You Can't Have Everything You Want

This is a story from India. Gopal lived with his wife, Nataki, in a small house near a river. They were very poor. Every day Gopal went to the river to get fish. He had a net. Sometimes there were two or three fish in the net. Then he went home to Nataki and said, "We can eat today." Sometimes there were no fish in the net. Then Gopal didn't eat.

Gopal was always happy, because he liked the river. But Nataki was not happy. One day Gopal saw a very big fish in his net. "Good," he said. "We're going to eat today, and tomorrow too." But the fish opened its mouth and said, "Don't kill me. Put me back in the water. I want to live."

"But...." said Gopal.

"Please," said the fish.

"My wife isn't going to be happy about this," said Gopal.

"Then tell her about me," said the fish, "but please, put me back in the water." So Gopal put it back. He went home without any fish.

"No fish today?" said Nataki. "Oh Gopal."

"There was one very big fish," said Gopal, "but I put it back in the water."

"You what?"

"I put it back in the river."

"You had a big fish and you put it back in the water? But we have no food."

"The fish talked," said Gopal.

"What?"

"It talked. It said, 'Tell your wife

"Oh," said Nataki.

Then she said, "Tomorrow morning, Gopal, go to the river. Get the big fish in your net

again. Then ask for something."

"Ask for what?"

"Some food," said Nataki. "And a new red dress for me."

So Gopal went to the river in the morning and the big fish jumped into his net.

"Yes?" it said.

"Nataki wants some food for us, and a new red dress."

"Then put me in the water, and go home, Gopal."

Gopal went home. There was food on the table, and Nataki had a new red dress.

"Beautiful," said Gopal. "Are you happy now?"

"No, I want a good dinner and a new dress every day. Ask the fish tomorrow."

So in the morning Gopal went to the river. The big fish jumped into his net.

"Yes?" it said.

"Nataki wants a good dinner and a new dress every day."

"She can't have everything she wants," said the fish.

"I know," said Gopal.

"Then put me in the water, and go home."

Gopal went home. There was a good dinner on the table, and Nataki had a new blue dress.

"Beautiful," said Gopal. "Are you happy now?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"I want a big house," said Nataki, "and some new tables and chairs. Ask the fish."

So in the morning Gopal went to the river, and the big fish jumped into his net.

"Yes?" it said.

"Nataki wants a big house and some new tables and chairs."

"She can't have everything she wants."

"I know," said Gopal.

"Put me in the water and go home," said the fish. Gopal went home. Nataki, in a new white dress, was in a new armchair.

"Happy now?" said Gopal.

"No."

"You can't have everything you want."

"Can't I? This is a big house now. I want two girls and a man—three servants for the work in the house. I can't do it all."

Gopal went back to the river in the morning and the big fish jumped into his net.

"Yes?" it said.

"She wants servants."

"How many?"

"Two girls and a man," said Gopal.

"Put me in the water and go home."

Gopal went home. Nataki had three servants.

"Aren't you happy now?" said Gopal.

"No."

"Why not?"

"I want some money," said Nataki. "I want money for the servants. And I want some rings for my ears."

In the morning Gopal went to the river, and the big fish jumped into his net.

"Yes?" it said.

"She wants money for the servants, and some earrings. "

"She can't have all the things she wants."

"I know," said Gopal.

"Put me in the water and go home."

Gopal went home. There was a lot of money on the table, and Nataki had some new earrings.

"Beautiful," said Gopal. "Now you must be happy. You have all the things you want."

"No," said Nataki.

"What?"

"I want this country. It must all be mine. I want to be Queen of this country."

"You're my Queen."

"I want to be Queen of this country. Tell the fish tomorrow."

In the morning Gopal went to the river and the big fish jumped into his net.

"Yes?" it said

"She wants to be Queen of this country."

The fish said nothing.

"I know," said Gopal. "She can't have everything she wants."

"That's right," said the fish. "Put me back in the water and go home. Oh, and Gopal...."

"Yes?"

"Goodbye" said the fish.

Gopal went home. Nataki was in the old house. She had no food, no new dresses, no new tables and chairs, no servants, no earrings, nothing.

She looked at Gopal. "Go back to the river now!" she said.

Gopal went to the river. But the big fish wasn't there. It never jumped into his net again.