The goldfish and the angler

Along the rugged coast of northern Morocco, where the walls of Essaouira touch the raging waters of the Atlantic and the waves break over the jagged rocks of Mogador, there lived a poor fisherman named Mansour. Every day, he went out in a rickety wooden boat, mending his nets and casting his line, hoping for a modest catch. Despite his limited possessions, Mansour was content, appreciating simple pleasures: the warmth of the sun on his face, the gentle rhythm of the waves, and the silent company of seagulls circling above his boat. However, in those respects, Whispers about the lives of the jinn and the enchanted treasures of the sea were passed down through the generations. Fishermen told stories of goldfish granting wishes, but they warned that greed and selfishness could turn even the most amazing gifts into ruin. Mansour had always listened with admiration, but he never imagined that he would face such a creature himself. One foggy morning, as the sea sparkled like molten silver under the rising sun, Mansour cast his net. Hours passed with no luck; The net came back almost empty except for some regular fish. But as he pulled it one last time, something extraordinary jumped out of the net: a little goldfish, its scales shining like sunlight on the water, its eyes intelligent and almost human. The fish said in a voice as clear as the sea itself: “Release me, good fisherman. I am a fish from the kings of the sea, and in exchange for your mercy in catching me, I will grant you three wishes.” Mansour blinked in astonishment, his heart pounding: “A fish that talks? And you… grant wishes?”

The goldfish nodded: “Choose wisely. My gifts will reflect what is in your heart. Do not pursue greed; Rather, be humble, and everything will be fine.” At first, Mansour was cautious; he lived a modest life and feared that he would be blinded by greed. But as the days passed and his “nawal” (his simple hut) became too small for his growing family, temptation began to consume him. One evening, after a poor catch, he called the fish and said: “Give me a big house, full of good things, so that my family can live without hardship.” The goldfish nodded. And that night, Mansour woke up to find himself In a luxurious “riad” with sturdy walls overlooking the sea, for a moment, gratitude overwhelmed him. But soon dissatisfaction crept into his heart. "Why do we stop here?" He thought to himself. “If one wish brings comfort, two may bring unimaginable wealth.” Mansour rushed to the beach the next morning looking for the goldfish. He demanded treasures and gold that would fill an entire ship. The fish's scales flashed like lightning and she said, "May you have what you want." By evening, Mansour's boat was loaded with gold coins, silver cups, and jewels that sparkled like stars. For a while, Mansour indulged in his wealth. The people of the village were amazed at his wealth, to the point that the commander’s aides whispered in amazement about the fisherman who rose from humble nets to indescribable wealth. But the more he has, the more his desires increase, luxury becomes a habit, and greed eats away at his soul. One evening, due to his continued dissatisfaction, Mansour summoned the fish for the third time. “I want to be the richest man in all of Morocco, and to have everything my heart desires!” The sparkle in the goldfish's eyes went out and she warned: “Oh Mansour, the heart that asks for more than it needs will find sadness instead of joy. Are you sure?" But Mansour's pride overcame his caution: "Yes, I am sure! Grant me my last wish!" The fish flashed once and then sank into the depths, leaving Mansour alone. At first, he thought his wish had been fulfilled; gold filled his house, fine clothes adorned his family, and servants rushed to serve him. But as the days passed, a strange misfortune began to haunt him; his new possessions began to mysteriously erode, the gold rusted, the jewelry went out, and the old furniture...