THE TEHRAN HIEST

“What is the issue? I think it is perfect, alright. Not a doubt regarding that, Shyla.”

“No, Ehsan, you are wrong. This might not work. I know you more than you know me. If the plan fails, I will kill you.”

“Kill me? You? Seriously?”

“Stop it! Only because Ashraf is not here are you two quarreling like always. Do not worry about our next plan; Samir has gone to search for new ones, too,” Aisha interrupted.

“Everyone, come here!” Yuvan entered the cave with enthusiasm.

“What happened?” Aalia, the quiet girl, responded. 

“I have got grand news to share!”

“Come to the point.” Aisha was eager.

“Ahem, so here I say it, dear ladies and one gentleman, that I have decided our next plan!”

“What, really?” Ehsan was curious.

“Yup. Isn’t it crazy? Without Ashraf for the first time! Let us try it; it will work.”

“Umm… what’s the plan?” Shyla questioned.

“It is… to get the one and only… Sultana Zaina’s jewel!”

“Wha-what?” Ehsan was astonished.

“See, we’ll break up into groups and bla bla the plan is.”

“Means?”

“Uh, try to understand. I know it will not be easy but-”

Aalia interrupted, “Easy? We have never done such thefts, okay? It is fine in our area, but directly in the royal palace? Sorry, I do not think we should.”

“Aalia’s right, Yuvan. We would need Ashraf’s supervision; you know how cunning he is, don’t you? So, he will be back from Karaj in two days, talk to him.” Shyla commented.

“Uh, why don’t you all listen to me? My plan is breathtaking, trust me!”

“Enough is enough Yuvan. Talk after two days and not now. Your plan is absurd and we need help, who will win robbing the Noor-ul-Ain in the first try?” Aisha ended the conversation. Everyone was silent.

 

 Yuvan’s idea was unique, it wasn’t easy though.

The blazing sun shone on the lands of Iran and a young man wearing not-so-good-looking clothes walked upon the sunken sand which glittered and felt hot. His eyes turned red and sweat glands secreted enormous sweat giving a cooling effect. His lanky figure was a lot for a topic to chat on. A bag of random stuff he loved to carry wherever he used to go was loaded on his back held by his right hand.

“Ah, finally.” He gulped and pushed aside a large rock wall that stood in front of his so-called abode.

“Ashraf!” Yuvan came running

“Yuvan. What’s the matter?”

Yuvan hugged Ashraf tightly. “

The plan was all explained. Ashraf looked with a death stare at Yuvan.

“Didn’t you like this idea?” He asked with puppy eyes.

Then, he broke into a smile, “Of course I did!”

Shyla spoke up, “What the.”

“Yes, Shyla. He has a point. Guys we haven’t progressed our theft journey. I was already fed up with all these thefts in rural Qarya. I have a great plan. I am sure it will work.”

“But Ashraf, how?” This was Aisha, “We can somehow make the plan. But who knows what’s going on in the palace? You know Sultana Zaina, don’t you? She is so ill-mannered and such an idiot. Plus we don’t have any tools. How the heck will we do this!?”

Ashraf could barely get any chance to speak. He took a deep breath and started, “See. I know your questions would arise. I have a great idea in my mind. One or two of us can go work in the palace of Bawarchi. He or she would time to time keep updating us about the happenings. When we get a golden chance, we can creep in and slay off. And for the tools, I bought a few talvaars from Karaj.”

Indeed, Ashraf’s mind was flabbergasting. “You rock Ashraf!” Shyla grinned.

The following day, everything was planned. They penned down the plan on a khat.


Shyla and Samir will get in the palace as bawarchis and try to know where Queen Zaina keeps the Noor-ul-ain.

 
 The plan was set. Shyla and Samir managed to infiltrate the palace as kitchen workers, blending in without drawing suspicion. Over the next few days, they carefully observed the palace routines, memorizing the guards' patrols and mapping out the hidden chambers. The Noor-ul-Ain, a priceless jewel, was locked inside Sultana Zaina’s personal chamber. It was under constant surveillance, making it nearly impossible to steal without alerting the entire palace.

Yuvan, restless and eager to act, urged the group to move quickly. “It’s been five days! We need to strike now.”

Shyla shook her head. “If we rush, we fail. The guards never leave her room unguarded, and we still don’t know when she’s away.”

Ashraf, the mastermind, smirked. “We don’t wait for her to leave,” he said. “We make her.”

Aisha leaned in, intrigued. “What are you suggesting?”

Ashraf’s eyes gleamed. “We create a distraction—something big enough to draw all the guards away from her chamber. And I know exactly how.”

That night, a fire erupted in the royal kitchens—it wasn’t an accident. As soon as the flames spread, chaos broke loose. Guards rushed in, trying to control the fire and evacuate the palace workers. Amid the confusion, Shyla and Samir slipped into Zaina’s chambers. They had only minutes to act.

The jewel box sat on an elaborately carved table. Samir carefully pried it open. Inside, the Noor-ul-Ain glowed, its brilliant surface catching the dim candlelight.

A sudden noise—a crash outside. Footsteps approached fast.

“No time—take it!” Shyla whispered, snatching the jewel and hiding it in her robes. The two thieves vanished into the shadows just as the doors burst open.

Outside, Ashraf and Yuvan waited with horses, posing as merchants. The moment Shyla and Samir emerged from the palace, they leaped onto their horses and galloped into the desert. It seemed like they had pulled off the perfect heist.

Or so they thought.

As the sun rose, a group of riders blocked their path. At the center was Sultana Zaina, flanked by palace guards. She smiled knowingly. “Leaving so soon?”

Ehsan’s heart pounded. “How?”

Zaina lifted a silver pendant dangling from her fingers. “A tracker. Did you really believe you could outsmart me?”

The desert erupted in battle. Swords clashed, dust rose like a storm, and shouts filled the air. Samir went down first, wounded. Aalia tried to shield Shyla, but the guards quickly overpowered them.

Ashraf, blood trickling down his face, turned to Yuvan. “Take the jewel and run!”

Yuvan hesitated, gripping the jewel tightly.

“Go, now!” Ashraf shouted.

With a final glance at his fallen comrades, Yuvan spurred his horse forward, vanishing into the desert.

Weeks later, deep within a hidden oasis, Yuvan placed the Noor-ul-Ain before an old man dressed in red robes.

“We lost everything for this,” he murmured. “It better be worth it.”

The old man traced a wrinkled finger over the jewel’s surface. “Oh, it is,” he said, his eyes glinting. “The prophecy begins.”

Yuvan’s breath caught in his throat. He hadn’t just stolen a jewel.

He had stolen destiny itself.