Summary

Jalebis is a moral story by Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi, about a young, honest boy named Munna, who succumbs to temptation and spends the money meant for his school fees on jalebis, only to face the consequences of his actions.

Munna, a fifth-class student, was given four rupees by his parents to pay his school fees. However, his teacher, Master Ghulam Mohammed, was on leave that day, and Munna couldn’t make the payment. On his way back home, Munna saw a vendor selling fresh jalebis, and the sight and smell tempted him. His thoughts, imagining the jingling of the coins in his pocket, persuaded him to buy the sweet treat. Munna initially resisted, but he eventually gave in and spent the money on jalebis. He ate a lot of them and even shared some with the neighborhood children.

Though his stomach was full, Munna was soon worried about how he would pay his school fees the next day. When he went to school the next day, he was disappointed to learn that the scholarship he was expecting was due the following month, not the day before. His teacher announced that fees would be collected during recess, and Munna, filled with guilt and anxiety, left the school. He walked aimlessly, remembering the warnings from his elders about not spending the fee money on sweets or crossing railway tracks alone.

In his desperation, Munna prayed to God, asking for four rupees so that he could pay his fees. However, when he checked his bag, he found no money. The next day, he prayed again, asking for the money to be placed under a rock. When he lifted the rock, he found only a worm and no money. Despite praying every day, Munna’s situation didn’t improve, and he realized that his request for money wasn’t granted.

Years later, when Munna grew older, he reflected on the incident. He realized that if God granted every wish immediately, without effort, people would not learn the value of hard work. He understood that there was a lesson to be learned from this experience: that life is not about receiving everything we ask for without effort, and we must take responsibility for our actions.

Conclusion of Jalebis

The story teaches that we should be honest and responsible with the resources we have. It also highlights the importance of hard work and the lesson that getting everything without effort, or through shortcuts, doesn’t help us grow or learn. Munna’s experience serves as a reminder that lies and misdeeds can lead to trouble, and sometimes, even divine intervention may not help if we don’t make the right choices.