The Two Black Dogs and the Brother Who Betrayed Death

The Merchant, His Brothers… and the Curse of the Black Dogs

By(Haris Barki)

“Great Prince of the Genii,” I began, bowing respectfully, “you must first understand who we are before you judge what has happened.”

I pointed to the two black dogs sitting quietly beside me.

“We were once three brothers… and I was the youngest among them.”

⸻

When our father passed away, he left each of us a thousand sequins—a fair inheritance. We chose the same path in life: trade. With ambition in our hearts, we each opened our own shops and began working as merchants.

For a while, everything seemed promising.

But greed and curiosity often walk hand in hand.

Not long after, my eldest brother decided he wanted more—more wealth, more adventure, more risk.

“I will travel,” he declared. “There is profit beyond these lands.”

He sold everything he owned and set off with goods fit for distant markets.

For a year, we heard nothing.

Then one day… a beggar stood at my shop.

“Good day,” he said.

I greeted him back politely, but there was something in his voice.

“Do you not recognize me?” he asked.

I looked closely.

My heart dropped.

It was my brother.

Gone was the proud merchant—before me stood a broken man, dressed in rags, eyes filled with defeat.

I took him inside immediately. I did not ask too many questions, for sometimes a man’s condition tells more than his words ever could.

I bathed him, clothed him in my finest garments, and fed him well.

That night, I checked my accounts. Fortune had been kind to me—I had doubled my wealth.

Two thousand sequins.

Without hesitation, I gave him half.

“Brother,” I said, placing the money in his hands, “forget your losses. Start again.”

Tears filled his eyes.

And just like that, we were brothers again.

⸻

Time passed.

Peace returned.

Until my second brother made the same mistake.

“I, too, will travel,” he insisted.

We tried to stop him. Both my elder brother and I warned him of the dangers, the uncertainty.

But he would not listen.

He left.

And just like the first… he returned a year later with nothing.

Ruined.

Broken.

Defeated.

Once again, I opened my home and my heart.

And once again, I gave.

A thousand sequins.

A second chance.

⸻

Years went by.

Then one day, both my brothers came to me with a proposal.

“Let us travel together this time,” they said. “Together, we will succeed.”

I hesitated.

“You both have tried before,” I reminded them. “What did you gain from it?”

But persistence is powerful.

For five years they urged me, until finally… I agreed.

We prepared for the journey.

But when the time came, I discovered something troubling—they had spent everything I had given them.

Every single coin.

Still, I said nothing.

Instead, I divided my wealth again.

Six thousand sequins.

I gave each of them a thousand.

Kept one for myself.

And buried three thousand secretly in my house—just in case fate turned against me.

Then we set sail.

⸻

For two months, the sea favored us.

We reached a distant port and traded successfully. Profits came easily. Spirits were high.

Everything was going well…

Until the day I met her.

⸻

She stood on the shore.

A woman of breathtaking beauty… yet dressed in poverty.

She approached me, kissed my hand, and spoke with desperation.

“Marry me,” she pleaded. “Take me with you.”

I refused at first.

It seemed too sudden. Too strange.

But she persisted—with humility, sincerity, and a promise to be a loyal wife.

Something in her touched my heart.

So I agreed.

I dressed her in fine clothes, married her, and brought her aboard.

And in time…

I fell in love.

⸻

But happiness often breeds envy.

My brothers watched me.

They saw my success.

They saw my joy.

And in their hearts… jealousy grew like poison.

⸻

One night, while we slept…

They made their move.

They threw us into the sea.

⸻

But fate had other plans.

My wife was no ordinary woman.

She was a fairy.

She saved me from drowning and carried me to a deserted island.

When dawn broke, she revealed the truth.

“I chose you deliberately,” she said. “I came to you in disguise to test your kindness… and you proved your worth.”

Her eyes then darkened.

“But your brothers… they will pay for this.”

She vowed to kill them.

⸻

I fell at her feet.

“Spare them,” I begged. “They have wronged me, but they are still my brothers.”

After much pleading, her anger softened.

She agreed… but not without punishment.

⸻

In an instant, she transported me back to my home.

Safe.

Alive.

As if nothing had happened.

⸻

When I returned, I uncovered the wealth I had buried.

Restarted my life.

Reopened my shop.

People welcomed me back with joy.

⸻

But the greatest shock awaited me at home.

Two black dogs ran toward me.

Whimpering.

Sad.

Almost… human.

Then she appeared again.

The fairy.

“Do not be surprised,” she said.

“They are your brothers.”

She had transformed them.

Their punishment?

Ten years in this form.

⸻

And then… she vanished.

⸻

Now those ten years are nearly over.

And I am searching for her once more.

That, O Prince of the Genii, is my story.

Tell me—

Is it not a tale of wonder?

⸻

The Genii listened carefully.

“Yes,” he said at last, “it is indeed marvelous.”

And in return, he granted mercy—

One-third of the merchant’s punishment was lifted.

⸻

And so it was…

Through stories, wisdom, and compassion—

A man’s life was saved.