The Two Abdullahs
Once upon a time, there was a fisherman named Abdullah who was very poor. Every day he devoted hours to throwing his net into the river. He carried to the Bazar whatever fish he caught. He bought his necessaries with the price he got by selling his fish. But one day he could catch no fish. Even the next day brought him no luck. He was tired and hungry. But disappointment made him quite adamant. He walked along the riverbank, casting his net into the water time and again. He reached the spot where the river met the sea. Standing knee-deep in the water, he threw his net vigorously into the confluence. Then, when he began pulling it, he found the net heavy. For a moment his heart was filled with joy. "I have caught a big fish, I'm sure," he mumbled to himself. But, as he looked on, a human head popped up before him. "You have caught me!" exclaimed the fellow, still submerged in the water to his neck.
"Who are you?" asked the amazed Abdullah. "I am Abdullah," replied the fellow. "Don't say so. I am Abdullah. You can ask all my neighbors about it," said Abdullah the fisherman. "You may be Abdullah of the land. But I am Abdullah of the sea. We, sea people, live far inside the ocean. I had swum into the river only to see if I could get any sweet fruit of your earth. Sometimes they come floating and we like them very much. But here I am, caught up in your net!" said Abdullah of the sea with a sigh. "Don't you worry, I am going to release you forthwith," said Abdullah of the land, also with a sigh. "You are as worthless to me as a tree trunk. If you are fond of fruits, I can give you some tomorrow, if you come here," he added. "Will you? In exchange, I will give you pearls and precious stones. Sea abounds in them," said Abdullah of the sea. Abdullah of the land helped the other Abdullah to get out of the net and both parted. The next day Abdullah of the land collected some fruits and, when it was night, went near the confluence and called out for his namesake. Abdullah of the sea came out and received a sackful of fruits. He looked delighted. Asking the fisherman to wait a moment, he disappeared. Soon he returned with a sack filled with pearls and dazzling stones. The two agreed to meet once a week and exchange gifts. The next day the fisherman went to the town with his pearls and stones and tried to sell them to the richest jeweler in the Bazar. The jeweler, casting just one look at the sack, shouted for his servants to take hold of Abdullah.