LEGEND OF FRESHWATER LAKE

In a small village called Nosar, located in the heart of Central Aceh, lived a beautiful princess named Princess Pukes. Nosar was a village of breathtaking natural beauty, where Princess Pukes was born and raised with the love and care of her parents. However, tradition soon changed the course of her life.

Princess Pukes had recently married a kind-hearted man from Samar Kilang, a village far from Nosar. He came from a wealthy merchant family that was well-known in his region. According to Gayo tradition, a wife must follow her husband and settle in his village, leaving her hometown forever. This weighed heavily on Princess Pukes' heart.

As the day of her departure drew near, Princess Pukes spoke to her mother with a troubled heart.

"My child, I understand your feelings. You must feel the burden of leaving our village, of leaving your mother and father," her mother said softly, gently stroking Princess Pukes' head.

With her heart in turmoil, Princess Pukes voiced her concerns. "Mother, if I leave, who will take care of you? Who will keep Father company when he's sad? And who will talk to me about the nature, mountains, and forests?" asked Princess Pukes with a trembling voice. Her eyes were swollen from days of crying after her wedding.

Her mother tried to soothe her only child's heart. "My dear, you are now grown and have become someone's wife. You should not speak like that. Your words are unpleasant, especially if your husband hears them."

But Princess Pukes' heart remained uneasy. "Mother, what if I miss you? What if I want to see Father? The distance from Samar Kilang to Nosar is so far. We have to cross mountains, rivers, lakes, and even forests!" Princess Pukes broke into tears again. The sadness of leaving her hometown and her parents was overwhelming.

On the day of her departure, her mother gave her one last piece of advice. "Once you leave this village, do not look back, my child. So that you won't be haunted by the images of your mother and father. We have already accepted your departure. Be happy with your husband," she said, embracing and kissing her beloved daughter.

Her father also gave advice. "Go, my child. Follow your husband's will and advice. This is the path you must take."

With a heavy heart, Princess Pukes finally left her home and her parents. Although her husband held her hand to guide her, Princess Pukes walked reluctantly. Every step she took felt heavy, as if her heart was left behind in her village.

However, when they had walked far enough, Princess Pukes could not resist the urge to take one last look at her village. She turned back, forgetting her mother's advice. Instantly, the bright sky turned pitch black. Dark clouds rolled in, lightning struck wildly, and strong winds blew fiercely. Heavy rain poured down, forcing them to take shelter in a cave.

After some time, the rain subsided. But when a guard approached Princess Pukes to continue the journey, he was utterly shocked. "Master! Master! Princess Pukes can't move, Master! She has turned to stone!" he cried in panic.

Princess Pukes' husband rushed to his wife, and indeed, before him stood only a stone figure resembling Princess Pukes, crying. The statue's eyes continued to release water, like tears that never stopped flowing. The water eventually formed a large lake, now known as Lake Laut Tawar.

To this day, Princess Pukes' statue remains in the cave known as Gua Pukes. It is said that sometimes the statue still appears to cry, shedding tears. Could it be that Princess Pukes was cursed to become a stone for not heeding her mother's words? Perhaps, if the statue could speak, we would know the answer.

-----------------------------------------------------------

This story carries a moral message about the importance of listening to one's parents' advice and the consequences of defying long-held traditions. It also highlights the emotional struggle of a woman leaving her family behind to fulfill her duties as a wife in the Gayo tradition.