The Unpaid Intern
Once upon a time, living right next door to Mulla Nasrudin, was a incredibly wealthy man.
This neighbor was a total workaholic and a miser. From dawn to dusk, he worked like a mule, stacking coin upon coin. He never ate a good meal, never bought new clothes for his family, and never took a vacation. His only goal in life was to see his bank account grow.
Finally, his time ran out. He kicked the bucket and left all that hoard of cash behind, heading into the cold, dark earth.
The man hadn’t even been dead for 40 days when news spread through the town: The rich man’s widow had married their former servant—a broke but handsome and strapping young lad!
Overnight, the servant went from cleaning the stables to owning the mansion. He now held the keys to every treasure chest and warehouse.
A few days later, Mulla Nasrudin saw the former servant—now the Master of the House—walking down the street, wearing fancy silk robes and holding his head high.
Mulla adjusted his hat, walked up to him, and asked with a grin: "Greetings to the new groom! How does it feel, young man? What is it like to suddenly sit on the master’s throne after years of serving him?"
The young man rubbed his full belly, smiled, and said: "Honestly, Mulla? I’m confused. All these years, I thought I was slaving away for my master, sweating so he could be comfortable. But now that I think about it... I was wrong! It turns out, the late master was actually working day and night, non-stop, just to gather this fortune and hand it over to me, neat and clean!"
Mulla stroked his beard, nodded, and said, "You are absolutely right, son. What a strange twist of fate!"
Then, raising his voice for the eavesdroppers nearby, Mulla recited this verse:
"The wealth you hoard with pain and strife, Will bear no fruit for your own life. It goes to three who wait in line: Your widow’s groom, or your kids' partners in crime!"
Finally, Mulla turned to the crowd and delivered his ultimate wisdom:
"Listen to me, folks! Wake up! If you work from morning till night but never spend a dime on your own joy or comfort, know this:
You are nothing but an unpaid employee working for one of the three people who will replace you:
Your wife's new husband.
Your son-in-law.
Or your daughter-in-law.
So, while you still have breath in your lungs... enjoy your own money!"
