Greedy Boy - Short Story

Ram and Sam were identical twins.They were so identical that even their mother found it difficult to distinguish one from the other, at least during their initial days on earth.

However, they were very different from each other when it came to everything other than their appearance.Ram had no friends, while Sam was a great friendship maker.Ram loved sweets, but Sam loved spicy food and detested sweets.Ram was mommy’s pet and Sam was daddy’s pet.While Ram was generous and selfless, Sam was greedy and selfish!

As Ram and Sam grew up, their father wanted to share his fortune equally amongst them.However, Sam did not agree and he argued that whoever proved to be more intelligent and strong would have to get a bigger share of the wealth.

Ram agreed.Their father decided to organize a competition between the two.He asked the two sons to walk as long as they could, and return home before sunset.The wealth would be divided in proportion to the distance covered.As a rule of the competition, they were not permitted to carry a watch to keep track of the time.

The following day, Ram and Sam set out to walk.It was a rather sunny day.Ram walked slowly and steadily, while Sam broke into a sprint as he was bent on winning the race and also winning a greater portion of his father’s wealth.

Ram knew that it would be ideal to walk as far as possible till noon and start for home at noon as it would take the Rame amount of time to walk back home.Knowing this, Ram decided to turn back for home at noon so as reach home on time.

However, Sam, with his greed to earn more wealth, did not attempt to return home even after mid-noon.He walked twice as long as Ram, and thought he would still be able to return home before sunset.He hurried back when he saw the sun turn orange.Unfortunately, he could not even make it half way home as the sun started to set.Slowly darkness engulfed his path and he had to drag his tired feet back home.

He had lost the race.Only because of his greed.

Greed leads to loss