1 Aladdin and the Magic Lamp

It's a very old matter. Once upon a time, in a small village in Afghanistan, there lived a poor man named Mustafa. Due to lack of money his life was being spent with great difficulty. His family consisted of three members. Mustafa himself, his wife and their only son. Whom he lovingly named 'Aladdin'.

Mustafa was very poor. Somehow he managed to feed himself and his family by sewing people's clothes, because sewing people's clothes was his only employment.

Since Mustafa had only one son, he wanted to educate his son and make him a great man. His wish was that his son should study and become a great man and bring glory to his name, but Aladdin had no interest in education. He hated books very much. He was temperamental. He was neither concerned about his father's feelings nor about his future. His entire day was spent in sports.

Aladdin was always worried about the absence of a death certificate. Mustafa tried to convince Aladdin in various ways, but Aladdin was as if he was a greasy pitcher. Nothing Mustafa says has any effect on him. After trying his best to convince Aladdin, Mustafa became very disappointed. Since he used to earn his living by tailoring people's clothes, Mustafa decided to teach tailoring to Aladdin as well. He talked to Aladdin about this, but Aladdin flatly refused to learn the tailor's work.

Hearing Aladdin's refusal, Mustafa became even more dejected. That poor guy was worried day and night, wondering what would happen to Aladdin after his death? This thing was eating Mustafa from within. One day Mustafa fell ill while worrying about Aladdin. Despite much treatment, there was no improvement in his condition. His illness increased day by day and one day Mustafa left this world with the grief of his son pressed deep in his chest. Now Aladdin was left alone in this world with his mother.

Time passed and as time passed, Aladdin also grew older. Under these circumstances, after some time, Aladdin became young, but even after becoming young, there was no change in his nature. Regardless of his responsibilities, he would still be busy playing with the children. Aladdin's mother was very angry at his careless nature, but being bound by the love and affection of her only son, she was never able to put pressure on Aladdin.

One day Aladdin was playing marbles with some of his friends outside the settlement. He was continuously losing in this game, so he was angry and was saying to his friends - "Don't laugh at me, I will definitely win in the end."

Suddenly a person who looked like a businessman came there. He was wearing a red turban on his head and had a bag hanging in his hand. Coming closer he said to Aladdin - "Is your name Aladdin?" Aladdin was first shocked to hear his name from a stranger, then said, "Yes! My name is Aladdin, but who are you? I have never seen you before nor do I know you. Then how can you name me?" Do you know?"

"You don't know me son, but I know you very well." The man who looked like a merchant said lovingly - "Because I have been away from you since the time you were a small child. Your father Mustafa was also alive at that time."

Aladdin was very surprised. "But who are you? What's your name?" "I am your uncle, son." That person said.

"I live abroad. I am deeply saddened to hear the news of your father's death, so I came here to meet you.

After that the man hugged Aladdin and started crying bitterly and while crying he was saying only one thing - "Alas! My brother, you were so good. I was unfortunate that in the last moments I could not even see your face nor Could anyone help you? Forgive me brother."

Then he kissed Aladdin's forehead and said - "Son, now you are the last symbol of my brother. You are the living image of my brother Mustafa. From today onwards you are my only son."

Aladdin, after receiving the love and affection of the merchant, got lost somewhere for a moment. He was convinced that this merchant was actually his uncle. He also started crying with her to ease the grief of his father's death.

The merchant remained silent for a few moments, then said - "Now I am leaving, son, I have a very important work. Because of which I cannot stay here any longer." Saying this, the merchant took out a small bag from his bag and gave it to Aladdin and said - "These are some Ashrafis, you keep them with you. They will be useful in the household expenses and after going home, say my greetings to your mother. I I will meet you tomorrow at the same time and at the same place, now I am leaving."

Saying this, the merchant went in the same direction from where he had come. Aladdin watched him go with surprise and happiness. Then he returned home.

His mother was spinning the charkha at home. He came to his mother and said, "Mother, today I met uncle Jaan. He has also given me these coins for household expenses."

"Uncle? Which uncle?" His mother said with surprise - "Son, you don't have any uncle. Even if there was one, he has died long ago as per your father's words. Then which uncle of yours is this?"

Aladdin was surprised to hear this. He told his mother everything that happened with the said uncle and said - "Mother, if that merchant is my 10 Aladdin's Magic Lamp

If there was no uncle, then why would he cry so much remembering my father? And why does he give me so many Ashrafis for free? he must be my father's brother

"Maybe you don't know anything about him?" "Yes, it is possible, because your father never mentioned this uncle of yours to me." Mother said.

"That's what must have happened, mother." Aladdin explained to his mother - "Before the marriage of you and father, Pilaji must have had a brother and he must have left the house due to some fight or quarrel with father. The news of father's death made him restless and "They came here to meet us."

Hearing this, Aladdin's mother said - "What you say sounds absolutely right, son. If it is so, then you must meet him tomorrow and bring him home."

Then his mother started spinning the charkha.

After that, Aladdin took out some Ashrafis from those Ashrafis and went to the market to buy household items. Aladdin was very happy that day, because he got a lot of free coins. He was filled with joy after seeing those Ashrafis.

* * *

Translator: Abhay Mishra

Editor: Abhay Mishra

* * *