The Fish

       

                                                               

Mari Kulam is one amongst the 40 hamlets in Nagapattinam district.The residents, mostly Christians, were engaged in fishing as their primary livelihood. There were others who set up small shops, and some were traders. Harmony prevailed in the hamlet and the people were self-sustained.

There was a church nearby headed by Father Andrews. He was a friendly person and loved by all community members of Mari Kulam for his kind heartedness. During the weekly congregation at the church, Father used to read psalms and carols.  He used to narrate small stories that enriched the quality of life among the community members.

The neighbours had taken great liking for James, a 45 year old man and a devout Christian, living with his family members in the hamlet.  James earned his livelihood through fishing. Years rolled by. He and his wife Mary were married for many years and earnestly prayed for a child. They attend the Sunday mass regularly at the Church, offering prayers with all their zeal and faith. Their wish to become parents was yet to be rewarded. They were not rich but longed for a child. It is but natural. James was ageing and so was Mary. Anxiety was writ on the faces of both. His interest in going for fishing waned over time. Such was his mental agony that they have not been gifted with a child. It is but agonising for the couple.

One day, when James had almost felt let down, Mary shared she had some discomfort and was taken to a local lady doctor. It was a day of joy for the couple as the gynaecologist confirmed that Mary was pregnant.  The couple was thrilled and their joy knew no bounds.

It was 25^thDecember, Christmas carols were heard from many homes. And for Mary and James, it was the baby cries of their little beautiful boy. The house was full of joy and celebration. They christened their child ‘Peter’ and showered all their love and affection through his growing years.  

Five years rolled by and Peter was becoming a naughty boy and insisted on his joining his father when he goes on fishing. Though initially James resisted and refused to take him along for fishing he had to yield to his son’s demands as Mary was more soft and asked James to take him along for fishing.

One day though it appeared cloudy, windy and rain expecting to pour down, James and Peter decided to go fishing.  They started rowing towards the point where James knew a large collection of fish will be there. Just then, Peter suddenly got up from his seat and began singing joyfully, celebrating his maiden trip on the boat with his father. His father was annoyed and instructed Peter to sit down immediately, since he knew it was getting unsafe. But even before James could help him sit down, Peter fell off the boat and drowned instantly. What happened after that was something James could not imagine. With the help of other fishermen around, James took a dip in search of Peter. It was late. Peter was already gone.

Losing their son, whom they had brought into their world after years of prayers, James lost interest in fishing, blaming himself for what had happened. He lost interest in life as it seemed like a great burden and meaningless.  The couple became gloomy and were back to sorrowful days as before. But life had to go on. With a lot of persuasion from the neighbours, James resumed his fishing.

Lost in thoughts of his son, each time he threw the net, James found no luck until after almost an hour, his net weighed heavy. To his utter surprise, he had caught a beautiful golden coloured bright eyed fish.

A distant voice shouted, “Appa!” repeating every two minutes, as James looked around to look from where the voice was travelling. Each time he heard the word ‘Appa’, it made him feel as though he was being called out. And then to his surprise it was the fish he had caught in the net that was speaking to him. He hunted out a jar from the corner of his boat and took the fish in it to his home to show his beloved Mary.

James narrated the events to his wife and she immediately felt it was a way in which Jesus was choosing to give their son back to them. The fish gazed into the eyes of Mary through the jar as it called out, “Amma, I am your Peter!” Mary was overjoyed and hugged the jar with the fish in it, as though she was hugging her son. She thanked Lord Jesus for what has come back to them.

Within few days, the news of the fish speaking like human beings, spread in the hamlet and other neighbouring places as well. There was jubilance and an air of joyous mood that prevailed in the Mari Kulam hamlet. The neighbours and people heard about a gleaming shining marigold fish ‘Peter’ born to the parents of Peter. It was almost a festive look all around the hamlet. Stream of curious people who had heard about the fish Peter came visiting the family. Life took a new turn in the lives of James and Mary. They christened the fish, Peter too.

A few years rolled by, until one sorrowful day the fish Peter died. Once again James and Mary were in sorrow and inconsolable pain. On hearing the death of the fish, some came with commercial motive of buying the dead fish. Some offered 10,000 rupees while others were ready to pay more. The parents were in grief and were confused about how they must react to the approaching buyers.

One business man, Hameed, a well known aquarium owner, was ready to pay the parents a sum of 50,000 rupees for the dead fish, Peter. The parents became even more emotional and at the same time puzzled with the whole commercial approach to the fish, which they had begun accepting as their own son.

Just then, Father Andrews was walking towards their house to offer his condolences. He offered his thoughts on the discussion between James and Hameed. Father said, “Jesus has a special place for fishermen, though his grace was for all other too. So, my advice is to give the fish a decent burial alongside our senior priests, behind the church.”

This gave the parents a sense of joy, in being able to bid the fish Peter a happy good bye. Hameed was visibly moved and withdrew his offer. He added that he respected the words of the Father and also offered to help the parents if needed in the future.

After the heart warming incidences, life resumed as usual for James and Mary. James resumed his fishing, this time with the promising smile as though he knew what was coming his way.  Each time he threw the fishing net, he did it with the joy of probably encountering another life, gifted as Peter by Lord Jesus. And it so happened that one day he caught a big fish as ‘Koi’, a fish that seemed to have a longer life span of 30 to 40 years. He gazed into the eyes of the fish, in the same way he had seen earlier. “Appa, I am reborn as a fish again! I am your son, Peter, pa! Did you recognise me?”, spoke a voice that emerged from the fish he had just caught. James immediately kissed the fish through his net and ran with it towards his home. Mary could not believe her ears, that Lord Jesus has been kind again to them.

This time, again many came to visit and see how this miracle had taken place. They even tried to test the fish calling out by its christened name, ‘Peter’. The fish acknowledged the call and responded appropriately. They all came to believe that the fish was indeed Peter who was reborn.

Since this fish was a variety that would live longer, the couple took good care and watched it happily swim in the tank they got for it. Peter was rejoined back with his parents this time.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

My Note: Human are not alone humans. Fish also have human feelings. All living beings are a gift of God and have their own way of communicating with everyone. Even the fragrance of rose and jasmine, communicate with us in different ways. Let us recognise the way nature speaks to us and become more humane to make this world a better place to live in.

(The story ‘The Fish’ is an extract of a dream I had a few days ago, and added some of my own imagination to script it. Hope readers will understand and enjoy the essence of the story. )

Komacha, 25 Dec 2018