Ashaki and the Apple of Betrayal – An African Fable
Once upon a time, in the warm, sun-drenched lands of Africa, there was a tribe called Lacewood, known for its hunters, storytellers, and the tall baobab trees that shaded the earth like grand umbrellas. In this tribe lived a girl named Ashaki, whose name meant “beautiful one.”
Ashaki was indeed beautiful, with skin as smooth and dark as polished ebony, lips as red as ripened berries, and a smile as bright as moonlight on the river. But Ashaki was not only beautiful; she was skilled with the bow, fast with her feet, and wise in the ways of the forest, gathering fruit and herbs that even the elders admired.
Her mother, once known as the most admired woman in Lacewood, felt the whispers of jealousy in her heart. Each day as Ashaki returned with baskets of fruit, wild honey, and herbs, the people praised her kindness and skill, and the mothers of the tribe would say to their daughters, “Learn to be like Ashaki.”
Ashaki’s mother would walk alone to the river, looking into its clear waters that reflected her face like a mirror. “Why does my daughter receive all the praise that should belong to me?” she would whisper to the water, but it gave her no answer. As the days passed, the seed of jealousy grew into bitterness, and bitterness into a dark plan.
One morning, as the golden sun rose over the trees, Ashaki woke up, full of energy, ready to gather fruits and herbs for the village. She waved goodbye to her mother and skipped into the forest, her basket swinging at her side.
That day, she spotted something rare on the forest floor—a bright red apple, shining in the dappled sunlight, as if waiting for her. Ashaki had only seen apples once before when traders passed through with their goods, and her eyes lit up with wonder. She picked it up, breathing in its sweet scent.
“Perhaps it fell from a traveler’s pack,” she thought, smiling. Without another thought, Ashaki took a bite of the apple, the sweet juice dripping down her chin. But the sweetness quickly turned bitter, and Ashaki’s vision blurred. The forest began to spin around her, the towering trees blending into shadows.
As she fell to the ground, she glimpsed a figure running away—a woman laughing softly, her form familiar in the morning light. It was her mother.
Ashaki collapsed onto the forest floor, her basket rolling away, scattering the herbs she had gathered. She lay there, unresponsive, the forest growing quiet as the wind carried away the laughter that still echoed in the air.
The creatures of the forest, who loved Ashaki for her gentle ways, saw what had happened. Birds fluttered through the trees, calling to each other, and seven lion cubs, curious and kind-hearted, approached her quietly. They nudged her gently with their soft noses and decided to watch over her, carrying her carefully to a bed of flowers beneath a tall tree, guarding her day and night.
Every morning, the cubs brought fresh water from the stream, and at night, they kept her warm with their furry bodies, hoping for a miracle to awaken their friend.
Thirty days passed, and the moon rose high in the sky, bathing the forest in silver light. On that thirtieth night, the alpha male of the tribe, a strong and kind young warrior named Jabari, ventured into the forest while hunting. Jabari had always admired Ashaki for her bravery and kindness, and when she had stopped coming to the village, her mother had told everyone that Ashaki had run away, but Jabari had never believed it.
Under the moonlight, Jabari saw Ashaki lying among the flowers, surrounded by the watchful lion cubs. His heart filled with sorrow, and he knelt beside her, placing his bow and arrows on her chest as a sign of respect and mourning for the girl he had long admired.
As the bow touched her, a soft wind rustled the leaves above, and a warm light surrounded Ashaki. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, and she took a deep breath, the poison from the apple lifted by the miracle of true kindness and the prayers of the forest creatures.
Ashaki sat up, looking at Jabari and the lion cubs, tears of gratitude in her eyes. She told Jabari everything—the apple, the laughter, and the betrayal of her own mother. Jabari listened, his heart filled with both anger for the injustice and relief that Ashaki was alive.
The next morning, Jabari gathered the elders of Lacewood in the forest clearing, where Ashaki, now strong again, stood beside him. The seven lion cubs, wise beyond their years, guided Ashaki’s mother into the clearing, and the truth was revealed before the people of the tribe.
Ashaki’s mother hung her head in shame as the people gasped, for they could not understand how a mother’s heart could turn so dark. The elders, after careful discussion, decided that Ashaki’s mother would be banished from the tribe, sent away to live alone and reflect on her jealousy and wrongdoings.
As her mother disappeared into the forest, Ashaki felt both sorrow and peace in her heart, knowing that kindness and truth had prevailed over jealousy and betrayal.
From that day on, Ashaki was celebrated not only for her beauty but for her courage and forgiveness. Jabari and Ashaki grew close, and with time, they were married under the shade of the baobab trees, with the tribe and the lion cubs watching joyfully.
Ashaki became a wise leader in Lacewood, teaching the children how to respect the forest, care for one another, and live with gratitude for each day. The lion cubs grew into strong lions, always keeping watch near the village, and the forest, once a place of betrayal, became a place of hope and healing.
Ashaki lived a long, peaceful life, proving to everyone that beauty lies not in the face alone but in the courage to forgive, the strength to endure, and the kindness shown to others, even in the hardest times.
And so, the story of Ashaki became a tale passed down through generations, reminding the people of Lacewood that jealousy can harm, but truth and goodness will always shine brighter.
Moral of the Story
Jealousy brings destruction, but truth and kindness bring peace and victory.
