Kittu the Fisherman

In the town of Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu there was a fisherman named Kittu. He was a very nice man who was satisfied with whatever he had. His wife Muniamma was not like that. Kittu daily used to go to the sea to catch fish. One day, when the sky was clear and the wind was gentle, he went for putting his net in the water and he did not get any fish. At last he got a big turtle. He was terribly disappointed and was about to throw it on the beach. Then the turtle spoke to him, “I am actually a Deva but I have been cursed by a sage to become a turtle. Please put me back in the sea.” Kittu immediately released the turtle in the water. Then the turtle told him, “ You know I am a deva, can I give you something.” Kittu replied, “Poor deva, already you are in trouble, I do not want anything.”

When he went home without any fish, his wife Muniamma shouted at him. Then Kittu told her the story of the turtle deva. Muniamma became very angry and told him, “ Go back to the sea and call the turtle. Ask from him a good house for us. Because we are living in a hut.” Kittu went back to the sea and sang, “Oh deva, who is a turtle, Please do come to the shore, For I want to ask you something.” As soon as he sang, the turtle came. IT asked him, “Kittu, what do you want?” Then Kittu told the turtle, “I really do not want anything but my wife Muniamma wants to live in a good house. We are now living in a hut.” The turtle replied, “Go back to your wife. She is already in a good house.” Kittu went back and was surprised to see that their house was now very good.

Next day morning, even before the Sun rose, Muniamma woke up Kittu and told him,” This house is OK but I feel I should live in a Bungalow and I should become the mayor of this town. Go and ask your turtle. Kittu did not like it at all. His wife started crying and howling. So he went to the sea. This time the sky was black and wind was howling. Kittu sang, “Oh deva, who is a turtle, Please do come to the shore, For I want to ask you something.” The turtle deva came and asked Kittu, “Why have you come. Don’t you like your new house?” Kittu replied, “I am extremely happy but my wife is not. She wants to live in a Bungalow and she wants to be the mayor of this town.” Then the turtle replied, “Go back home. She is all ready the mayor of the town.” Kittu went back. His house was now very big. There were lots of servants in his house. His wife had also a car. He was extremely happy.

A week passed this way. One day when poor Kittu was singing happily, his wife sent for him, “ I am getting bored of becoming a mayor. I have now only one car. I want to become the governor of this state. Go and ask your turtle for this. Kittu was sad while going to the sea. The sky was jet black. There was storm outside. He went near the sea and again sang, “Oh deva, who is a turtle, Please do come to the shore, For I want to ask you something.” The turtle deva gain came and asked Kittu, “Is your wife not happy being a mayor?” Kittu with lot of sorrow told him, “unfortunately, no. She wants to become governor of this state.” Then the turtle replied, “Go back home. Now it is Rajbhavan. Do not forget.” Kittu went back. Now his wife was governor, Their house was surrounded by a very big garden. They had a swimming pool. They were having ten cars. Kittu did not bother about all this and went to a small room and slept there. Another one month passed like this.

One day while Kittu was sleeping soundly, his wife woke him up. And told, “I now want to become president of this country. I want hundred cars and want to have my own plane. Go and ask your turtle deva,” Kittu was very sad. Tears were flowing from his eyes. The sky outside was pitch dark. There was a cyclone blowing outside. But he manage to go near the sea and sang, “Oh deva, who is a turtle, Please do come to the shore, For I want to ask you something.” The turtle came and asked, “Its not your wife happy being governor? What does she want now? Then Kittu replied, “ I am really very, very happy. I do not want all these things. But she is not. She wants to be the president of this country.” The turtle deva laughed loud and told, “ Ok, your wife is already the president .Go back to your house. You now should go back to Rashtrapathi Bhavan.” Poor Kittu went back. His home now was Rashtrapathi Bhavan. There were very large numbers of servants. They had a plane to wherever they wanted. But Kittu found out the smallest room and slept there on the floor. Things passed on like this for one month. After dinner Kittu was about to sleep. Muniamma sent a servant to call him and told, “ I am bored of being the president. I now want to become a god. Go and ask your turtle deva.” Kittu was very, very sad and went all the way to the sea weeping. It was pitch dark outside. There was a big storm. In the beach there was Tsu Nami. In spite of all this Kittu went to the beach and sang, “Oh deva, who is a turtle, Please do come to the shore, For I want to ask you something.” The turtle deva came and asked Kittu, “Is there anything big than being a president? What does your wife want now?” Kittu replied, “ I am afraid that she wants to become God.” The turtle laughed loudly and told, “God lives also in a hut. Go back now to your old hut.” Kittu went back and they were very poor and started living in a hut.