opportunity knocks once - but you can answer thrice !!

here's a story i remember from my childhood:

there was a poor farmer who lived with his wife and his blind mother. they were desirous of a child but fortune did not bestow them any. they lived a difficult life.

one night, after toiling all day in the field, the farmer went to sleep in the cot placed outside the house for summers. he dreamed of seeing a bright light. it was indeed lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. she was pleased with the industriousness of the farmer and told the farmer that she would grant him one boon.

the farmer began to think about what should he ask for ? if he asks for wealth, they would still be childless, and the mother won't be able to see. on the other hand, if he asks for a child, they won't have money to feed the child, and the blind grandma won't be able to see her grandson. if he asks for eyes for his mother, he would still be poor and childless. "Alas, if i could have all 3 wishes!" he thinks to himself.

the farmer, quite unprepared for this opportunity, finally asks the goddess to let him carefully think about what he really wants! lakshmi grants him an additional day and promises to return to grant him his wish whatever he may decide.

the farmer wakes up in the morning and remembers his dream. he goes to his wife and narrates it to her. facing the situation where they could have one of their 3 problems resolved, the farmer asks what should he ask when lakshmi returns to grant him a wish. but the clever wife had a plan :)

the next night, goddess Lakshmi again appeared in his dream and asked if he was prepared to get his wish. And he bows and brings his hands together saying: "dear mother goddess, i have one and only one desire and that is: i would like my mother to see her grandson being served food in a golden platter." lo and behold! goddess smiled at the resourcefulness and grants him his wish!

so the farmer becomes rich. he now has a beautiful mansion with many servants, his wife gave birth to a son. and his mother was able to play with her grandson live in riches.