The Crystal Ball

In the southern part of Spain, there was a small village whose people were lived very joyfully. The children used to played under the shades of trees in the gardens of their homes.

A shepherd boy named Nasir lived near the village with his father, mother and grandmother. Each morning, he took his some goats up on the hills to find a good place for them to graze.  After noon time he would return with them to the village. Each night his grandmother would tell him a good and short story like the story of stars.

One days, as Nasir was watching his herd and playing his flute, he saw a wonderful light behind a flower bush. As he approached the bush, he saw a very beautiful and transparent crystal ball.

The crystal ball was glittering as it was a colorful rainbow. Nasir  took it carefully in his hand and turned it around just to check. With surprise, suddenly, he heard a very weak voice which was coming from the crystal ball. That voice asked Nasir to ask any kind of and definitely he will make it happen.

Nasir couldn't believe that he actually heard a voice from the ball. When he make it sure that he had indeed heard that voice from the crystal ball, he became very confused. He had so many wishes that he could not decide that which one should ask. He thought what if I wait till tomorrow, I will remember so many things till then. Then I will ask my wish.

He put the crystal ball inside his bag and, happily returned to the village. He decided that he will not tell anyone about that crystal ball.

On the following day too, Nasir couldn't decide what to ask for, because he really had everything in his life.

The days passed as usual, but Nasir was still unable to make his wish. But he appeared to be very cheerful. The people around him were amazed to see the change in his disposition.

One day, one of his friend followed Nasir and his herd, and hide behind a tree. Nasir, as usual, sat in one corner, took out that crystal ball and for moment looked at it. The boy waited for a moment when Nasir would sleep. As Nasir fall asleep, the boy took the crystal ball and ran away from there.

When he reached the village, he called all the people of the village and showed them that crystal ball. Villagers took the crystal ball in their hands and turned it around surprisingly. Suddenly they heard a voice coming from the ball, which said, “I can fulfill your all wish you ask for.” One villager took the ball and said, “I want one bag full of gold coin.” Another took the ball and said very loudly, “I want 2 chests full of jewelry.” Some of them wished for their own palace with a grand door made of pure gold. Some others also wished for bags full of jewelry.

All their different different wishes were fulfilled, but still the villagers weren't happy. They were jealous because the villagers have palace had no gold and rest have the gold but had no palace. For this reason, the citizens of the village were angry on each other and stopped talking to each other. The gardens in the village where children used to play but now there was none. There were only palaces and gold everywhere. The children became unhappy. Only Nasir's family were happy and contented. Everyday he would play the flute.

One day, all the children took the crystal ball to Nasir and said, “When we had nothing, we all were happy and joyful.” The parents also spoke and said the same words. The luxurious palaces and jewelry only bring uncomfort.”

When Nasir saw that the people were really regretful for what they did, he said, “the crystal ball asked me to wish, but i didn't. And, if you really want your happyness back, then I will wish for it.”

Everyone happily agreed. Nasir lift the ball in his hand, turned it around and wished that the village would become the same as they were before. At the same moment, the palaces disappeared, the green gardens appeared again, and the same old village full of trees was seen then.

Once again the people started living happily and the children started playing under the shade of trees. Nasir continued his contented life, playing his flute during sunset.

Moral: We must be happy with whatever we have and but not be greedy.