About the Author
Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi was a famous Pakistani writer and poet who lived from 1916 to 2006. He wrote in Urdu and shared stories full of heart and lessons about life. Qasmi loved telling tales about everyday people, their small joys, and big choices. He won many awards for his work and was like a wise storyteller from the neighborhood, making kids laugh and think. His stories often show how kids face temptations and grow stronger from mistakes. "Jalebis" is one of his fun yet teaching tales, first written in Urdu and then shared in English.
What’s the Story About?
This is a fun and touching story about a young boy who loves sweets but learns a hard lesson about being honest and smart with money. It's like a real-life adventure from the boy's school days, told with a mix of excitement and worry. The boy, who is in fifth class, gets four shiny rupees from his parents to pay his school fees. That's a big job for a kid! He feels proud carrying the money in his pocket as he walks to school.
But on the way, something amazing happens – or terrible, depending on how you see it. He passes a sweet shop where hot, crispy jalebis are frying in oil, twisting like golden rings and bubbling in sweet syrup. The smell hits him like a wave, and his mouth waters. The rupees in his pocket start "jingling" and whispering to him in his mind, saying, "Buy some jalebis! You deserve it!" The oldest coin even tricks him by saying he can use his scholarship money coming tomorrow to pay fees instead.
At first, the boy says no – he knows the money is for school. But the yummy smell wins. He buys a whole pile of jalebis with one rupee and eats them fast, like a hungry bird. Then, with the rest of the money, he buys more and shares with all the kids in the lane who come running. Everyone cheers and eats happily, but inside, the boy feels a knot in his tummy – not from the sweets, but from guilt. What if his parents find out? How will he pay the fees now?
The next day, he goes to school hoping for the scholarship, but it hasn't come yet – it's due next month. During break time, the teacher, Master Ghulam Mohammed, says it's time to collect fees. Panic! The boy runs out of school and walks far away to the railway tracks, even though grown-ups warn kids not to go there alone. He sits under a tree, feeling super sad and scared. Tears come, and he prays to God with all his heart. He recites lines from the Quran, says sorry for his mistake, promises never to do it again, and begs for four rupees to magically appear in his school bag so he can pay up.
He checks the bag – nothing. He goes home without telling anyone he skipped school. The next day, he tries school again but runs back at the gate. He prays under a big rock, asking God to put the money there. He lifts it – only a tiny worm! Days pass, he keeps praying and skipping school. Finally, his parents hear from the school and scold him big time. He feels even worse.
Years go by, and now the boy is in seventh or eighth class. Looking back, he wonders why God didn't help him that time. Then it hits him like a light bulb: If God gave us everything we ask for right away, life would be too easy. We wouldn't learn to work hard or be careful. Humans would be like animals or birds, just taking without thinking. That mistake with the jalebis taught him to control temptations and face the results of his choices. It's a story that makes you smile at the silly parts but nod wisely at the end.
Who’s Who in the Story
- Munna (The Boy/Narrator): The main hero, a fifth-class kid who is usually honest and good. He loves jalebis too much and spends his fee money on them, leading to big worry and prayers. Later, as a bigger kid, he learns from it all.
- Master Ghulam Mohammed: The strict but fair teacher who collects school fees. He is on leave one day, which gives Munna time to get tempted, and later announces fee day, scaring Munna away.
- Munna's Parents: Loving but firm mom and dad who give him the four rupees. They scold him when they find out he missed school, teaching him a lesson at home.
- Neighborhood Children: A bunch of happy kids in the lane who join Munna for the free jalebis. They add fun to the eating part but don't know his secret worry.
- The Coins (in Munna's Mind): Not real people, but funny imaginary voices. The "oldest rupee" chats like a naughty friend, pushing Munna to buy sweets.
Themes and Moral
Themes:
- Temptation and Self-Control: The story shows how yummy things like jalebis can trick even a good kid into doing wrong. It teaches that listening to your "inner voice" of right and wrong is key.
- Guilt and Making Mistakes: Everyone slips up sometimes. Munna's big worry after eating the sweets shows how bad choices make us feel inside, but facing them helps us grow.
- Faith and Prayers: Munna turns to God when in trouble, reciting holy words. But not getting what he wants teaches that prayers work with our own hard work, not magic fixes.
- Learning from Life: As Munna gets older, he sees how tough times build us. Easy wishes all the time would make life boring and us lazy.
Moral:
Think before you act – especially with money or promises. Temptations are sweet like jalebis, but honesty and effort taste better in the end. If you make a mistake, say sorry, learn, and try harder next time. God helps those who help themselves!
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
Here are some special words and fun phrases from the story. I've explained them like sharing notes with a friend, using easy examples.
- Jalebis: Crispy, syrupy sweets twisted like loops, fried fresh in oil. They're a favorite treat at festivals, sold by halwais (sweet makers) in markets.
- Jingling: The tinkly sound coins make when they rub together in your pocket, like little bells ringing as you walk.
- Devoured: Eating something super fast and with big bites, like finishing a whole plate of biryani in minutes because you're starving.
- Guilt: That heavy, yucky feeling in your chest when you know you did wrong, like hiding a broken toy from mom and worrying she'll find out.
- Scholarship: Extra money from school for smart or good kids, like a prize that helps pay fees without asking parents.
- Recess: The fun break time at school when you play outside or chat with friends, away from classes.
- Desperation: When you're so upset and hopeless that you feel like the world is ending, like losing your favorite cricket ball down a drain.
- Wriggly: Twisting and turning like a little worm on the ground, moving in a wiggly way when you poke it.
- Phrase: "Figment of imagination": Something made up in your head, not real – like dreaming your coins are talking to you about buying ice cream.
- Phrase: "The coins whispered": The boy hears the money "talking" softly in his mind, tempting him like a sneaky devil on his shoulder saying, "Go on, just one sweet!"