The Tale of Aiyappa and the Princess Fish

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there lived a fisherman named Aiyappa. He was a humble and poor man, residing in a small hut with his pregnant wife. Despite their meager living conditions, Aiyappa was a kind and well-loved man in his village, always ready with a smile and a helping hand.

One early morning, as the sun began to rise, Aiyappa set out to the village river as usual. He exchanged pleasantries with some night hunters returning home and made his way to the river, where other fishermen were also checking their traps.

With hope in his heart, Aiyappa approached his trap, praying for a big catch that day. But to his disappointment, all he found was a tiny, beautiful fish. "Ah, it’s just one of those days," he sighed. He considered letting the fish back into the river, knowing it was too small to make much of a meal, but then thought, "Let me appreciate the little that the gods have blessed me with today."

So, Aiyappa placed the fish in his basket and began to walk home. Just a few steps away from the riverbank, Aiyappa heard a voice. "Please, put me back into the river, good man. Do not take me home with you. Spare me, and I will grant you as many wishes as you desire."

Startled, Aiyappa looked around but saw no one. He continued on his way, but the voice came again, louder this time. "Put me back into the river, good man. Do not take me home with you. Spare me, and I will grant you as many wishes as you desire."

Realizing it was the fish speaking, Aiyappa was taken aback. He looked into his basket, and the fish continued, "I am a princess fish. We came to this part of the river for a royal meeting, which is why the other fish have moved to another part of the river.

Aiyappa thought for a moment and said, "I have no wishes. I live with my pregnant wife, and we are fine as we are. But I will let you go because you asked."

The princess fish was overjoyed. "Thank you, kind man. I will not forget this favor. Whenever you need anything, just come back to this spot at the same time, and I will be here to grant your wishes."

Aiyappa returned home and told his wife about the encounter. To his surprise, she became very angry. "Oh, you think I’m comfortable living in this wretched house? Just because I haven’t been complaining doesn’t mean I’m happy! Go back to that fish and tell her we need a big house, or I will leave and never return!"

The next day, Aiyappa reluctantly went back to the river and called out, "Princess fish, princess fish, I have come to make a wish. My wife has asked that I wish for a big house."

The princess fish replied, "Your wish is granted. Go home, and you will see your wife in a beautiful big house."

Sure enough, when Aiyappa returned, he found his wife in a magnificent house, and they were happy all day. But the following day, his wife said, "My husband, this house is beautiful, but it needs expensive things to match. Go back to the princess fish and wish for grand furnishings."

Aiyappa did as she asked, and once again, the princess fish granted the wish. But his wife's demands did not stop there. She asked for new dresses, jewelry, maids, and even security guards. Each time, Aiyappa went back to the princess fish, and each wish was granted.

Finally, his wife, now consumed by greed, told Aiyappa, "We are richer than everyone in the village, even the king! Go to the princess fish and tell her you deserve to be king."

Aiyappa was unhappy with this request, for the king was a good man, but he reluctantly went to the river to make the wish. Upon hearing it, the princess fish became very angry. " I have given you everything you asked for, but you are never satisfied. Now go back to your old, wretched house and remain as poor as you were."

Aiyappa hurried home to find his wife back in their old hut, just as the princess fish had said. They regretted their greed and foolishness, and his wife cried, "I should never have been so vain."