“Water is deep and you don’t know how to swim, so please be
careful” – cautioned Mulla Nasreddin, but the old, ugly,
niggardly and cruel but wealthy man did not hesitate from entering into the lake
as he knew for sure from his informed sources that this magical water could cure
his permanently hunched back. It didn’t
take long – definitely not more than a blink, and there he was - gasping for air,
throwing up his hands continuously, and desperately trying to keep his head
above water. Mulla Nasreddin, not willing to be
blamed for this undesirable creature's departure, said loudly, “Hey Mister,
give me your hand, give me your hand”! The cruel miser hesitated – in his whole
life he had never given anything to anybody, so he continued his struggle.
Other watchful onlookers too – as if prompted by a cue – started the chorus, “Give
me your hand…”.
Funny, but many a variation of this game are still played
around…
PS - for those who are interested in the fate of old man, there happened to be a young soul around- a bit naive, foolish and hence under the perennial debt, who, in the hope of getting a big-reward which he never got - told the scrooge, "Take my hand, Mister".
Life...ain't it?
Life...ain't it?
