Once upon a time two poor merchants lived in a city. Their names were Nek-dil and Dusht-dil. They were friends. They decided to travel to distant lands to become rich. After traveling for many months they came to a desert. Buried in the yellow sand, under a thorny kikar tree, Nek-dil- found two ancient boxes. They were full of gold coins.

The two merchants were very happy. Now they were rich. So they returned home.

When they were outside their city, Nek-dil said. ``Friend, half of this treasure is yours. Please take one box.’’ ``No!’’ replied Dusht-dil. ``Thieves may rob us if we have all the gold coins it us. Let’s hide these treasure boxes in the forest and take only a hundred gold coins each. We hen we need more, we can come back together.’’

Nek –dil agreed. They hid the treasure boxes in the hollow of an old banyan tree and went home.

Nek –dil began to live in comfort. But he did not waste his money on foolish things.

Dusht—dil spent his money very quickly. He bought a big, new house, a stable full of horses, many silk dresses and lots of jewelry. Every evening he gave a grand feast to all his friends and relations.

In less than a month he had spent his hundred gold coins.

So Nek-dil and Dusht –dil went to the forest and took out a hundred gold coins from each box.

Again Dusht-dil spent al his money in a very short time Nek-dil dil still had a lot of money left.

Dusht-dil began to think of the hidden treasure in the hollow of the old banyan tree. He wanted both the boxes for himself. So he made a wicked plan. That night he went to the forest alone, took the boxes and hid them in his house.

After a few days Dusht-dil asked Nek-dil to go with him to the forest. Nek-dil said in surprise, ``I still have many gold coins left. Where has your money gone? Dusht-dil, you are a big spender. But never mind, there is a lot of treasure. We will go tomorrow morning’’.

Early next morning they went to the forest. But the boxes were not in the hollow of the banyan tree.

Dusht- dil pretended to be angry and shouted, ``you are wicked man! You have stolen the treasure.

Nek –dil was shocked. He understood that Dusht –dil had cheated him. But what could be done?

Dusht-dil complained to the city judge that Nek-dil had robbed his treasure and should be sent to prison. The proof was the money in Nek-dil’s house. ``But these coins are mine!’’ cried Neck-dil. `` I did not steal.’’ The judge could not decide the case.

Dusht-dil said to the judge, ``Sir, let us go to the banyan tree. Near it is a Peepal tree. The goddess of the forest lives in it. She will tell us the truth.’’ The judge agreed.

Meanwhile, Dusht-dil told his father to hide in the Peepal. Tree and pretend to be the goddess. The old man was angry. He did not want to lie. But Dusht-dil forced him.

Next morning the judge, his officers, Neck-dil and Dusht-dil went to the forest. Dusht-dil joined his palms, bowed in front of the Peepal tree and said, ``Greetings, goddesses of the forest! We have come to you for the truth. Tell us who the thief is Nek- dil or i?’’

A strange voice spoke out of the tree trunk: ``Nek –dil came one dark night and stole the two boxes.’’

Nek-dil fell on his knees and pleaded, ``Respected judge, please give me fifteen minutes. Then I shall go with your officers.’’

He quickly collected some dry twigs and lit a fire at the bottom of the Peepal tree. Thick smoke filled the air.

Suddenly an old man ran out shouting, ``Help! Fire is there’’

The judge understood Dusht-dil’s trick and put him in prison.

Nek-dil went home happily.