Pushpa's wish (655 words)

This is a delectable short story written more than a decade back. I am sure of your chuckle at the end.!

Pushpa, whenever she found time in the evenings, went to the lake nearby. Sitting alone and watching the darkening sky as the sun went down made her forget her gloomy life. With mom sick, dad slogging at a textile shop for long hours for a measly salary and four siblings, she bore the brunt of the work. She could not join college. Although smart and attractive, she was not fortunate in circumstances but had a positive outlook hoping for a miracle.

She saw a little yonder in the sky, a dark bluish smoke-like thing emerging from the lake that soon morphed into a tall figure that was broad in the middle but tapered into a narrow line. She got up hurriedly to leave the place but it stood before her in a trice. In a booming voice, it said, "Don't be afraid. I will not harm you. I am a genie and remained bottled up for many years by an evil man. I got released a little while ago when the bottle was pushed against a rock by a fish and the bottle broke. I am in a happy frame of mind and wish to grant you a boon being the first person I saw on my release. You can choose one of the three wishes that can neither be modified nor taken back. I will appear after two years to see how you are faring Are you ready to listen?"

Pushpa gathered courage and said “Shoot out. I am in a hurry."

"The first one is you can become very rich but remain unmarried all through life. The second one is you will remain poor but get a very handsome and loving husband.
The third one is you will get rich and get a reasonably good husband also but you will live only for three more years. Think carefully and tell me what you wish."

It was a tough choice for Pushpa. She thought about her needs, her family’s needs and also about the future. It was difficult and took considerable time

“Be quick. I give you two minutes to decide,” said the genie

“Okay, I have decided to go for the first wish”

“Oh my god, do you wish to remain a spinster all through life for the sake of money? It is, however, your choice. I grant it now. Will see you again after two years. Good luck.”

Within a short time, she became a crorepati in KBC and made wise investments in the textile business that turned highly profitable. She bought a new house, educated her siblings, and got her mom treated well. Everyone was happy and life was very​​ comfortable with servants to assist. Pushpa was also cheerful and had put on some flab in her happiness. It was all hunky dory for them.

Exactly two years ​later ​when Pushpa was sitting in her usual spot at the lakeside, the genie appeared as promised. “How are you, my young friend? I can see signs of prosperity and you also look healthier. But I am sorry that you remain unmarried at an age when you should be enjoying life.”

“When were you, my benefactor, bottled up by the evil man?” she asked.

“Ah, it must be more than sixty years though I don’t remember exactly.”

“Never mind. Much water has flown under the bridge since then. The world has changed a lot. What if I am a spinster? Haven’t you heard of ‘live-in’ relationships? I have a handsome guy living with me and we are not married in deference to your condition. I am very happy and indebted to you for life” she said and laughed merrily.

“I never knew about such an option as otherwise I would have worded the wish differently. Where is the world headed, I wonder? Continue to be happy and get married to him, if you wish, my friend,” the genie exclaimed, as it vanished. ​