky. Less than half a farsang away, he saw the man off of his camel and holding his stomach. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. The man went closer and asked him "Why are you here rider? Why are you writhing like a dead spider?" The hungry rider replied, "You sell dates in your bag, please give some, I feel like an old rag." The barefooted man was now pouting; It was now his turn to be grumbling. "My sack has enough food for one man, you should have sold your camel for dates before you made your plan." said the barefooted man The barefooted man continued on his journey. The rider was now cursing at the man''s back; But what could he do when his hunger attack. Do not misunderstand, should the rolls be reversed, the barefooted man would too not let the rider get on the camel. This is just them getting at one another. Hours went by and the families of the rider and the barefooted man were gathered at the city gate. From far away they spotted a riderless camel moving towards them while holding a sack with his mouth. The camel dropped the sack in front of the barefooted man''s family and went and sat in front of the rider''s family. The young and old of the city got on their rides and ventured into the desert to find the two men. They first found the unconscious barefooted man and a few distances away they found the rider in the same state. The two were brought back to the city to heal. Some time passed and the two got up at last. The two still threw daggers with their eyes at each other; They right out accused each other of evil deeds. The families were puzzled and inquired. "This man refused to let me ride with him to the city. His evil knows no bounds and is filled with enmity." said the barefooted man. The rider spat on the ground and responded "You gluttonous fool! You denied me some food. You are as good as a broken stool." The two families laughed at the story. A young man stood up in front of the two and said "Truly the rider does not know the pain of the riderless and the full know the pain of the hungry." The Righteous Once upon a not-so-distant time, There was a lush forest filled with the beauties of nature. One day, a hunter went to the forest to set trap for a prey. Some time passed by and a beautiful deer was caught in the trap where it lay. No matter how much the deer struggled, it could not escape from this trap. The deer finally stopped it''s futile struggle even though it wanted to take a nap. Moments passed by and the deer saw a white mouse come out of a hole right where it lie. The deer cried out towards the mouse and said "Oh dear mouse, we are not friends nor do I have any right over you, but I see kindness and goodness in you. So I plea to you to aid me with your sharp tooth and god''s grace you shall receive." The mouse who at that time paused ''This deer wants something, what is the cause?'' If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. The deer continued "This way you will do a good deed and I would get rid of this hunter''s deceit. Free me and I will serve you at your command. In the end, not only will you be a high-ranked person in this life but in the next, you would be a paragon of light." Unfortunately for the deer, this mouse was no-good doer. "An unbroken head is not taken to a doctor; why must I shoulder the ire of the hunter." said the impertinent mouse as he continued "I know my place and I still remember the hunter''s face; if I help you, he will hunt me with an angry face." The deer was shocked at this response; never did it imagine to death he would be tossed. The no-good mouse still gave excuses; It tried its best to leave for its nest. "I am a believer of the saying ''Some people break their own homes while they are righteous''. So for these reasons, please do not expect anything of me." the no-good doer mouse said this to the deer and dashed towards its lair. Just as the mouse was breaths away from its home; An eagle dived and picked it for its own. The poor deer then shed a tear; It struggled and struggled until it heard the hunter. The hunter saw the beautiful deer, and he thought to himself "You will not die, your beauty is too dear." So the hunter took the poor deer into market town; There they met a kind old good doer; who paid for the deer. "Those who help spare a life will themselves be spared of an unjust death." said the good old man with his staff in hand. The kind old man took the deer to the forest and set it free; It''s true, his kindness fills my lips with glee. And so the impertinent mouse got what he deserved; Albeit in an eagle''s nest where it got served. So this was the tale of how the deer was spared; Ask the mouse, oh! yes perhaps not. God gave ''right to the righteous'' for us to enjoy; Death and pain for those who ploy. 12th Good Deed There was once a notice pinned on board in the street. The notice said ''I have lost 15 dinars and I need the money as I cannot afford my living expenses. Whoever found the money, please bring it to this address.'' A man saw the notice among others and decided to take 15 dinars of his own money to this person. The kind man knocked on the wooden door and an old woman opened its door. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. "Greetings oh mother, I have found the money you lost." said the man as he handed over the money. when the old woman saw this, she started crying and refused to take the money. The kind man thought that she was happy about getting back her money but then the old woman said "Son, you are the 12th person who has come to my home and claimed to have found my money." The kind man understood everything about that money and while still smiling gave the money to the old woman ignoring her protests. As the man was about to leave, the old woman cried out to him "Son, please remove the paper with which you saw this request for I neither placed it there nor am I literate enough to write it. Seeing kind people like you brings me much happiness." A Friendly Play Let me tell you a tale; Like the sorrows of a nightingale. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. BAM The Mystic Sage And A Man At a Sorrowful Stage It is said that long ago, there was a great Mystic who loved to take a stroll in the evening the shore. Every day, he used to walk along the coast and ponder, the unimaginable. He considered the coast to be an excellent location for him to think of wonders. He marvelled at the sight of the setting sun and the beautiful waves of the windy sea where he thought about God''s power of creation. In his mind, everything was beautiful in nature and fantastic in function. If you would see him, you would think he is a fisherman who is always eager around the sea or a lover who has come for guidance in his affair. On a day, this great mystic saw upon the rock of the shore, a man sitting in sorrow; His light of hope fleeting and heart hallow. It would seem that this man had notions of suicide, near the seaside. As the man gazed upon the sea; His face was filled with lament and sorrow; Without hope to see the light of tomorrow. He was like the embodiment of the saying "All his ships have sunk." The great mystic who knew of the people''s inner woes and secret laments just from the yellowness of their face, decided to approach the man and try to dissuade him from his final plan. And so the mystic approached with a greet and heard a response. The mystic asked the young man "why do you hold such lament and look so sad? What do you mourn for? tell me, young lad." This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. The young man kept to his silence. The mystic stated "You give in to grief, to what end? Just because you hold a mountain of lament, to the afterlife you want to be sent." Upon hearing the insistence of the stranger, the young man turned his head to face the stranger and said "Due to the farceur of my destiny, I have seen nothing but homelessness and poverty. Long have I desired materials and riches, long have I been denied and left with stitches. You see the pouch I carry, but do you know of food it is empty? All that is left is sour and filthy." The mystic heard of the young man''s grievance and simply responded "That''s it?" The young man looked puzzled but before he could utter a word, the stranger continued "Just because you are unable to seek a job, are poor and hungry, you have decided to be at death''s mercy?" "To you, are these small things to be sad about?" asked the young man to the mystic. The mystic firmly responded "So small are they, it is not worth pondering about death and dismay; Let alone worrying so in this place and stay like trying to build a castle out of hay." The mystic sat next to the young man and said "Allow me to give you an example, so you will understand my words in ample." The young man nodded, and the mystic said "Imagine a ship that you own, carrying all your wealth that you own. The ship is sunk and you find a raft, fleeting on the water along with a wooden shaft." The mystic noticed curiosity upon the young man''s face and noted the dimming of his sadness. The young man listened to the mystic with a silent passion to hear what this old man had to say. The mystic continued "You wondered on this raft with what was left of your might; day after day, you survive each darkness of night with fright; but in a month, yes a month, by feasting on crabs and fishes raw and tough, you managed to see the shore" The young man felt a kindle of light burning inside his chest as he listened to his very best. The mystic continued with his tale "As you get yourself to the shore, you sit upon this stone, gaze at the sea all alone; You lost goods, ship and wealth, and that too at an unfortunate length but here you are in good health." The young man heard this grim tale of what could be. His sorrow surged again as he was listening to what this stranger had to tell. The stranger took out a flask from under his robe and said "You who lost your wealth on the ship. Here I swear you would willingly give it up; As quickly as I can take from this wine a sip." The young man thought about what the stranger said. He would indeed give all the wealth in the world, just to stay alive as the stranger told. The mystic concluded, "Right now imagine you have indeed survived, and take that wealth you traded to be alive. So now tell me, you heard what I relay; Is this not a small price to pay." The young man realized the value of his life he was blind to. He smiled at the stranger and as he felt all his pain and sorrow being washed away and in his memory, issues no longer stay. The young man held the stranger''s hand and kissed it. He said "You speak the wisdom of a sage. You brightened my heart and saved me from a self-destructive rage." Sometimes our pain may feel eternal and hope every so bleak. We think that there would be no relief, but thinking so is the only cause of your grief. The Promise In a town not too far from our time, there was once a wealthy merchant, who by the age of 70, had amassed a great fortune. This old merchant was lying on a thin bed over the hard floor. God had given him all the wealth one could hope for; well perhaps more for him but with all the gold, the softest of chinese silk and servants around him, the man was sad as he lay on his death bed. It is not death or the afterlife he feared; it was the world of the living where his heart yet lingered. Not for himself, but rather for his son. The old man had a son who was a spendthrift. It would ease him to an extent it was on himself but he spent most of his gold on his friends. Lavish feasts, gambling, tours and so on. Right now, in his last moments, only his faithful butler Jafar stood beside him. *cough* *cough* "Jafar, where is my son? Why.....has he....not come to me yet?" asked the old merchant as he breathed heavily. "Forgive me my master; I have sent for him hours ago. I''m sure he is on his way" replies Jafar as he bowed his head further down to not meet the gaze of his master. You see, Jafar had no hope that the master''s son would even care to come to the last moments of his father but this was something that he could not tell his master at this time. As Jafar picked a glass with a narrow edge to help his master drink some water, he said "Master, please drink some water. it''s brewed with saffron. This will give you strength and give you life." The merchant gazed at his kind butler and said "Jafar... you have been... with me... for 40... years. Has there... ever been... lies... between us?" Jafar raised his head and said, "Never master." *cough* *cough* "Then you know... that I will not live... to see the light of tomorrow." said the old merchant. Jafar yet again lowered his head for he too knew his master would not live long to see the next day and so he just kept his silence. Moments passed and Jafar heard a creak coming from a distance. He excused himself from his master and went to the main hall. Even though he was just a butler to this family. What he saw broke his heart. The young master had come back in a half-drunk state as he was resting on a couch. Uncaring of what was happening. "Young master! please come with me, your father does not have much longer to live." pleaded Jafar. The young master groaned as he was annoyed and said "Fine fine fine. Can''t even rest for goodness sake." In the span of 7 breaths, they reached the master''s room. "Master, your son is here to see you." said Jafar as he stood by the door. The young master lazily pulled himself closer to his father as he lazily sat next to the bed as if he was about to douse. The old merchant mustered all the strength within his body to advise his son. he said "Son, do you still not know that those people who you call friends... call you so because of your money?" His son yet leaning towards him as before; eyes shut and silent. The old merchant continued "Which one of these people who you call friend... will come to your aid when you need them? But of course, you do not understand my words... yet." The merchant took out his hand from under the blanket and moved his hand towards his son. "Take this, my son." The young master opened his eyes and opened his palm, thinking that his father is going to give him something of value but as his father opened his hand, he saw that it was a key. "This key opens the door to the old cellar... In it, there is a rope noose... I want you to promise me... when you have lost everything... when you are broken... when you are alone... when you hunger... open the door to the cellar and hang yourself." said the old merchant to his son. The boy was not moved. It could be due to his half-drunken state or so but being forced, he nodded his head. As soon as he did so, the arm of the old merchant which was raised to give his son the key fell as he drew his last breath and passed away. Funeral horns were played to signal his death as the many people who he helped mourned for him. *** Two days passed by and the young master was dressed in lavish attire to get ready to meet his friends. Jafar who now served the young master expressed lament and said "Young master, it has been just two days since the master passed away. I must advise against going out for spending time with friends and leisure instead of mourning our loss." The young master who previously was in good spirits expressed his annoyance and said "It is true my father died, but I cannot make my friends suffer by barring myself from them. I cannot be so selfish." Jafar who was revolted at this response did not change his expression and said "It is not selfish to keep time for family; even if it is, so let it be." "Enough of this! I don''t wish to have this discussion again. Tie my shoes. I''m running late." said the young master with an entitled expression. Jafar looked at him and then at his shoes and slowly but reluctantly he knelt to tie his shoe. The young master noticed his expression and as he looked down on him, he said "If you do not like the state of affairs you are always free to quit. If there is one thing a lot of in this world is servants." Jafar was still kneeling as he heard this and he slowly got up and bowed his head towards the young master and said "Goodbye young master. I wish you happiness in life." He then left the manor and let the young master do as he pleased. Time passed and slowly but surely the coffers were being emptied. Each day the young master went out, he spent a small fortune. Life was everything that the young master wanted it to be. He enjoyed the company of his friends who respected him and were always there to make him smile and have a good time. And so it came to past where our young lord was searching for coins all over the manor. *** The manor was now a poor image of its past. Most of its furniture, paintings and anything of value was gone. "Well then sir. here are the coins for the furniture''s I selected. I noticed another cellar but it was locked. Is there nothing of value there?" said a man. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. The young master who was gloomily looking at a corner of the wall came to himself and without moving the direction of his gaze said, "That room doesn''t have anything of value." "That may be but surely there must be more items in there than in this place. Hahahaha." responded the man. *** Months later, an old and cheap dinner which served food for the labourers had a peculiar customer. A man covered in torn and ragged clothes sat on one of the chairs of this diner. All the customers recognised this man as they looked at him with curiosity and pity. Everyone knew who this beggar-looking man was. A waiter boy came to take orders as soon as he saw the man take his seat. The man presented the boy with 1 copper coin, which was not enough for anything they sold even to labourers. The boy looked at the man and as he did so he took a step back. The boy saw the face and eyes of a broken man. sorrow and hardship overtaking any noticeable feature he had. The boy looked towards the distance where his boss stood. The boss had noticed the man as he entered and saw the whole affair and how much he had paid. The boss nodded towards the boy and the boy accepted the coin and went away to bring his order. In but a few minutes, the boy returned with a small sack. The man in tattered clothes opened the sack and saw in it lie 2 eggs and 2 flatbreads. He thanked the boy and got up and left as silence still lingered within the busy dinner. As the tattered man left, the boss of the dinner had come out and saw the silhouette of the man disappear and said in a sorrowful tone "Young master. What has become of you?" *** As the former young master went back to the deserted mansion, he kept the small lunch sack next to the empty Persian howz to get out of his attire. Unfortunately for him, a crow saw flew down to the sack and lifted it into the air and took it with itself. The former young master could not react in time and so his lunch flew and his hunger grew. The former young master decided to pay a visit to his friends. Surely, they would be of help when they hear of his terrible fate or at least with the crow. *** "AHAHAHAHAHA! It is true! It is true! The fool did try milking the bull." "HEHEHEHE! A spectacle sure to behold indeed." "KAKAKAKA! Come my friends come; let us feast." "HOHO! Such a mouth-watering turkey. You''ve outdone yourself. KHAKHAKHAKHA!" The former young master went into the divan and saw his 4 friends feasting on a giant turkey. He went up to them and said with an amiable smile "Good afternoon, my friends. It has been quite some time." The 4 people paused and looked in the direction of the voice and saw an eye sour. The four of them instinctively thought the same thing, ''blaa, why has he come, this company is no longer for him.'' The place fell into silence. non even wanted to look at this newcomer. All their joy had turned to ash by him just standing next to them. "I see you guys are feasting. It has been a long since we were united like this. Haha" said the former young master. "Indeed, it has. So, tell me, what has bought you here?" said one of the friends. The former young master sat a little close to the table, too close for the friend''s comfort and said "Actually, a strange thing happened to me before I came here. I was in the process of getting ready to eat my lunch when a crow flew to my lunch sack and took off with my meal." The four friends looked at each other to make sure the others heard the same thing. "Yes, so then I wondered to myself that you guys must be here so I might as well join my friends. Haha." said the former young master with an innocent laugh. "AH, young master! If it is food you want, why don''t you say so? why makeup such a lie? This is ridiculous." said one friend. "Indeed. I don''t think he was even trying. HEHEHEHE!" said another friend. "But my friends. when have I ever lied to you? I speak the truth." said the former young master. "Enough enough, just take a piece of meat and be done with it." responded the friend. "Or rather, I think it is best you at least sing for us first. Surely the sound of music will give an ambient serenity to our feast." said another friend. "But how can he sing on an empty stomach?" inquired a friend. "Do you not know that best voices are produced with an empty stomach? Surely, he can wait a bit more before he eats. Come on, sing for us." said one of his friends. "Yes, I agree, sing." said all his friends. The young master who once thought to have led this bunch of friends was now seated on the ground as his right hand slipped into the pocket of his robe and looked as if he was stunned. He pondered and pondered hard at the past and soon he reached the point where he made a promise to his father. he took out his hand from his robe and within his palm, he held something that was his last possession. "Oh, what''s that? It looks like a... key?" said a friend closest to him. The young master got up from his seat. No longer minding these lot and made his way towards his manor. "What''s this now? Didn''t you want to eat?" "Here you not hungry? Where are you going?" *** *Creak* The door of a cellar opened and within its very centre was the very noose his father mentioned. Without hesitation, the young master stepped on a chair and place his head within the noose and kicked the chair away... *Boom* *** "Young master? Where are you young master?" said a familiar voice. Needless to say, the voice belonged to non-other than Jafar. Jafar searched every room in the manor until he got to the cellar. As he entered, he saw the young master amongst what looked like rubble. "Young master! what has happened?" asked Jafar The young master in our story... well....he....he was alive. But kept his silence. Jafar raised his head and placed his young master''s head on his chest as he embraced him with tears and said "Thank the all mighty! Thank the all mighty your alive sir. I saw you at the diner and I thought to visit you..." As Jafar was talking, he tried to move a few of the rubbles away from his young master. That''s when he noticed. *CLINK* *CLINK* Jafar came to himself and noticed sack after sack of coins and gems all around his young master. Jafar then looked at his young master and within his eyes, he noticed change; he noticed resolution. *** "Thank you, my friends, for coming to his feast! Thank you for coming and gracing me with your presence." said the young master who was now full of his previous vigour to his friends. "But of course, after all, what are friends for then? HAHAHAHA!" said one of the friends. "Indeed. I personally wanted to visit you a multitude of times but I thought that you might be quite busy hence I did not disturb you." said another friend. The young master nodded and said "Indeed it had certain issues in my way but nothing I did not overcome. It matters not. Let us now enjoy the feast have prepared for you all!" He then turned towards the door and said "Jafar. hurry up and make ready the meal. Our guests are waiting." The four friends were now salivating with the thought of such a lavish feast. "My friends, I wanted to confess something strange that I witnessed the other day while I was walking past the field. I saw a crow fly down to a herd of sheep and picked a sheep with its talons and flew again into the air. Is that not strange?" said the young master. The four friends looked at each other and one of them said "No I don''t think it''s strange at all. There are a lot of stranger things that happen in this world so something like this is bound to happen and is normal." "Yes, that''s true. Things like these happen all over the world, yes. KAKAKA." said another friend. "Agreed." "Indeed." The bright smile upon the young master''s face suddenly turned cold and he said "So you say this can happen, yes? Interesting, yet the time I said that a crow took a small sack of food you all called me a liar but now you believe a crow could take off with a sheep?" The four friends were caught off guard by such a response. They all looked at their plates, not daring to look at the young master. The young master then continued "It matters not. I did not bring you here for a lecture of the past. I''ve invited you here to give you all a food meal that you all deserve." The young master then turned towards the door and said "Jafar! Bring the food for our guests!" The foolish friends who still thought they were going to receive the feast they were promised suddenly turned pale as they tried to dash towards the exits of the room. Such a strong reaction was probably not because they suddenly lost their appetite but rather, they saw around six angry-looking men coming into the hall with giant beating sticks. The young master now sat at the table with Jafar standing next to him and said "As promised, I will give you a feast worthy of my dear friends. Eat up. I want you all to remember this day whenever you hear the word ''feast''." *** Moments passed and it was just the young master with Jafar in the room and as the Jafar loyally served his father, the young master turned to Jafar who stud behind him and said "Jafar, thank you for helping me. I am nothing like my father, but a man of my own, flawed and scared, but I promise this, I will strive to be a better man and it would mean the world to me to have you by my side again." Jafar heard all that his young master had to say and at the end, he knelt on the ground on one leg and said "Young master, through war and hell, I promise I shall always stay by your side." And so, our story ends with a certain young master who changed and made amends and of course to his friend''s misfortune was about to commence. The Servant And The Vazir Once upon a time, in a kingdom lost to your books and buried under the sands of time. There was a king who lacked many skills and abilities. One too many times was his kingdom on the verge of famine, rebellion and war. All these attributes made the king a bitter and cruel man. You might wonder how he was still not deposed, his statues broken and paintings torn. Well my friends, as with some in our lives, he too had a trusted aid. Not in the form of a Vazir or noble but a rather scrupulous servant. One too many times was the king in great peril and one too many times did the wise servant serve his master where others had failed him. As a result, the king confined the matters of state with the servant and trusted his judgement with one and all things. As with all incorruptible men who had a jealous foe, this story too has one in the form of a grand Vazir. There were many instances that the grand Vazir had failed his task to aid the king where the servant succeeded. The fires of jealousy burned brazenly in his heart and did all within his power and perhaps much more to get rid of the servant but each and every time he failed to entrap the wise servant in his schemes. One day, the tired servant was more displeased than he had ever been. He advised the king just so the Vazir could come in and try to dissuade the king because he was but a servant. The wise servant hatched a plan and so in the dead of night, he snuck out of the palace; away from this clamour. News reached the Grand Vazir and he jumped out of his bed with excitement; got dressed in a matter of seconds and dashed towards the king''s bed chamber. The Vazir knew that it was forbidden by the king''s decree for anyone to leave the palace grounds. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. "Your majesty! That insolent servant has fled from the grounds of your divine palace. I have sent men to capture him at once." said Grand Vazir The king who was still in his nightgown stood up from his chair and said "How dares he! Bring him to me. An example must be made." The Gand Vazir made a sly smile and bowed towards his king. They then made their way towards the throne room to wait for the accused. Time passed and the holy sun was about to rise and then *CREAK* The great door of the throne room opened and the conscientious servant was bought in. "Impotent fool! You knew that to leave the palace grounds without orders is to undermine the king. Did you not know that there will be severe punishments for it!" said the king to the servant. The king turned towards the Grand Vazir and asked "Grand Vazir, what should the punishment for leaving the palace grounds be?" The Gand Vazir who had been waiting for this moment for a very long time said "Oh great king! He who knowingly runs away from the palace and fears not of the repercussions from his majesty must be killed so that it would serve as an example to others that disobey." The king was taken aback by this response. He knew that the Vazir had his own animosity with the servant and wanted nothing but to take out his rival. The king did not really want to harm the servant and knew that he would need his advice in the future as well and so he stood there in silence and pondered on what to do. The wise servant who noticed the king''s hesitance in neither killing nor torturing him said "Oh exalted king! It is well within reason that I might be at fault for your grace but in the eyes of God I am innocent." The wise servant shifted his gaze to the Vazir and said to the king "My king if you still wish to kill me and not be responsible in the presence of god then might I suggest allowing me to kill this evil and deceitful Vazir. This way I will no longer be innocent and you would be executing a murderer and be absolved of all blame to the end of time." The king laughed as he was amused by the cunning plan his servant hatched against to now-pale Vazir. "Oh, Grand Vazir. Now what are your thoughts about the execution of the servant?" said the king The Grand Vazir who was frightened by the idea that like with all matters; the king would accept the servant''s words said "Oh Great king! Please forgive this selfish servant''s mistake for it is said in times of old ''The joy that is there in forgiveness is not there in vengeance.''" The king once again laughed and said "Because of your words I have decided not to execute him." The king then made a serious expression with zeal in his eyes and said "Oh Vazir. Mark my words and itch them in your soul. Never dig a pit to entrap others for you might be the one who falls into it."