Miya Fooski and the Magical Jalebi

- A fun-filled tale of greed, ghosts, and a clever little twist!

- His horse was gone… and in its place stood a donkey, tied to the same rope!

Jivram Joshi

‘‘D adaji… Dadaji… Dadaji!" Little Sonu came rushing in like a whirlwind and almost leapt onto his grandfather's lap.

"Careful, champ! You'll hurt your Dadaji!" said Dadiji, chuckling as she sat beside him. Dadaji laughed heartily and ruffled Sonu's hair just as Monu 

came skipping in.

"It's storytime, Dadaji!" she announced excitedly.

"Of course!" Dadaji said with a big smile. "What story shall I tell today?"

"A Miya Fooski story, of course!" both kids shouted together.

"I knew it!" Dadaji grinned. "Alright then, take your seats, little ones… Here comes another fun-filled tale of Miya Fooski!"

Dala Sheth was a rich trader in the village. One day, something very strange happened to him. He went to the fair riding a fine horse… but when 

he returned, he wasn't riding that horse anymore - he came back with a donkey! Everyone in the village was shocked. How could such a thing 

happen? Let's go back and find out what really went on.

It all began with the famous Ganeshwar Fair, held once every year. This was no ordinary fair - it was a huge event! There were colourful shops 

with toys, sweets, pots, tools, clothes, and bangles. The fair was full of laughter, songs, whistles, drums, and excitement. There were shows with 

magicians, acrobats, puppet players, and circus clowns. There was also a big animal market where people brought cows, buffaloes, goats, 

donkeys, and horses to sell and buy.

People came from nearby villages to enjoy the fair. Among them were two well-known characters - Miya Fooski, who loved fun and mischief, and 

Tabha Bhatt, who was serious and often grumpy.

One day, Miya Fooski told Tabha Bhatt, "Bhattji, get ready! We should go to the Ganeshwar Fair today. It's going to be full of fun!"

Tabha Bhatt replied, "Fun? These are all useless things. A waste of time!"

Miya Fooski laughed. "Come on, it'll be exciting. They're also showing a very popular film at the fair."

Tabha Bhatt frowned. "A film? Hah! That's just for lazy people."

Miya Fooski smiled. "No no, this one's different. You'll jump out of your seat when you hear its name."

"Fine, tell me," said Tabha Bhatt.

Miya Fooski said proudly, "The film is called Chaar Sau Bees!"

Tabha Bhatt got angry. "What?! Are you making fun of me? Calling me a 420?!"

Miya Fooski quickly said, "No no! That's really the film's name."

"Go alone," Tabha Bhatt huffed. "I'm not coming."

So Miya Fooski went to the fair all by himself.

As soon as he reached, Miya Fooski started looking for the movie tent. After wandering a lot, he finally found it. But all the tickets were sold out! 

Outside, some black market sellers were shouting loudly.

"Three rupees for a fifty-paise ticket!" they yelled.

Miya Fooski was furious. "You fraudsters! I won't pay three rupees for a silly movie."

He stormed away.

Just then, he saw Dala Sheth, who was also at the fair. Dala Sheth had come riding his black horse and was planning to sell it and buy a better 

one.

Dala Sheth said, "Miya Fooski, you came for the film too? These black market sellers are looting people!"

Miya Fooski nodded, "We're not fools to pay three rupees for a ticket."

Later, Dala Sheth went to the animal market. He sold his old horse and bought a new, beautiful horse. It was tall, shiny, and strong. Dala Sheth 

was very happy.

He thought, "I've saved money by skipping the movie. I'll buy jalebi and bhajiyas and enjoy them by the riverside. Then I'll ride home in peace."

As he was buying the sweets, a poor, skinny boy came up to him.

"Kind Sheth," said the boy, holding out his hands, "I'm so hungry. Please give me just a couple of jalebis."

Dala Sheth scolded, "Go away, beggar! You want to eat jalebis? Huh!"

The boy folded his hands. "Sir, God will bless you."

"Will you leave or should I slap you?" shouted Dala Sheth, raising his hand.

Just then, Miya Fooski arrived. He quickly caught Dala Sheth's hand.

"Wait, wait," said Miya Fooski. "Don't hit the poor boy."

Dala Sheth said angrily, "He wants my jalebis!"

Miya Fooski calmly replied, "He's hungry. Give him just two."

"If you feel so much sympathy, then feed him yourself!" said Dala Sheth.

Miya Fooski took out twenty paise, gave it to the jalebi seller, and said, "Give the boy some jalebis."

The boy smiled, received two jalebis, and walked away happily.

Dala Sheth was annoyed. He picked up his jalebis and bhajiyas and didn't even look at Miya Fooski.

He rode out of the fair and reached the riverbank by noon. There was a big shady banyan tree. He tied his horse to one of its thick roots, sat in 

the shade, and opened his snacks.

He was tired and hungry, and the food tasted amazing. He finished every last bite. Then he went to the river to drink water. The water was cool 

and clean like coconut juice. After washing his face, he returned to the banyan tree.

But what was this?

His horse was gone… and in its place stood a donkey, tied to the same rope!

"What happened?!" Dala Sheth cried. "Where's my horse?!"

He looked around in panic.

A man walking nearby, who looked like a farmer, came closer. Dala Sheth rushed to him.

"Brother! Did you see anyone taking a horse?"

The farmer said calmly, "You were sitting under the banyan tree at noon, weren't you?"

"Yes, why?"

"That tree is haunted," said the farmer. "It's said that if anyone sits under it at exactly 12 o'clock, strange things happen. You had a horse, right? 

The ghost turned it into a donkey."

"What! A ghost?!" Dala Sheth trembled.

"Yes," said the farmer. "It could've been worse. The ghost could've turned you into a monkey, a goat, or even a buffalo."

Shocked, Dala Sheth untied the donkey and dragged it back to the village.

When he returned, people were shocked. "Sheth! Where's the horse?" they asked.

He had no answer. He just lowered his head.

Soon, Miya Fooski arrived. The villagers gathered around.

Miya Fooski said, "Don't worry. Dala Sheth ate a magical jalebi, which caused all this. But at the fair, I learnt a trick to turn donkeys back into 

horses."

Everyone was surprised. "Can you really do that?"

"Yes," said Miya Fooski. "But there's one condition. Dala Sheth must feed jalebis to every child in the village."

Dala Sheth quickly agreed. "Fine, I'll do it!"

Miya Fooski took the donkey and vanished.

That night, he returned… with the same beautiful horse!

Everyone clapped and cheered.

Next day, Dala Sheth kept his promise. All the village children got jalebis.

Later, Tabha Bhatt asked Miya Fooski, "How did you do that?"

Miya Fooski grinned. "Simple. There's no ghost. When Dala Sheth went to the river, I came back with a potter who had bought a donkey. I 

convinced him to help. We untied the horse, tied the donkey in its place, and sent the potter to act as the farmer. That's it!"

Tabha Bhatt said, "So all this because Dala Sheth didn't give one jalebi?"

Miya Fooski said, "Yes. He refused a poor child. So we made him feed the entire village!"

Tabha Bhatt scolded, "That's cheating! A sin!"

Miya Fooski smiled, "Doing a little wrong for a big good… is not a sin. It's a noble deed."

And that, dear children, is how one jalebi taught a greedy man a big lesson… and gave a sweet treat to every child in the village! 

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