It is told that one day, in a quiet place near a house, there was a valley between hills. A river was flowing from between hills. When sunlight shone on golden rays on river’s surface, river water appeared like gold chains, so people named it Golden River. All trees on both sides of river were covered with fruits of good flavor, so people named this valley Fruits Valley.
But these trees belonged to three brothers: Ruman, Ruslan, and Shihab. The two older brothers Ruman and Ruslan were evil. Despite their great wealth, they never gave charity to the poor. They even killed all camels and birds living in valley so they wouldn’t eat from their fruits. Their younger brother Shihab was greedy and harsh like them.
Shihab was good-hearted, loved helping others, as he loved animals and birds living in Fruits Valley. But his brothers would stop him when he tried to help anyone.
One day, a severe plague struck all nearby trees around Fruits Valley. All fruits died, and people of hunger died. Ruman and Ruslan went where their fruits had survived thanks to Golden River.
But Ruman and Ruslan used people’s need and sold their fruits at high prices. As for the poor who had no money, they were driven away without being given anything. In evening, Ruman and Ruslan came out of house, and Shihab refused to let anyone enter house.
Shihab knocked on house door, and Shihab opened door. He found a strange dwarf trembling from cold. Shihab wanted to bring him into house until his body warmed then he would leave before his brothers returned. The dwarf asked Shihab for some food to eat in morning. Shihab agreed but said to dwarf: I won’t give you anything until I satisfy my hunger with money I earned, as Ruman and Ruslan have consumed it all.
While dwarf was eating poison for two brothers, Shihab and Ruslan attacked him, beat him, then took his food and left. In morning was catastrophe. Sun of dawn had taken all fruits, destroyed houses and took all plants, fruits, and water in it.
Ruman and Ruslan became poor not possessing anything. They told their younger brother Shihab about need for work. Shihab worked at one of markets, and in evening sat in front of house door watching Golden River. He saw dwarf he met before standing next to river.
Shihab said to dwarf: Welcome oh dwarf. Unfortunately I don’t possess anything to give you. All money I earned has been consumed by Ruman and Ruslan. Dwarf said to him: Don’t worry, oh good-hearted young man. I’m here to give you not take from you. Go to river’s source, take with you three jars of fresh water and pour them in river to become fresh. But be careful water must be fresh, otherwise it will turn into black poison.
Ruman and Ruslan heard dwarf’s words, so Shihab went to river’s source to seek fresh water. Indeed, they took some fresh water and food and went to river. But river was high, fast, and dangerous. While walking they saw a small child crying and asking them for some water. The two brothers looked at him cruelly, left him, and went their way. After a while they found a skinny man about to die of hunger. Ruslan told him: You’re a sick man, you’ll die in all circumstances. Leave until we reach river’s source then we’ll throw three jars in river, but they turned into poison.
Shihab heard talk but felt extreme hunger but he didn’t keep jars to pour them in river. But he passed by someone panting from hunger, so Shihab gave him jars to drink what was in them. But he turned to become dwarf. Dwarf said to him: Go, Shihab, Ruman and Ruslan have returned to their homes. He said to Shihab: They brought pure water because they refused two hunger cases. Come, oh Shihab, go throw these jars in river. Indeed, Shihab did then returned to Fruits Valley and found all their trees had become green again and kindness filling place. Shihab understood what dwarf meant when he said river would become fresh.