When Heaven Turns to Hell: Gopal's Awakening
Short Story
Gopal was a very lazy person. His family members were also troubled by this habit of his. He always wanted to have such a life in which he could sleep all day and whatever he wanted would be available to him in bed. But this never happened. One day he died. After death he reached heaven, which was more beautiful than his imagination. Gopal started thinking, I wish! I had come to this beautiful place earlier. I had to work unnecessarily on earth. Well, now I will live a comfortable life. He was thinking all this when an angel came to him and pointing towards the bed studded with diamonds and jewels said- You can rest on this. Whatever you need, you will get it on the bed. Gopal was very happy to hear this.
Now he would sleep a lot day and night. Whatever he needed, he would get it on the bed. This continued for a few days. But now he was getting bored. He had neither peace during the day nor sleep at night. As soon as he tried to get up from the bed, the servants would stop him. Many months passed like this. Gopal started feeling a life of comfort as a burden. Heaven was making him restless. He wanted to spend his days doing some work. One day he went to the angel and said to him- I have tried everything that I wanted to do. Now I can't even sleep. I want to do some work. Will I get some work? You have been brought here to rest. This was your life's dream. I am sorry, I cannot give you any work. Said the angel. Gopal said in irritation- It is strange. I am fed up with this life. I cannot spend my time like this. It would be better if you send me to hell.
Short Story
The angel said in a low voice- Where do you think you are? In heaven or hell? I did not understand- Gopal said. The angel said- The real heaven is where a man works hard day and night to nurture his family. He spends happy moments with them and is happy with the comforts and facilities he gets. But you never did this. You always kept thinking of rest. When you were on earth, you wanted to rest. Now that you are getting rest, you want to work. You are getting bored of the bliss of heaven. Gopal said- Perhaps now I have understood that man should work at the time of work and rest at the time of rest. If either of the two things is done in excess, then life becomes monotonous.
It is true, for lazy people like me, even heaven becomes hell one day.
Short Story
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