SHEIKH CATCHES A THIEF

Sheikh's mother was helping her dear friend Fatima with the wedding preparations of her daughter.

When she returned from her friend's house, she brought sweets for Sheikh to eat.

After Sheikh had finished eating, she said, "My friend Fatima was giving me a watermelon but it was too heavy for me to carry. I have left it there. You can get it tomorrow."

"But what if someone eats it in the night?" asked the worried Sheikh.

"No one is there in the house. They have gone to another village for a feast" answered his mother.

Sheikh and his mother lay down to sleep, but sheikh could only think of the watermelon.

When he saw that his mother had gone to sleep, he could not stop himself.

He got up and went out of his house straight to the house of his mother's friend.

He then saw that the watermelon was kept on top of some sacks of coal, as his mother had told him. He quickly ran to pick up the watermelon. Just then he heard some voices.

"Who can they be?" thought Sheikh. His mother had said that there was no one in the house.

He ran and hid behind the sacks afraid that he might get caught. Then he saw Lallan and another man walk in.

Lallan said, "Ooohh!

The other man with him got scared and gasped, "What was that sound?"

"Oh! My body is aching. Because of that Sheikh Chilli, my father beat me really hard" groaned Lallan.

"Is that all? You scared me. I thought that someone had come," whispered the other man.

"Let us be quick about it. This house is haunted. What if some ghost comes here?" said Lallan.

Then the other man opened a cupboard and took out a lot of jewellery. Sheikh was shocked.

This was the jewellery that Fatima had bought for her daughter's wedding. His mother had told him about the jewellery.

The thief then gave some pieces of jeweler to Lallan and kept the rest in his bag.

Lallan said, "Give me more"

The thief said, "I did all the work so this is enough for you. Take the watermelon if you want."

Lallan held the watermelon to lift it up but Sheikh had already caught it. Sheikh would not let go.

"Ghost! A ghost is holding this. Help! Help! Shouted Lallan.

Sheikh felt afraid and shouted too, "Help! Ghost!"

"Hush! Whose voice was that?" shouted Lallan."

Keep quiet or we will be caught," said the thief.

But the neighbors had already heard Lallan and Sheikh shouting for help.

They came running and Sheikh yelled quickly, "Catch them. They are thieves." The two thieves were caught with all the jewellery.

They all waited till Ftima came and she was given the jewellery.

Fatima counted the pieces of jewellery and saw that everything was intact. She thanked Sheikh who quickly picked up the watermelon.

Everyone praised Sheikh. The people carried Sheikh home on their shoulders as if he was a hero. His mother was very proud of him for once. She was so happy that she cut the watermelon at once for Sheikh to eat.

Sheikh felt very happy with himself and he finished the whole watermelon relishing every bite of it.