Toba Lake

Once upon a time there was a prosperous village in a far away island called Sumatra. In
northen part of the island, there lived a farmer whose name is Toba. He lived in a hut by a
small forest. He worked on his farmland to grow rice and vegetables that he sold to local
market. One day he wanted to catch some fish so he went to the river and fished there.
He was very surprised when he got a big fish. The fish was as big as human being. Soon he
went home and put the fish in his kitchen. He planned to cook the fish for his dinner. When
he got to his house that afternoon he took a bath. The as he walked into his bedroomafter
taking a bath Toba was very shocked. There stood in his living room a very beautiful girl.
The girl greeted him nicely. For a moment, Toba was speechless. When he could control his
emotion, he asked.
‘Who are you? Where are you from? Why do you cook in my kitchen?’
‘Don’t be afraid master, I am not doing something evil to you. I am the fish you’ve just
caught’
‘What? It can’t be true! How can a fish become a beautiful woman? Don’t fool me!’
‘Long ago, I was cursed as a fish. But you set me free. I thank you for bringing me here.
Come and see yourself... I have changed to be a human’ invited the woman to check the pond
where he put the fish in.
The farmer was so wondered of what really happened. After checking the pond, he believed
that the woman was actually the fish. There was nothing in the pond but some golden coins.
‘I’d like to serve you forever master, those coins are yours. Please be free to take them!’
‘I just can’t believe what I did. Was it real? Owh... it hurts!’ said the youg man while
pinching one of his cheek.
The farmer and the woman got married. They were very happy of their marriage. The farmer
was no longer poor; the woman fulfilled every needs of the family. Finally the woman was
pregnant.
‘Honey, I am so happy that I will soon become a father. Our fist meeting was short, I never
think of marrying a goodess like you. I am a really happy man.’
‘I am happy too dear, You’re such a kind husband. You are really understanding though you
like snooring every night’
‘Ahahahaha, I didn’t even remember that’
‘How did you know? You could not even open your eyes. But whatever you are, I love you
my husband’ said the woman. She then continues her words ‘But I am afraid, our family will
be no longer happy. Can you promise me something?’
‘What?’
‘Can you promise me not to say bad words to our child? Bad words like you are the child of
fish?’
‘Of course not’ answered the farmer convincing his wife.
‘If you did so then nightmare will happen. Please mind your words when you are angry’
As the time went by, the woman finally delivered into a handsome baby boy. They, then
named them Samosir. Samosir was like other kids, he liked to play with his friends a lot. He
spent most of his time playing slingshot; and he liked to catch fish in the river too. One day,
his father was working in his farmland; while his mother asked him to bring some meal for
his father.
‘Sam, will you bring this meal for your father? Remember not to go anywhere but to the
farmland. Your father is definitely hungry’ asked his mother.
‘Sure moma, I’ll remember what you said’ asnwered Samosir.
Then Samosir was on his way to the farmland; but suddenly, there is a friend of his who
asked him to play slingshot. They seeked for some birds.
‘Sam let’s join us seeking for birds. Our friends are waiting by the river’
‘But I can’t. I have to bring this meal for my father’
Finally Sam joined his friend for his friend insisited him to go. Meanwhile, in the farmland
his father was waiting for the meal.
‘Where is my meal. I am so hungry. Why it keeps me so long? I could’t stand any longer’
Sam did not realize that his father was waiting for him. He then ate the meal for he was
hungry too.
‘nyam nyam nyam, hmmm it’s tasty’ Afer eating up all the meal, Sam remembered his father.
He then went to the farmland.
‘Father I am so sorry that I ate up all the meal’
‘I’ve been waiting so long. But you ate it all? You’ve no idea how hungry I am. You are THE
SON OF FISH’ uncounciously his father broke his promise of not saying the son of fish to
his own son. As the farmer said those words, the sky was getting darker. The earthquake was
in everywhere. And the rain poured heavily in the entire village.
‘You broke your promises my husband’ said the woman sadly.
Samosir went home crying. Then her mother asked him to go to the hill as the house would
flood. Then, the woman became a fish; Toba and the people in the village wer vanished. Then
the flood became the lake. The people called it Danau Toba.
My friends, this story teaches us that it is important to always keep our promise; otherwise
we have to accept all the bad consequences. So please, be consistant with your words.
Thank you.