Long time ago in the Sumatera Island, lived a farmer. He was a hard-working farmer for his mediocre size rice field. Even though he was old enough to get married but he chose to live alone.

In the shiny morning, the farmer went to get fish in the river.

"I wish I get big fishes today," thought the farmer. After he threw the bait, it seemed wobbled. He cheerfully pulled the bait up and smiled when he grabbed a quite big fish in his hands. It was a beautiful golden reddish fish.

But suddenly he got startled when he heard the fish talking to him.

“Wait! Don’t eat me!” said the fish, “I’ll be ready to accompany you if you don’t eat me.” He was really surprised so the fish fell to the ground and amazingly turned into a beautiful girl.

"Am I dreaming?" he talked to himself.

"Don't be afraid Sire," the beautiful girl calmed him, ”I’m also a humankind like you."

“I owe you for breaking the evil's spell,” she continued.

"My name is Puteri, and I am ready to be your wife," said the girl.

Then finally they got married. However, there was one condition that the farmer must be agreed to. He must not tell anyone that Puteri previously was a fish. If the promise was violated then the horrifying disaster will happen.

Arrived in the village, the farmer and Puteri were greeted by the villagers.

"He possibly the fairy who descended from sky," they muttered.

The farmer felt very happy and peaceful. As a good husband, he continued to work to seek a living by working in his paddy-field diligently. He fulfilled all he and his wife need.

Many people were jealous. They spread defamation that the farmer had supernatural beings.  However they did not feel they were touched on, in fact they keep on working hard.

A year later, the farmer was very happy after his wife gave birth to a baby boy. He named him Putera.

Putera grew into a healthy and strong child. He became the sweet child but rather naughty. He had one habit that surprised his parents. He always felt hungry. Food that was supposed to be eaten by three of them could be eaten entirely by him. Putera always made his father upset as well. He didn’t like to help his parents working. His wife always reminded him to be patient in raising their child.

"Yes, I will be patient!" promised the farmer.

However, the patience had its limit. One day, Puteri told Putera to deliver foods to the rice-field where his father was working. But he didn’t do what his mother asked. The farmer was waiting for the foods delivered by Putera in hunger. Then he decided to go home at once.

He saw Putera was playing football in the field near their house. The farmer became angry.

“You really are a fish child!” he shouted angrily. He didn’t realize that he already said the forbidden words to his son.

After the farmer said that, instantly both his son and his wife were disappeared. From the ground where he stood, suddenly water spat on very swift. The village and the surrounding remained all flooded. Water overflowed very high and wide so as to form a lake. The lake had finally been known by the name of the Toba Lake. The small island in the middle of the lake is known by the name of the Samosir Island.

(Sumateran Folk Tale)