The Lamp

The garage door opens widely, allowing the car outside, to take up the free space inside. He parked his 1997 Toyota Celica which was almost at the end of its life, but somehow did him good, taking him to work and bringing him back home. The guy got out of the car, banging the door shut loudly and in a rush, entered his home, excitedly. “It might look like a genie’s lamp, old and shiny.” Said the guy, happily.

Sitting on his desk in a boring way, David was thinking ways of becoming rich. His work was worthless, and didn’t pay him much for a happy life, just a simple surviving life. He hated it. He always tried to lick his boss’ foot in order to get a promotion, but alas, his luck didn’t help him much. Had very few friends, who didn’t support him that much and his love life was boring, dull and useless. One day, someone talked about a myth in the office which had less influence on others and they thought it was bullshit and laughed at it, but David was excited when he heard of it. The myth was, that long time ago, some great sorcerer trapped a genie inside a bottle for his own personal gains. Through ages, that bottle has been passed around and some say that it arrived here in Salt Lake City, Utah and is missing. Obviously, many tried finding it but were in vain.

David had other ideas in mind; he went to search for it. His search included two cities in 10 days and finally arriving in a large boulder rock down the orange valley, he found the lamp. It was there, dust all around it, and looked exactly like a lamp from the Aladdin stories. David returned back home and all the way he planned on what wishes to ask for when the genie comes out. Truth to be told, he had less idea what would happen to him after this.

He removed his shoes, kept his suitcase and refreshed himself. Finally he took hold of the lamp and looked at it. Many thoughts were going on in his head… what if it is false? What if there is no genie? How will I react when he comes out? What will happen? All these thoughts affected him less once he started thinking of his new life. He rubbed the lamp and to his horror, nothing happened. He rubbed again, thrice. Finally giving hope he sighed and let down a huge gust of air onto the lamp. To his amazement, there was a person standing next to him.

“Aren’t you afraid to find me here? Amazing. Let me introduce myself. I’m Kālu, the genie in the lamp. I lived in this lamp for over 1000 years and I believe I don’t feel old at all.” Kālu laughed. David was confused and didn’t know what was going on.

 “So you’re a genie? Like fulfilling my wishes as I ask for them?”

“Yes.”

“But you don’t look like one. I thought you would look like with big beard, vest with no shirt…

“Ahh yes yes that is old fashioned. We also live in the modern world, you know.”

“Ahh brilliant. Then I guess you might be familiar with all the modern world things I guess.”

“Yes. So you found me where exactly?”

“Just near a barren isolated land. Anyways, forget about that…so I get those three wishes like you guys give out to the one who is the master?”

“Well, I do give out wishes, but not three. As much as you want; which is unlimited… but I have few conditions. First of all, when you are making wishes, you cannot stop. You can never stop at any point, never ever. Second, you cannot ask me to stop giving you wishes, or you cannot sleep or ask to go to the washroom or anything like that sort. Thirdly, and most importantly, if you stop making wishes, I will take your life.”

At this point, David was silent. He never expected this. He thought genies were good, helping out people and giving them whatever they needed, but he was mistaken. At this point he could stop and let go of the genie, but no, the evil inside his heart forced him to begin with the wishes. He needed it and he couldn’t let go of such a thing. He thought if he could ask for everything and fool the genie at the end in some way possible, he would succeed. But no my friends, David was in for a wild ride with the genie; or better to put it in this way. Wild ride with the devil in his heart.

David started. “I want a big house.” He got it. “I want a car with the best specifications ever.” He got it. “I want a PS3; I want a wife; I want lots of money; I need this and I need that.” David could never stop; he kept on asking for things that you could not possibly imagine. The genie stood all the while there and was accepting to whatever David says, like a slave following orders of his master.

Time passed on, it went till the early morning. David, at this point, was reaching to a limit. He needed to eat, to rest, to go to the bathroom. He’s eyes were calling out to him to let them shut. His bed was all alone for the whole time. His mouth was crying out loud for him to stop but what to do? His heart was deaf. His greed was high and his evil mind thought of every possible thing to think of that the genie could provide. Suddenly, he stopped.

“Genie, I cannot continue. I have asked for every food item but haven’t had any. I have asked for every rest related things, but haven’t rested well. I have asked for every happy related thing to human but I’m still sad. I need you to stop and take away everything and let me sleep, eat and rest. I don’t want anything.”

“Ahh, the human instinct strikes again. This is what happened to all my masters in the past. They asked for everything, but when they didn’t have the enough time to enjoy what I've offered, they wanted me to stop. You know if you stop, I will take away your life.”

“Okay I get it, but at least let me enjoy for what I asked for, but you are not allowing that. I’m tired and cannot continue.” 

“Then I’m sorry to say David, but I have to take your life.”

After that, you exactly know what happened. David gave up everything and gave away his life; the genie took it with an evil grin.

Alright stop talking Waqas, and let me continue. Hello people! Let me tell you the end and what you could learn from this story. Yes, I took his life but do you think it was my fault? No. I warned him and told him that if he stops, I would take his life. But you see here people, neither did I win or the guy lost but Greed and evil intentions won. If he was so desperate in his life, why didn’t he ask God for help? Why depend on me? And if he were smart, humble and kind he wouldn’t even start off with the wishes. He could have easily told me in the beginning that he is happy with his life and let me go back to my lamp and I would have done it... but here’s a twist. If he did say that, I would have happily allowed him his three wishes. Surprised? Yes, you should be. I did this all to test him. To see how well he is happy with his life and how grateful he is to whatever God gave him and how he could have asked for things from God. But he did not and he failed. This is all because of greed and letting evil captivate your heart and not letting God enter into it.

So my friends learn. God has given us 7 warnings; 7 sins and told us to stay away from it. And always do good deeds, be good to others, always be grateful to what you have, give to poor people and most of all, Pray.

The end. Or is it?