“Bhai, how many bananas do you even eat in a day?!” Meera rolled her eyes as Ravi stuffed the sixth banana into his mouth, sitting on the school canteen bench.

“Energy, yaar. You think this physique maintains itself?” Ravi flexed his arms dramatically.

Kiran smirked, sipping his nimbu paani. “You mean your ‘dad bod in progress’?”

The trio cracked up, as usual. It was a typical day—school was over, the afternoon sun was blazing, and they had gathered at their adda, the banyan tree behind the school.

But then, things took a turn.

“Do you know about the Golden Apple?” Meera asked suddenly, her voice dropping to a whisper.

“Golden kya?” Ravi looked up, his banana halfway through a bite.

“Uff, let me explain!” Meera straightened up. “Legend says there’s an ancient temple deep in the jungle near our town. Inside, there’s a glowing golden apple that grants any wish—but it’s guarded by a giant snake!”

Kiran raised an eyebrow. “Any wish, huh? Sounds like a WhatsApp forward.”

“No, it’s real! My dadi told me. She said nobody’s ever dared to steal it, but those who tried… let’s just say they didn’t come back,” Meera said, wiggling her fingers dramatically.

“Bas karo, Meera. What’s next? Aliens also guarding it?” Ravi snorted.

But Kiran was curious. A golden apple? Wishes? Adventure? It sounded far more interesting than studying for their math test tomorrow.

That night, Kiran couldn’t sleep. His thoughts kept drifting back to Meera’s story. Could it be true? And what would he wish for?

“Okay, let’s just check it out,” he muttered to himself, grabbing his backpack. He texted Ravi and Meera: Jungle adventure. Meet me at 6 AM by the temple gate.

Meera replied instantly: YES!!! Bring snacks.
Ravi responded with a single emoji: 🙄.

The next morning, the trio stood at the edge of the jungle. It was eerily quiet, with only the sound of birds chirping and leaves rustling in the breeze.

“Are we really doing this?” Ravi asked, looking nervous.

“Arre, it’s just an apple! How hard can it be?” Kiran grinned, leading the way.

“Yeah, sure,” Ravi muttered. “Let’s see how your ‘bravery’ holds up when the snake shows up.”

The jungle was like another world—thick vines, towering trees, and the smell of damp earth. They followed a crumbling path until they reached the ancient temple Meera had described.

“Whoa,” Ravi whispered, staring at the moss-covered stone walls.

“Yeh toh asli hai,” Meera said, wide-eyed.

Inside, the air was cool and musty. They walked cautiously, their footsteps echoing. Then, they saw it.

The golden apple.

It sat on a pedestal, glowing faintly, almost like it was waiting for them.

“Bas, that’s it? No traps?” Ravi said, stepping forward.

“Wait!” Kiran held him back. “This feels too easy.”

Before they could decide what to do, a low hiss filled the air.

From the shadows slithered a massive snake, its scales shimmering like oil under sunlight. Its eyes glowed an unearthly green as it fixed its gaze on them.

“I TOLD YOU!” Ravi screamed, hiding behind Meera.

“Chup! Don’t move,” Meera whispered, clutching a stick she had picked up outside.

The snake coiled around the pedestal protectively, its tongue flicking in and out.

Kiran’s mind raced. They couldn’t leave without the apple. Not after coming this far. But how do you outsmart a giant snake?

“Distract it!” Kiran whispered.

“Excuse me?! Distract?! With what—my good looks?!” Ravi whispered back furiously.

“Fine, I’ll do it,” Meera said, rolling her eyes. She picked up a rock and threw it to the far side of the room. The snake’s head snapped toward the sound, giving Kiran his chance.

He darted forward, grabbing the apple. But the moment he touched it, the entire temple began to rumble.

“RUN!” Meera yelled.

They sprinted out of the temple, the snake slithering after them. It was fast—terrifyingly fast.

“Kiran, what did you do?!” Ravi shouted, panting.

“I took the apple! What else was I supposed to do?” Kiran yelled back.

The trio burst out into the sunlight, the snake stopping just at the temple’s edge. It hissed angrily but didn’t follow.

For a moment, they just stood there, gasping for breath.

“Okay, now what?” Meera asked, eyeing the apple.

“I… I don’t know,” Kiran admitted, turning it over in his hands. It felt warm, almost alive.

“Wait, don’t you think it’s weird?” Ravi said. “We risked our lives, and now what? A wish? Is it even worth it?”

Meera nodded. “Ravi’s right. Maybe it’s better to leave it.”

Kiran hesitated. He thought about all the things he could wish for—money, fame, a lifetime supply of pizza. But then he remembered the snake, the rumbling temple, and the risk they had taken.

With a sigh, he placed the apple on a nearby rock. “You’re right. Some things are better left untouched.”

As they walked back, Ravi groaned. “So basically, we almost died for nothing?”

Kiran grinned. “Not for nothing. Now we’ve got the best story ever to tell!”

Meera laughed. “True! Ravi screaming like a baby? Worth it!”

“Hey!” Ravi protested, but he couldn’t help but chuckle too.

They headed home, tired but exhilarated, leaving the jungle—and its secrets—behind.

Moral of the story? Not every treasure is meant to be taken. Sometimes, the real reward is the adventure itself.

End