WISH FULFILLED

God created a mule, and told him, 'You will be a mule, work constantly from dawn to dusk, and carry heavy loads on your back You will eat grass and lack intelligence You will live for 50 years.'
The mule answered, 'To live like that for 50 years will be too much. Please, Lord, give me no more than 20 years. And it was so.
Then God created a dog, and told him, 'You will hold vigilance over the dwellings of man, to whom you will be his greatest companion. You will eat his table scraps and live for 25 years.'
The dog responded, 'Lord, to live 25 years as a dog like that will be too much. Please, Lord, give me no more than 10 years.' And it was so.
God then created a monkey, and told him, 'You will be a monkey. You will swing from tree to tree and act like an idiot. You will be funny, and you will live for 20 years.
The monkey responded, 'Lord, to live 20 years as the clown of the world will be too much. Please, Lord, give me no more than 10 years.' And it was so.
Finally, God created man and told him, 'You will be the only rational being that walks on the earth You will use your intelligence to have mastery over other creatures of the world. You will dominate the earth and live for 20 years.'
The man responded, 'Lord, to be a man for only 20 years will be too little. Please, Lord, give me the 30 years the mule refused, the 15 years the dog refused, and the 10 years the monkey refused.' And it was so.
Ever since the grant of that wish man's life goes somewhat like this:
He lives the first 20 years as a man enjoying himself without a worry in the world, then he marries and have children, to support them he has to work like a mule and carry the heavy responsibility (load) of his family on his shoulders. This goes on till he is 40. The next 15 years he lives a dog's life guarding his house and eating leftovers after the children have emptied the pantry. Finally in his old age he lives the last 10 years as a monkey, entertaining his grandchildren by acting like an idiot. And so, it has been ever since.

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Regards
Vijayashankar